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this is a book post
But first: curling: greatest thing ever, y/y? I'm beginning to think that it's not that I don't like sports, it's just that I don't like sports that are popular in America. Caber toss? I'm all over that nonsense. Clearly, I should move to Scotland and watch rugby and curling and other awesome sports.
Anyway, back to books.
So, as most of you know, I was an English major. I never even considered another major; I knew in elementary school what I was going to do. I've always been a big reader, and I was in college, too, though I read less books because I was reading longer, more complex ones--lots and lots of the classics. And there were some amazing books--to give you an idea, Absalom, Absalom! is my favorite book. Period. And I never would have read Madam Bovary or The End of the Affair or something on my own, but: brilliant.
But. Since graduation, I hadn't been reading much. Well, that's not true; I'd been reading lots of fic and lots of Jezebel articles and lots of essays online about race and gender and other interesting things. But I hadn't read very many books. I think I got sort of burned out? I was reading such intense, complex texts on a very analytical level for four years of college that I needed to...not do that anymore. And it made me sad, because reading is what I do. I only read 23 books last year. That's very, very low for me, and I was kind of disappointed in myself.
But in the last month or so, I've been wanting to read all the time, and I think my appetite is back. I'm so happy! It feels so good!
So this is me asking for book recs.
A couple of things:
1. Nothing too dense, please. I know I need to read Lolita and War and Peace, and I want to, so I'll get to them eventually, though probably not anytime soon. But at the same time, I am not a beach read reader. I like well-written books (read: nothing Nicholas Sparks-esque or Jodi Picoult-ian, okay?).
2. I have no interest in reading about contemporary Western people. I want to go somewhere else when I read. This means that I want:
A. Books set in some other historical period or, at the very least, somewhere else on the planet.
B. Speculative fiction. I love fantasy, and I love character-driven sci-fi, though I lean toward the former. (Also, re: fantasy: I'm over the whole "we're going on a journey through a vaguely medieval European" brand of fantasy, and I'd prefer something unique).
3. I like long books. Something meaty that I can really dig my teeth into. This isn't a must, but just something to keep in mind.
4. Character, character, character, okay?
5. Most important: I want I-love-it books. Books y'all love. That you'd read more than once. There are too many books to read to waste my time on something that's just okay. So only rec it if you love it (or if you think I might love it).
Help me out, y'all?
Anyway, back to books.
So, as most of you know, I was an English major. I never even considered another major; I knew in elementary school what I was going to do. I've always been a big reader, and I was in college, too, though I read less books because I was reading longer, more complex ones--lots and lots of the classics. And there were some amazing books--to give you an idea, Absalom, Absalom! is my favorite book. Period. And I never would have read Madam Bovary or The End of the Affair or something on my own, but: brilliant.
But. Since graduation, I hadn't been reading much. Well, that's not true; I'd been reading lots of fic and lots of Jezebel articles and lots of essays online about race and gender and other interesting things. But I hadn't read very many books. I think I got sort of burned out? I was reading such intense, complex texts on a very analytical level for four years of college that I needed to...not do that anymore. And it made me sad, because reading is what I do. I only read 23 books last year. That's very, very low for me, and I was kind of disappointed in myself.
But in the last month or so, I've been wanting to read all the time, and I think my appetite is back. I'm so happy! It feels so good!
So this is me asking for book recs.
A couple of things:
1. Nothing too dense, please. I know I need to read Lolita and War and Peace, and I want to, so I'll get to them eventually, though probably not anytime soon. But at the same time, I am not a beach read reader. I like well-written books (read: nothing Nicholas Sparks-esque or Jodi Picoult-ian, okay?).
2. I have no interest in reading about contemporary Western people. I want to go somewhere else when I read. This means that I want:
A. Books set in some other historical period or, at the very least, somewhere else on the planet.
B. Speculative fiction. I love fantasy, and I love character-driven sci-fi, though I lean toward the former. (Also, re: fantasy: I'm over the whole "we're going on a journey through a vaguely medieval European" brand of fantasy, and I'd prefer something unique).
3. I like long books. Something meaty that I can really dig my teeth into. This isn't a must, but just something to keep in mind.
4. Character, character, character, okay?
5. Most important: I want I-love-it books. Books y'all love. That you'd read more than once. There are too many books to read to waste my time on something that's just okay. So only rec it if you love it (or if you think I might love it).
Help me out, y'all?