I just spent four days with writers. “What are you reading?” and “What’s the last book you read?” were common questions – and questions that made me sweat a little.
Consider this conversation I had with a friend, about another friend’s writing project:
Me: She wrote a novel.
My friend: WHY?
Me: Um, because she wanted to?
My friend: No, I mean, WHY is she writing fiction?
Me: Um, because she wanted to?
My friend: But why isn’t she writing non-fiction?!?
My friend and I were both bewildered – her, because she couldn’t imagine someone choosing to write fiction, and me, because I am constantly wishing that I could write fiction or, since that doesn’t seem likely, that more of my friends would write novels. Because I love novels.
I do. And sometimes I love cheesy novels and fluffy novels and maybe, possibly novels that I don’t even admit to on my Goodreads account.
When I got home this afternoon, Annalyn wanted to know all about my flight. She asked me if the people on the plane were noisy or if they were quiet so I could read. When I told her that I’d actually finished my book, she said, “Oh, the one about the astronaut?”
Well, no. I’ve been reading The Martian for the past couple of weeks. It’s really good (so interesting and hilarious, too), but it is NOT the “quick, easy read” several of my friends have claimed it is. Because of the science. It’s ALL ABOUT SCIENCE, which is not quick or easy reading for this not-a-fan-of-science reader.
So it’s possible I’ve been taking frequent breaks in between chapters to read essays by Jen Hatmaker and books about fallen angels and storybook characters come to life. So, I had to admit to my daughter that I had not finished the astronaut book. Instead, I’d read a mystery that raised the very important question, What if Alice in Wonderland was a real person? And the follow-up questions: What if she traveled to our time in a portal? And what if she fell in love with Huck Finn (also a real person, also a portal traveler) and solved mysteries with him?
Edited to add: Since so many of you have awesome taste like me and have asked, the Alice and Finn book is The Collector’s Society by Heather Lyons. It’s a trilogy, and I’m currently on the third book. I adored the first one, the second one added Finn’s viewpoint and became a little racy for me, and the third one (so far) is less awesome than the first. But it could certainly get better. I will keep you posted!
Yeah. I admitted that to my daughter, but I didn’t exactly say the same thing to the women I met this weekend who asked what I’d been reading. Nope. Instead, I basically apologized to them by saying I couldn’t remember what I’d read most recently and then telling them about other, less embarrassing novels I’ve read this fall.
SIGHHHHHHHHH.
So today I’m reminding myself that I’m not sorry about the kind of books I like to read. I’m re-reading the post I wrote, saying that very thing, for Modern Mrs. Darcy’s blog. Here it is, if you’d like to read it, too: My Not-So-Secret Love of “Fluffy” Books.
What kind of books do you like to read {for real}?
This post is part of the 31 Days Writing Challenge. To read all the posts in this series, click here. And to learn more about this challenge or to find more series to read, visit Write31Days.com. Apple photos courtesy of my brother, James.
Well, you know I need to know the name of all those books you’re really reading right now. Especially the one about Alice. Do tell!!
The Collectors’ Society by Heather Lyons
You got it! :)
Haha! It’s called The Collector’s Society by Heather Lyons. It’s a trilogy, and I’m currently on the third book. I adored the first one, the second one added Finn’s viewpoint and became a little racy for me, and the third one (so far) is less awesome than the first but still good. :)
I could see Alice and Huck getting together (if they were a wee bit older than in the books)
Yes, they’re in their 20s in this series!
I understand what you mean. For me, it isn’t so much about admitting that I read easy, light reads. It’s more that I rarely read the latest and greatest bestsellers or the books everyone is talking about. If I do it is usually years after everyone else. I prefer to skip past the bestsellers (generally speaking) and find those gems that I truly love.
For example, I have yet to read Gone Girl. It may be a great book that I will enjoy, but I have so many other books that I really want to read. I will probably read Gone Girl eventually. Not today :)
Or maybe I read one of those bestsellers that everyone raves about…and I don’t like it! The Girl on the Train is a good example of that! Really not a fan and wish I could take back the time I spent on it!
