I read too much dense nonfiction and burned out the book reading part of my brain, and it massively impacted on my ability to read for pleasure, but do you know what immediately fixed that and led to my current 2-5 book a week reading spree? Reading old middle grade and YA novels I loved as a kid.
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1) you are absolutely right.
2) If you would like, I could recommend you a few books published since you 'grew out of them' that I think might light you up in the same way. We have such cracking writing for young people going on.
'I am Rebel' by Ross Montgomery is the book I would have LOVED beyond reason when I was twelveish had it been published.
The Song that Sings Us by Nicola Davies is a young YA which brings together Northern Lights, Alex Rider, Mortal Engines and more.
Sounds like a scam if you ask me, but anyway.
And you must read The Forgotten Door — Alexander Key !
(my husband had this problem after grad school & still hasn't bounced back almost a decade later)
Sending a hug.
I'm going to go back and read some Dragonlance and see if that helps. Thanks!
I’m a big fan of My Side of the Mountain.
Love to know some of your other favorites.
You know in between reading about kick ass women doing all the dangerous things in WWII.
in the world for YA fiction. It's intelligent, imaginative, thought provoking and emotional, blurring reality in a way that more adult fiction can't seem to achieve.
One had a chapter about how The Great Brain's brother snuck into a friend's house to purposely get the mumps...
It took place in Utah (I think) in the late 1800s (I think).
I went through the exact same during/after my English Lit major in Uni. Doing what you said has helped but also picking up books that teen me would've enjoyed pertaining to new hobbies (such as Warhammer 40k, SO MANY BOOKS)
It's a travesty this adventure has not become a film series!
Thank you for the reminder!
(I’m turning 64 soon)
It’s been years, and I still feel like I need “break reading” after a long book now.
Re reading the Earthsea Quartet annually is good for a top-up when I'm struggling these days.
predicament about 2 months ago so I whipped out my entire series of “Artemis Fowl”. And you know what? I enjoyed it as much as an adult as I did back then! It still has all the magic and joy that only an amazing book can provide. Excited to find another series soon.
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/herman-melville-answers-questions-about-racism-with-lines-from-moby-dick
[MD's] complex narrative and...symbolism can be interpreted as a critique of racism, but...also contains elements [might be viewed] as perpetuating racist stereotypes."
https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2010/09/desirees-baby.html?m=1
My go to books
The Forgotten Door — Alexander Key HIGHLY RECOMMENDED will reset your hope and love meter
The Tripod Trilogy — John Christopher
The Chronicles of Prydain — Lloyd Alexander 5 books
Island of the Blue Dolphins — Scott O’Dell
Good stories, good messages, good feelings ❤️
1) Book about a Martian astronaut possibly named Mathew Loomis
2) Children’s book, had a character named Hamish McTavish, a race horse, and a restaurant chain?
PS: I don't think you can burn out the book reading part of your brain.
Have you read anything by Jonathan Lethem? Palanhiuk might also spark joy
Dry eye and changing levels of far-sightedness made reading books difficult—you can't easily magnify a printed page and it sucks to have to keep stopping to use eye drops.
But this might help!
Try audiobooks! It’s not the same as reading but it’s a very very close second. Added benefit of being able to multitask while you listen.
But I also love underlining, highlighting, writing notes next to text—and it's frustrating to be unable to do that.
But I never seem to finish books purchased that way. IDK why.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2478694.Urn_Burial
So far the closest I've gotten is a true classic of horror, The Shining.
My 10 Years in a Quandary and How They Grew.
Benchley Beside Himself.
Chips off the old Benchley.
Introduced to Pratchett as a teen I've always said his Discworld stories are my "chicken soup for the soul!"
😊
I might also reread the Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) series, which was my favourite as a tween and which I fully recommend to anyone.
This is the single greatest thing I've done as a human. Please read it.
Loved reading my whole life.
Got Masters Degree in my early 50s. DENSE reading AND writing.
I did inhale the Silo series, but thinking about reading brings no joy now.