Let’s just start with this- I won Engie’s giveaway, and so received an amazing package in the mail!!!
AND, my very own tiny book!
These were goodies she procured from the Grown Up Book Fair she attended over the summer. It sounds like SO MUCH FUN, and I’m glad I got to experience it vicariously through her blog post and then with my giveaway haul.
Maybe that put me in a book-ish mood, because I realized I haven’t been to Barnes and Noble in a while (although let’s be honest- I don’t need excuses to go to a bookstore). I’m still enjoying two glorious days off of work mid-week (Tuesday and Wednesday) so this Tuesday I went to Barnes and Noble. First, I sat in the cafe while I drank tea and read the latest issue of Bookmarks.
Then, I browsed! I discovered a new book by Sophie Hannah, and it’s her “Hercule Poirot” series, which I love. But, I don’t love paying for hardcover books, so I went to the library website, found out they had a copy at my branch, so I swung by on my way home and picked it up.
I did buy something though! I’ve been looking for this book for a while:
I think I heard about it on the Currently Reading Podcast. They don’t carry it at my library, and I’ve been looking at used bookstore with no success. So, I decided to buy it. I can’t start it yet because I’m in the middle of this book:
I heard about this one from Raeleen on Books Unbound. She really liked it, and I’m liking it so far.
I swear I read non-mystery books as well! But I do gravitate towards mysteries. I know it might sound weird, but there’s something soothing about them. The book I read before this one was a family drama:
I really liked this. The premise is, a family is traveling in a car operating on auto-drive. Through a complicated set of circumstances, they have a head-on collision that kills the two people in the other car. Whose fault was it? The 17-year-old boy sitting in the driver’s seat? The AI auto-drive system? His father sitting in the passenger seat, who was engrossed in work emails and not paying attention to the road?
It was a really interesting premise and I enjoyed the book. But somewhere in the middle I went through a phase where I became incredibly anxious. I really liked these people and I didn’t want any of them to be in trouble, or go to jail, or have their lives ruined. I had the same experience while reading Lady Tremaine. Sometimes I get too caught up in the characters’ lives, which I guess is a sign of good writing.
When I read a mystery, I don’t identify with the characters as much. I don’t personally relate to a detective investigating serial killings. It’s obviously made up, I just enjoy the story, and I pretty much know how it’s going to end. It’s an escape, much like I imagine people feel when they read romances.
You might be thinking, “JENNY. How can you compare a romance novel to a story about people being killed, hacked up, and their body parts strewn around the city???” Yep, that’s relaxing to me! Maybe I’m just a strange person.
Have you read any of these? Do you like mysteries? What kind of book is relaxing for you?
27 Responses
Yay! The package arrived! I’m so happy that you liked it.
Romance novels are relaxing for me. They’re formulaic, you know there’s going to be a happy ending, and there’s usually fun banter. I mean, what could be better? I struggle with mysteries because I want to solve them and BE SMART, but sometimes (okay, most of the time) the authors are smarter than me and I get resentful. LOL. This is a me problem, isn’t it?
Ha ha, well we’re different on the matter of mysteries. I DON’T want to solve them- if I solve them then I feel like the author made it too easy. I want to be surprised at the end. But I do like the fact that they’re usually formulaic, and kind of have a happy ending? I mean if you can ignore the fact that lots of people may have died, it’s all resolved in the end.
That looks like the best box ever! I love the little Agatha Christie book. I haven’t read any of those yet, but some of them I will be putting on my list. I love reading mysteries too and I think it is the clear wrap up in mysteries that is comforting. Too many loose ends makes me disappointed and frustrated. BTW this is Sue from Speaking of Easy, but I changed my blog (bit of a long story) and am now found at Sparkle and Spritzers. I’ve missed commenting and connecting! And I’m really glad I came back for this bookish post!
Ooh! I will definitely check out the new blog. And yes, a nicely wrapped-up ending is definitely comforting!
I read culpability and like it too. the beauty of a well written realistic fiction is to allow us to immerse ourselves to the story..
I am still thinking the characters of Americanah since I finished and want to keep thinking about it more.
Yes, I agree, it is a beautiful thing when we can get fully immersed in a story like that. And I love it when I’m still thinking about a book long after I’ve read it.
What a great bookish haul! Congrats on the win.
Thank you!!! It was a good giveaway to win.
I have Culpability on hold at the library. I think Lisa recommended it to me (although it’s by a MAN, we will see what I think!)
I am in the midst of reread week (reread fortnight, honestly) and I find it so comforting to sink into old favourites. I am not a mystery person, although sometimes Suzanne or Allison will suggest one that I might like. I love a character driven literary fiction, it’s my favourite genre and I find I can really get into a character’s head. I also find a light, closed-door romance to be very relaxing because I know it will turn out well in the end. Especially if there is good dialogue! I like that every once in a while.
