Image courtesy The Literary Gift Company
Goodreads’ slogan is “Meet Your Next Favorite Book.” This is because it is a wondrous site filled with the opportunity to network, observe and read all about books. There are discussion groups, friends lists and review upon delicious review of any and every title out there. There are quizzes, games, giveaways. It is a heavenly place for bookies. When you are feeling bookish. When you are feeling bitter, not so much.
I have been out of sorts with my reading groove lately. Baby Sammy sees to much of that. My hectic workload is also hogging too much of my free time. Warm weather months dictate a more active, outdoor schedule with the remaining free time, leaving me about 1 or 2 hours a week to read these days, if I’m lucky. So I want that tiny little reading window to be filled with high quality entertainment. Instead, I have been left feeling stuck with characters that don’t engage my sympathies, plots that don’t entice or language that lulls me into an early evening of dozing off.
I poke around for recommendations on book blogs, Goodreads and popular sites/publications. I receive offers from publishers wanting to send me free books to read and review. And nothing out there has me interested. Nothing. It all sounds the same. I can’t find an original plot, concept, creation out there. Similar variations of the same old same old.
I’m being belligerent here, I know. Not everything is the same. Oh sure, it all revolves around the same common themes humans have been writing about since cave drawings. But just as we are all unique from each other, so then are our experiences of those common themes. We are what make them uncommon. But right now, it all seems like drivel.
I need to find something that will blow me away. And I need it to land in my lap. Because I don’t want to spend my 2 hours a week looking for a new favorite rather than reading it. So help me out, dear readers. Any genre. Any length. What’s your recommendation? And how did it arrive in your world?
a thinker
cloverautrey
izzybella
jehara
Margot
thebumbles
quirkygirlsread.wordpress.com 
I’ve been on a non-fiction kick this year so I haven’t read a wowzer fiction book this year either. It does seem like YA is passing off the same drivel year after year. But I highly recommend Graceling by Kristin Cashore if you haven’t read it yet. I read that one two years ago and it still sticks with me. Good luck!!
Added to my list – thanks Heather! I would love to hear your fave NF selections of late too.
I don’t know if paranormal is your thing, but one of my favourite reads this year was Tegan’s Blood by L.H. Cosway. She released a follow up called Tegan’s Blood recently which was just as good.
Thanks Emma. It is not my go-to genre by any means – which is precisely why I should give it a go – mix things up. Thanks for the introduction to this series.
my brain is too tired to pick . . . if I think of something I’ll come back. I know there are random generators that pick your next book based on questions you answer.
When your brain wakes up, come back and tell me where to find those random generators – that sounds like a fun inspiration for blog posts on reading sources and my thoughts of their recommendations!
The most original thing I’ve read recently is English Weather, by Neil Ferguson. It’s the story of a man’s life, told from the end to the beginning, with each chapter narrated by an entirely different character – young, old, male, female, educated or not. It’s an amazing ventriloquist’s act. It’s very subtle, with the main character appearing in all sorts of different ways, often quite distantly, but always having an effect on the character narrating the story.
Otherwise, two really nice, slim books are Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, which is light and lovely, and For Esme With Love And Squalor by JD Salinger – the story of an American soldier in WWII who makes friends with a little girl.
Thanks for including some Classics recommendations here, Christopher. That is the genre I should be reading to further promote. And shorties to boot! But I must say, I am intrigued by your first suggestion. Will see if I can get my hands on it.
Recently, I’ve really enjoyed reading The Dolphin People by Torsten Krol and, even more so, The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean. Both are fairly quick reads, and they’re a bit weird in terms of being different from a lot of other books you’ll find.
I am very intrigued by The Dolphin People. Considering the first line of a review I just saw on Goodreads stated they wished this book were a guy so they could marry it and have a million babies with it :0)
Lol! Though actually, if I had a list of authors I would consider marrying just because of their writing, Torsten Krol would probably make it.
Pick up Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It has short chapters so you can easily pick it up if you only have a few moments to spare. But with so many surprising plot twists, I found it very difficult to put it down!
I love a good thriller. And one that can easily be left and returned to – even better. If it is enticing enough, I’d make the time to whip right on through. Thanks so much!
Miss Molly, how might I find you on GoodReads so I can see what you’ve read and loved?
Just sent you a friend request :0)
I echo Katie’s recommendation. I just finished Gone Girl a few weeks ago and loved it. Of course, since I’m “studying” Stephen King this year, I also think 11/22/63 (about time travel and the assassination of JFK, such a good book!), or The Stand, which I’m currently reading for the readalong (#standalong) would be great ones to pick up. If you like audio books, Stiff by Mary Roach is a good one about the history of the cadaver, and the narrator is excellent. Just fascinating.
Of course, in reading my suggestions, I listed a lot of twisted stuff…! So, to lighten it up, anything by Sarah Addison Allen, preferably Garden Spells or The Sugar Queen. I love some good ole magical realism set in the South! And you can’t go wrong with Adriana Trigiani and some family relationships, love, and my favorite, Italy with Brava, Valentine.
Thanks for pointing out Stiff – I’ve had that on my list for a while – never thought to listen to it!
Have you read any P. G. Wodehouse? His Jeeves and Wooster novels are incredible, and I truly believe they are good for the soul! I think reading about Bertie Wooster’s adventures in great stately homes in the english countryside is perfect when in a reading slump.