What are you reading right now? Is it good? Would you recommend it?
I’m a bit perplexed to find that I am reading a few books at the moment. I’m usually a serial monogamist, a one-book-at-a-time reader.
For sheer enjoyment:
Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre. Book 2 of the Sirantha Jax series. I haven’t read much science fiction for some time, and this is just the sort of book to get me back into it. So far, there is conspiracy, corrupt conglomerates ruling the galaxy, lots of aliens, action, space battles, and romance with a brooding mystery man. Oh, and a fiesty heroine. Recommended if you like this sort of thing.
Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey. I mentioned this book in a recent post. I’m reading it slowly, and enjoying it. Interesting insight into how creative people work(ed) and recommended for inspiration.
For self-improvement (see this post for more detail):
The Epic of Gilgamesh. I’m reading the version A New Rendering in English Verse by David Ferry and enjoying it, but my work reading is getting higher priority, so it’s slightly stalled at the moment. Surprisingly easy to read. If you like heroes, and poetry, might be worth a look.
For work:
Getting to Yes: Negotiating An Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury. Title is exactly what it’s about. This is for a course I’m doing next week. (Better finish it by then!)
The E-copyright Handbook by Paul Pedley. I’m supposed to be reviewing this, and I am waaaaaay behind. (Sshhh, don’t tell the reviews editor! I don’t think he reads this blog…)
I don’t know about recommending either of these work reads. 1) I haven’t finished them, and 2) it will depend on whether you want to learn about either topic, I think.
Are you reading anything right now?
(This post inspired by A Guy’s Moleskine Notebook.)
8 Comments
I have just finished reading Kate Atkinson’s Life after life which I gave five stars too. She was in Melbourne recently and I attended a talk by her.
Have you read any of her Jackson Brodie books, Anne?
“I’m a bit perplexed to find that I am reading a few books at the moment. I’m usually a serial monogamist, a one-book-at-a-time reader.” I too am usually a one-book-at-a-time reader and can relate to your sense that something is odd when you found you are reading more than one book. It has been two and a half years since I finished university and I am still revelling in the fact that I can read a whole book – what luxury! The practice of looking up an index of a book, reading just the chapter or few pages with the relevant bit for the university essay disturbed me. I felt I was not doing the right thing by the author when I failed to read their entire argument. I also felt like a fraud when I added the book to my bibliography.
I’m currently reading The Computer Boys Take Over by Nathan L Ensmenger. Yes, I read non-fiction for fun! The reason I became interested in this book was so that I could understand the world that my mother was part of when she studied computer science and then worked in the industry.
Do you read a lot of non-fiction, Yvonne? I’m finding my non-fiction quota has vastly increased since I started using an ereader/tablet, but I often fail to read these works from beginning to end. I seem to dip in and out…
I read mostly nonfiction but I understand why people don’t read them cover to cover. There are too many nonfiction books where the research and analysis is excellent but are written in such a deadly dull manner that the reader falls to sleep. Nonfiction writers on the whole need to pay more attention to writing style. This does not mean that they should dum down what they are saying, they should put more effort into engaging their reader.
I enjoyed this post, I’m the same as you, preferring to read one book at a time. I do find myself having a book for the train commute & another for bedtime .
Do you read the same genres for your commute and for bedtime, Bron, or do you read very different things?
Commute is usually non-fiction or light (by weight) books and bedtime is always fiction, usually crime (Glass, Connelly, Lord, Corris etc..):) I have never taken to sci-fi, but I want to give it a try & I saw that you read & so I really want to try Lindsey Davis too.