I’m so jealous you won the purple set! Enjoy!
Okay, I will be very interested to hear what you think of Culpability! Written by a man! You’re really branching out ; )
I have both Culpability AND Lady Tremaine on my holds list and I’m waiting impatiently for both. WILL REPORT BACK!
That is such a fun prize from Engie. Such a cool array of items.
I KNOW. Best giveaway ever. And, I can’t believe I got both those books from my library in a timely manner! I’ll be interested to hear what you think of them.
I won Engie’s giveaway, too! It was a delight to come home to a fun package! I’m envious of her town’s book fair! I know Minneapolis has a book fair of sorts but it’s really big and I do not love really big events! I did go once when it was at the fair grounds and it was really fun but not super busy so it wasn’t annoying/overwhelming (I loathe crowds which is why I am team never going to Disney…).
I’m glad you enjoyed Culpability. I also got that anxious feeling while reading it. We read it for my August book club meeting and 9/10 of us really liked it! It made for a good discussion about AI. We barely talked about the book since we all had thoughts about AI (I’m a hater, to be honest).
I think the least stressful book for me to read is a middle grade type of novel. The plot lines can include some hard stuff but it’s usually written in a really gentle and soothing manner. I also like to read romance, but the manufactured conflict that happens around the 80% mark STRESSES ME OUT even though I know they’ll get through it and have their happily ever after. Ideally, the romance would have no conflict which would be boring for others but great for me!
I agree that romance novels can be TOO formulaic with the manufactured conflict- that annoys me. I guess that’s why I don’t read them! Also yes- middle grade. It’s never TOO stressful.
Engie’s book fair sounds perfect- really fun and interesting but in a small town way. I’m also very envious.
What a fun prize! I love the little book! I am a big mystery reader; I have been since I was a child. I think they were my version of puzzles or word problems that I never grew out of. I do try to read other fiction genres and on a monthly basis read at least 1 poetry collection and non-fiction book.
Yes I know- I’ve gotten some good mystery recommendations from you! And I also loved mysteries as a child. I read my first Agatha Christie in seventh grade and then was officially hooked for the rest of my life.
I’m going to have to put Culpability on my library list- you make it sound really interesting!
I love mysteries- there’s an end or answer. ( unlike some fiction- Good People , I’m looking at you!) .
Oh really? Good People doesn’t have a satisfying ending? Duly noted!
Culpability was interesting, although it turned out to be strong on the family drama and a little weaker on the question of AI than I would have liked.
I think I enjoy murder mysteries because the “bad thing” had already happened. Depending on my mood, a thriller can be too stressful!
I really liked Culpability but now I can’t remember the resolution — I’ll have to re-read the end. 😉
Yes I agree- I like mysteries, but a true thriller is usually too stressful for me. And, I know what you’re saying about mysteries- except that the one I’m reading now is a police procedural where a serial killer is on the loose… so bad things keep happening!
Congrats. Great win!
I just finished a good mystery – The Husband’s Wife.
I do wish I had more time to read… that’s what I love about boating – no distractions.
I also hate to buy books and use my local library all the time.
I also wish I had more time to read! I end up reading late instead of sleeping sometimes, and it’s not good.
I read widely across all genres (except fantasy/sci-fi is SO BORING to me), but I have to switch what I’m reading every few books. I would get so tired of reading the same story line over and over!
I can go back and forth on sci fi/ fantasy. I’ve finally figured out that I don’t like “high fantasy” where I have to learn a million things about a completely different world. I like near-future sci fi- once again, basically our world with a few futuristic tweaks. I’m not interested in books on completely different planets (although there are exception… Ender is one).
What a generous and simply terrific prize you won! I am so jealous of Engie’s grown-up book fair; every place should have one.
I read a lot–A LOT–of mysteries growing up and I think I’ve just topped out on them. The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden–all of them were my constant companions. And wow! am I ever dating myself with that array.
Rereading Gone with the Wind is extremely relaxing for me. I used to reread it every single June when school was out. I love rereading and picking up something new each time. And sometimes, a book was The Right Book At The Time, but upon a reread, it feels different. That’s always a kick for me.
Oh yes- the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew! They were my first loves. I just read Gone With the Wind last year FOR THE FIRST TIME, which is crazy. I loved it.
I know exactly what you mean about romances/mysteries vs other types of fiction books. I also get very stressed out by bad things happening to the characters I’ve come to love. I find WWII novels VERY stressful in that respect. With romances, I know I’m going to get a happy ending and it’s all about the journey to get there!
That giveaway package looks INSANELY COOL. Yay!