I am a returning reader, still only a couple of years into reading for pleasure again. Growing up, I was a massive bookworm. Scholastic book challenges? Please. I could finish those lists in a week. My favorite series were Animorphs by Katherine Applegate (54 books) and Redwall by Brian Jacques (22 books). And, of course, Harry Potter.
Even into high school, most days I had at least two for-fun books in my bag at all times (the one I was actually reading, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower which I'd read almost daily, a book security blanket if you will). I latched onto another impossibly long series - The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind (21 books). While the uh...politics of those novels went over my head at the time and prevent me from really returning to them, they definitely sparked my love for rambling fantasy epics that lasts through today.
Then college came. I wasn't managing my ADHD very well at the time, and was pursuing an English degree with a History minor - the amount of reading was overwhelming. Even when I enjoyed something I barely had the time to skim it. I graduated in 2012 and it took me until 2020 to really start reading again, honestly because of quarantine. Now I typically have an audiobook. eBook, and physical book going at the same time and couldn't be happier.
I've found that I freeze with indecision when it comes time to choose a new book, and so I still gravitate towards long books, prolific writers, and big series so I don't have to make that choice as often. Fantasy, horror, literary fiction, and historical fiction are current favorites - but I'll read anything if it's good! Genre is not a big deciding factor for me. I haven't explored much non-fiction, and I don't think I've ever read something that could be considered a gentle read, but I'm excited to try.
Goodreads has helped me a lot, both in finding joy and fun in reading again, and in helping me find new things to read. I set a goal of 20 books for 2023; I want to push myself a little but not too hard. The biggest factor in reading more recently is that my Dungeons & Dragons group all realized that we had English degrees and none of us were reading, so we now split our time - once a month, we do a book club instead. It's been amazing so far.
It's hard for me to nail down favorites, so here is a list of five books/series I love (in no order, and not at all complete):
1. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin (series)
2. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
3. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
4. Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen (Delilah Dawson)
5. Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli (a graphic novel)
I also love almost all of the Stephen King books I've read, but my favorites are The Stand, Salem's Lot, and The Long Walk.
And then, because tastes change, here are five books I read in the past year that I really enjoyed:
1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
2. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb (series)
3. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
4. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
5. The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
One of my favorite things about GoodReads (other than being able to watch how my friends are progressing through their own readings goals) is seeing my year in books at the end of the year. I was never into Spotify so seeing all the books that I read and that stats on my reading habits. "Ninth House" is on my docket and I hope to get to it soon!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing my year in review, too! I'm actually pretty bad at remembering what I've read/what I've liked in the past, so having a list is super useful to me.
DeleteHi Claire! I also always have a physical, ebook, and audiobook going. Personally, I think it helps to have options when I'm not in the mood for one of my reads.
ReplyDeleteI've been holding onto a copy of The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell for years now. I haven't read it yet, but seeing it here reminded me that I really need to!
Exactly! Plus I like listening to audiobooks while I walk or drive, but basically no other time. I like ebooks to make library rentals easier (Libby is maybe my favorite app of all time). And then all of my favorites I have as a physical copy for re-reading.
DeleteI really enjoyed The Bone Clocks! It was someone else's book club pick so I didn't know much about it going in, and was pleasantly surprised. I added "Cloud Atlas" to my to-read list right after I finished.
Hi Claire! I'm in love with your dungeons & dragons/book club! I'm a new arrival to the D&D world and have been trying to find a fun book club in my area, so that's such a great idea to combine them! I'm about to finish another book by Kazuo Ishiguro, "Never Let Me Go," which is not quite a usual read for me and I'm still trying to decide how I feel about it haha.
ReplyDeleteHere's to hoping this semester helps us all a bit with our post-English major burnout!
It's worked out really well so far! We're also a trivia team (lol) so we spend a lot of time together, but I find that to be helpful for the book club aspect because we're certainly not afraid to speak our minds around each other.
DeleteI loved the film adaptation of "Never Let Me Go," and I have a copy of the book on my shelf...might have to pick it up soon.
I loved Ninth House and just got the sequel! Great profile and honestly good on you for reading the long long series - I get intimidated and have to work hard on finishing them!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for the "Ninth House" sequel! I have the audiobook on hold right now, because I loved the first one so much, how they'd switch back and forth for Alex/Darlington.
DeleteAnd it takes me a loooong time to finish those big series, but I take comfort in always something to fall back on, so I tend to start them more frequently than stand-alone books.