A lot of people chimed in on the confession I made about having not read a classic series of books and now I feel far less alone.
So now I thought I'd admit something else:
I've stopped reading adult books.
Yup. Really.
No more Oprah books. No more Pulitzer Prize winners. No more non fiction tomes. No more bestselling John Grisham books. No more political candidate books. No more New York Times bestsellers. No more "my book club is reading this book and it's wonderful and everyone else is reading it and you should too" books.
Why?
Three reasons, really.
The first is that I'm currently in graduate school... specifically, library school, and let me tell you, there is a LOT of assigned reading. So, that severely limits any books I might read for pleasure.
The second is that because of my new job as a children's book buyer I'm reading a lot of books for work. Advance copies and current bestselling children's books and children's classics I always meant to read and series books, and on and on. (Cool job, isn't it? =) In the extremely limited non-grad school reading that I'm doing, these are the books that get read.
And third is that I'm just not that into adult books anymore. Maybe this will change- but right now I'm enjoying children's books more. I don't know if there's one specific reason... probably many things.
So, there you are. And one more admission... I haven't read The Kite Runner. I started it... it really depressed me, and I haven't finished it.
Are you still speaking to me? Please tell me I'm not alone.
I'm with you, Susan. I mostly read adult books when I'm traveling, because they're more dense, and easier to pack. But when I'm at home, I'm almost exclusively reading children's books. And you have good reasons. That's a pretty cool job...
ReplyDeleteHow does one get such a cool job? There are so many great books books for young adults now - I have no problem reading them and I don't even have a job for an excuse. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd and 3rd in the Peter and the Starcatcher series next ...
ReplyDeleteJen- good to know I'm not alone! Thanks for the validation. =) When I travel, I pack longer kid's books and YA novels.
ReplyDeleteMary Beth- I was in the right place at the right time. (Cliche, I know, but true.) And actually, the job is even cooler than I let on... it's in an independent toy store. I'd love to hear what you think about Peter and the Shadow Thieves (the 2nd book)- I enjoyed it quite a bit. I can't wait to read Peter and the Secret of Rundoon but the grad school reading is taking over right now.
I do favor YA ARCs for travel, too, Susan. I'm weight-sensitive, because I usually have a computer with me, too.
ReplyDeleteJen- I took a middle grade ARC with me when I traveled a few weeks ago- and finished it before the trip was over! (Incidentally the book was The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, which I really enjoyed.) I was forced to buy a new book at the airport during my layover... and that was quite a challenge. Sigh. Airport bookstores just don't have good collections of children's books.
ReplyDeleteI'm another. I have so many kids' and YA books I want/need to read for my library and writing work, I don't have time left for "adult" books unless they're something really special. But my husband and I will often read adult books aloud together, especially humorous memoirs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Portland, OR airport has Powell's Books, and they have a nice children's selection. But otherwise ... pretty weak. I always keep a couple of blockbusters in mental reserve for possible airport purchase (adult titles), but sometimes it's a real struggle to find something.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Susan. 99.5% of my reading is children's or YA. Mostly, it's because that's what I like. They're quick reads, they're often quite funny, and I really think that children's and YA books are higher quality. The adult books I read are often things like Terry Pratchett or a few romance novelists that I still keep up with (Nora Roberts and Jennifer Crusie, mostly.)
ReplyDeleteCelery Soda and Bibliovore- thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one!
ReplyDeleteJen- Powells has an airport branch? I've never noticed that- and I'm been the Portland airport tons of times. I'll have to check that out next time.
Yes, I think there are even multiple airport branches of Powell's at PDX. They're small, but much better stocked than your usual airport bookstore. There's even a used book section sometimes. Definitely a high point of travel to Portland (Oregon, of course, not Maine).
ReplyDeleteI read 'adult' books, but not what everyone means by adult books. I read SciFi/Fantasy. I don't think I've read plain fiction in forever. There are a number of deep and meaningful writers I just want to smack.
ReplyDeletemfp mommy- I feel exactly the same way.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, referring to books as "adult" makes them sound a lot more interesting than they are. =)