Reading gives me so much pleasure that I don’t care if I’m the ONLY person who read and enjoyed a book!
Sara, I’m with you on that – and also haven’t read Gone Girl yet. :)
I would love to know the name of the Alice book, as well.
Sure! It’s called The Collector’s Society by Heather Lyons. It’s a trilogy, and I’m currently on the third book. I adored the first one, the second one added Finn’s viewpoint and became a little racy for me, and the third one (so far) is less awesome than the first but still good. :)
I am a “fluffy book” reader as well. But I also read mystery/thrillers (James Patterson books are always quick reads), psychological dramas, historical fiction (depending on the period – you should check out Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Tales – also easy reads), as well as the more serious literary, classics and non-fiction books. I just got excited to see that Rick Riordan came out with another series based on Norse Mythology, and will be reading it myself even though my sons have outgrown them.
Me too on all of that – and YESSSSSSS, I’m so excited Riordan’s writing a new series (and can’t wait for Annalyn to be old enough for his others!). :)
My Goodreads account is about me, for me & I list all the boks. Mainly so I can know what I have read & what I would like to read. Sure I have friends & look at their books but no judgement whatsoever as I read purely for me! Happy reading whatever#
Sounds like a great way to go about it, Tracy! I need to remember that I read for me, too! ;)
Hello Mary! Great question. As you already know, I am still on that Demon Hunter series (the soccer mom one) and I am enjoying it, but my headaches and migraines are messing up my reading ability! I’ve had to slow down.
My favorite genre has become YA books though. Or Sci-Fi. The best books I read last year (that I remember) were The Paper Magician and The Night Circus. And I am not sorry either. =) Read on!
I haven’t read The Paper Magician, but it is on my list, Lina! I hate that headaches are slowing you down. That stinks! I LOVED the demon hunter series. SO GOOD.
I want to know what the title is to the Alice in Wonderland portal book! Sounds wonderful and fluffy and fun and exactly what I need at times. I grow weary of all the important and literary books which I do read but sometimes a girl just wants to have fun and not care how literary or earth shattering or scholarly the work is. And I’m thinking if a mash up between Alice and Huck is your kind of fun we could possibly be BFFs : )
Yes, let’s have fun! It’s called The Collector’s Society by Heather Lyons. It’s a trilogy, and I’m currently on the third book. I adored the first one, the second one added Finn’s viewpoint and became a little racy for me, and the third one (so far) is less awesome than the first but still good. :)
OK, what is the book where Alice in Wonderland and Huck Finn get together and solve mysteries together?! That sounds like my cup of tea.
It’s called The Collector’s Society by Heather Lyons. It’s a trilogy, and I’m currently on the third book. I adored the first one, the second one added Finn’s viewpoint and became a little racy for me, and the third one (so far) is less awesome than the first but still good. :)
I like fluffy books, too. Always have. Since I learned to read I have devoured books voraciously, and I always thought that was a good thing until I got to college and my fellow English majors were talking about all the classics they had read that I hadn’t. I was embarrassed that I hadn’t even heard of some of them (I am looking at you, Moby Dick). So, for the last 12 years I have been playing catch up on the classics. I also enjoy YA fiction A LOT–so much so that it’s actually an embarrassingly large category on Goodreads. Lately I’ve been enjoying theology books, too, because now that I’m a legit adult and am raising kids I am finding that, though I have been a Christian for years, I have some tough questions that lots of smart men have already answered. But my enduring favorites, and the ones that always will have a spot on my bookshelf, are the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I re-read them several times a year.
Wow! Several times a year for the Little House series? That is true love! :)
I am sometimes slightly embarrassed about everything I read, but I think we all need brain breaks and turn to different things for that. I love some sweet YA fiction, Christian romance, and even novels meant for older kids. And I read very little nonfiction even though I know I should.
Me too on the nonfiction thing. Sigh.
Ahh, I love this!! I have a Pinterest board where I’m keeping track of the books I’m reading this year and there are definitely a few (dozen) I’ve read that haven’t made the board :)
Glad to know I’m not alone, Jessica! :)