The Haunting of Hill House and Frankenstein are two of my most favourite books ever. The latter from when I read it for A-Level and suddenly understood how fiction can work, and the former because it got into my bones and I couldn't shake it. Much like all of Jackson.
I got into a real head-spin with my TBR pile a few years ago so I took action: I stopped actively buying books. Which I know sounds sacrilegious but it meant i started treating my bookshelves as my personal library (while also saving a fair chunk of money!). I'm slowly working my way through everything I've acquired and never read. I organise piles of 4 or 5 book reading lists based on whimsical themes or connections in titles. Currently its 'the elements': Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, Dark River by Rym Kechacha, Nothing on Earth by Conor O'Callaghan and The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula Le Guin. It's fun!
David, I've done similar this year but I've allowed myself to get 99p deals on Kindle and secondhand books from charity shops. My TBR is going down now and its nice to "shop my own library".
I love your idea of themed reads.
I'm unsure why I've stalled with Frankenstein, perhaps it's the older language use or something else distracted me. But I will go back.
At any given time I tend to have a fiction book on the go (currently working through the Wheel of Time series) and audiobook I’m listening to (currently Nation by Terry Pratchett) and a non fiction ‘work book’ (now Brene Browns Atlas of the Heqrt). I like being able to flit between them depending on my mood.
I quite often have a fiction book on the go, which I read before bed, and then a non-fiction book that I read during the day. I do this because the non-fiction books I read quite often have little exercises, journal prompts, meditations etc. and my brain won't let me carry on reading until I have done the task so there not good for reading before bed. For me anyhow!
Saying this, I am currently on a real fiction kick and I'm just reading one book at a time. (I have an unfinished non-fiction book waiting for my return.) I finished Frankenstein not long ago and I've now reinvigorated my obsession with Anne Rice and Lestat De Lioncourt. 🖤
Love seeing your list, Susan. This year I've been doing this way more than I used to. I used to be a strict one book at a time gal. At most I'd maybe have a novel and a non-fic on the go. This year I've found myself dipping into multiple books much more. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe a shorter attention span? Or maybe needing lots of different types of writing. E.g. sometimes comfort/ escape, sometimes education, sometimes challenge, sometimes lyrical beauty.
I got a bit overwhelmed when I had too many started and not finished so had a concerted effort to finish them all a few months ago. And that felt good.
I'm finding a novel, a non-fic and an audiobook is probably ideal max for me.
I’m so envious of your list as I’ve found increasingly difficult to read recently. I listen to audiobooks all the time but I’ve definitely lost the ability to sit and lose myself in a book. I think it’s because I feel that, after a lifetime of reading, this is my time to write and create. I need to do that before allowing myself to read again! Having said that, I do love Frankenstein. I think I could go for a fourth read of that ..
It's been several years since I read The Haunting of Hill House so I'm due for a reread.
I was sitting on the couch in my living room reading it, and I came to a tense, spooky passage when suddenly there was a BANG! on the front door a few feet away. I think I caught a few inches of air from my jump, and I threw the book. It was the White Pages being delivered by being thrown from a truck.
The Haunting of Hill House and Frankenstein are two of my most favourite books ever. The latter from when I read it for A-Level and suddenly understood how fiction can work, and the former because it got into my bones and I couldn't shake it. Much like all of Jackson.
I got into a real head-spin with my TBR pile a few years ago so I took action: I stopped actively buying books. Which I know sounds sacrilegious but it meant i started treating my bookshelves as my personal library (while also saving a fair chunk of money!). I'm slowly working my way through everything I've acquired and never read. I organise piles of 4 or 5 book reading lists based on whimsical themes or connections in titles. Currently its 'the elements': Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, Dark River by Rym Kechacha, Nothing on Earth by Conor O'Callaghan and The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula Le Guin. It's fun!
David, I've done similar this year but I've allowed myself to get 99p deals on Kindle and secondhand books from charity shops. My TBR is going down now and its nice to "shop my own library".
I love your idea of themed reads.
I'm unsure why I've stalled with Frankenstein, perhaps it's the older language use or something else distracted me. But I will go back.
At any given time I tend to have a fiction book on the go (currently working through the Wheel of Time series) and audiobook I’m listening to (currently Nation by Terry Pratchett) and a non fiction ‘work book’ (now Brene Browns Atlas of the Heqrt). I like being able to flit between them depending on my mood.
Yeah, mood has a lot to do with it. You just reminded me I'm reading an audiobook too! I've added it to the list 😅
I quite often have a fiction book on the go, which I read before bed, and then a non-fiction book that I read during the day. I do this because the non-fiction books I read quite often have little exercises, journal prompts, meditations etc. and my brain won't let me carry on reading until I have done the task so there not good for reading before bed. For me anyhow!
Saying this, I am currently on a real fiction kick and I'm just reading one book at a time. (I have an unfinished non-fiction book waiting for my return.) I finished Frankenstein not long ago and I've now reinvigorated my obsession with Anne Rice and Lestat De Lioncourt. 🖤
Love seeing your list, Susan. This year I've been doing this way more than I used to. I used to be a strict one book at a time gal. At most I'd maybe have a novel and a non-fic on the go. This year I've found myself dipping into multiple books much more. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe a shorter attention span? Or maybe needing lots of different types of writing. E.g. sometimes comfort/ escape, sometimes education, sometimes challenge, sometimes lyrical beauty.
I got a bit overwhelmed when I had too many started and not finished so had a concerted effort to finish them all a few months ago. And that felt good.
I'm finding a novel, a non-fic and an audiobook is probably ideal max for me.
Comfort reading is very underated. Do you have a particular book you turn to for this?
I don't often re-read books tbh. But my comfort genre would be what some call 'uplit'. Rachel Joyce is the queen I think. I adore all her books
I’m so envious of your list as I’ve found increasingly difficult to read recently. I listen to audiobooks all the time but I’ve definitely lost the ability to sit and lose myself in a book. I think it’s because I feel that, after a lifetime of reading, this is my time to write and create. I need to do that before allowing myself to read again! Having said that, I do love Frankenstein. I think I could go for a fourth read of that ..
I'm dipping in and out of a few right now!
It's been several years since I read The Haunting of Hill House so I'm due for a reread.
I was sitting on the couch in my living room reading it, and I came to a tense, spooky passage when suddenly there was a BANG! on the front door a few feet away. I think I caught a few inches of air from my jump, and I threw the book. It was the White Pages being delivered by being thrown from a truck.
Just like the doors slamming in the house!!