As I’ve mentioned a couple of times in passing on this blog, my husband bought me an iPad Mini for Christmas. He also loaded it with a bunch of books for me. I’ve been spending my time getting caught up on all the reading I haven’t been doing in ages. I read a book about Scientology, and have been tackling some popular fiction. Twilight. The Hunger Games. 50 Shades. I have also been catching up on my blog reading on the iPad, which has been fabulous. It’s much easier to read things this way, when I can do it while I’m waiting for the kettle to boil or hiding from my kids in the bathroom, rather than having to be sitting at my computer.
The truth is that, in spite of not spending much time reading in recent years, I’ve always been a bookworm. I was one of those kids who preferred to spend my time curled up inside with a good book. I remember my mother forcing me outside on sunny days, convinced of my need for some fresh air and exercise. I don’t dispute her decision, but left to my own devices I would have been devouring some literature instead.
Before Jon and I had children, our standard date night involved dinner, followed by a visit to a big bookstore. We spent our evening wandering, reading back covers, and considering our options. Sometimes we meandered together, but usually we split up, each heading to our own favourite sections. His: self-help, business, history. Me: fiction, religion and spirituality, society and culture. At the end of the evening we would find each other, and discuss books on the way home in the car. Talk about a hot Saturday night.
The steep decline in my reading came when I started working from home in earnest. Every spare minute was spent trying to get through my never-ending to-do list. My reading was mostly confined to the Sunday New York Times, one short article at a time, as I ate breakfast. I started books, and then failed to finish them. I kept them there on my dresser, though, with bookmarks sticking out of them. I accumulated a massive pile of unread magazines, just waiting for the possibility that soon, soon, I would manage to pick them up.
Things have changed in my life recently, though. I’ve pared down my commitments, so that I am spending less time working and more time living. After all, this is why I chose this lifestyle. It feels good, and I’m enjoying it. The arrival of the iPad was the right technology at the right time. It makes reading easy and portable. I’m even considering switching my magazine subscriptions for the electronic versions, which hold my page for me and go anywhere. A whole library at my disposal, whenever I have a minute or two to read.
I have more books loaded that I still want to tackle. But after plowing my way through many, well, fluffier selections, I’m ready for something a little more substantial. Something meatier, that I can sink my teeth into. That’s where you come in. I’d like your recommendations. What good books have you read lately? What tops your personal must-read list? I’d love to hear!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some reading to do.
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Witgh iPad, I have one word – “Zite”. If you ever liked magazines, and loathed the time you have to spend online just to FIND what tickles your fancy – Zite is the answer. My husband is hooked. I’m hooked into google reader – following blogs is easier, and I don’t have to use * cough* work time just to keep up.
I always habitually recommend “Omnivores Dilemma”, but you strike me as a person who has already done that. “Powerdown” and related books were my only topic for a whole year. “Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” is also good, even if not 100% scientifically proven. “Guns, Germs and Steel” really added another layer of my thinking about society and civilizations.
In terms of fiction – well it turned out that I could not sit through Umberto Eco’s “Baudolino”, even if I have read “Travelling with Salmon” at least 5 times so far. It seems I need humour to keep me going through the book, so right now I’m laughing, crying and dealing with head spins while reading “Let’s Pretend this Never Happened”.
And I still leverage library a LOT, since too many of the titles that I find interesting are not available in electronic form. Looking through kindle titles, I can see a lot of “Twilight” type of books, but nothing along the lines of serious social study book, or even the classics. It seems that eBook market is heavily dominated by immediate profits and/or caters to only certain demographics. Plus, eBooks does not have history (yet) – while I can walk into used books bookstore (or library) and pick up Camus’s “Stranger” and Eco’s “Name of the Rose”, there are only few sparse nods to classics on iBooks (it is getting better, though).
Happy reading!
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
Yes, I’ve already read “Omnivore’s Dilemma”, and several like it. But I haven’t read any of Pollan’s other books, and I’d like to, so that jogged my memory.
I can see that the e-book market is still in its infancy, but I can at least search for something good, right? I’m going to give it a go. And thanks for the recommendations!
Wolf Hall!
Harriet’s last post … Conceiving Family a moving adoption documentary
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I will check it out!
I loved:
The Unit – Nini Holmquist
Kate Morton – The House on Riverton (?)
anything by Jennifer Weiner (Good in Bed)
Wiked – Gregory McGuire – before the hit musical, Steve bought me all his books and I have devoured all of them.
The Birth House
Just some of my favorites….
And as a library board member of my local library I will encourage you to check out e books from your library…at home…on line…so simple.
Heather’s last post … A Lesson in Forgiveness
Twitter: karenednamunro
says:
D’oh, I was going to recommend Wolf Hall, but someone beat me to it! There is a sequel called Bring Down the Bodies. Great books if you are a history geek like me and are interested in the Tudor era in England.
Also The Night Circus is a very engrossing read; I loved it.
Karen Munro’s last post … What I saw before I knew
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I am a Tudor England fanatic.
Thanks for the recommendations!
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
Thanks for the recommendations, Heather!
I just read a really fun book on my kindle – it’s called Playing Along, by Rory Green. It’s quick and easy read about a cross cultural romance (i.e. California girl and UK rock star). It was both completely enjoyable and also thought-provoking in a good way – like when you’ve had a great afternoon chatting and laughing with friends, but actually talk about some important stuff.
Melissa’s last post … Thin Ice
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
Quick and easy? I will definitely check THAT out!
My hubby started me with a sony e-reader, we evolved then to an ipad 2 a few years ago, great tools for reading on the go but I will always love printed books. I buy them after I have read them electronically to build my collection that I hope I can inherit to a child or a grandchild someday.
Anyways, for a twist of latin american great writers:
Check out Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende , all of their books are great. Just don’t start with Gabriel’s biography, leave that to the end if you want to understand where his magic comes from.
Right now I am hooked to Carlos Ruiz Zafon , (Spain) his trilogy “The cemetery of the forgotten books” made me realize of his potential. Looking forward to more of his work anytime soon.
Happy reading!
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I do love printed books, as well. There’s something about the look, feel and smell that’s very compelling. The e-reader is just so much more portable, though, as I’ve discovered.
Anyway, thanks for the recommendations. I’ll definitely check those out!
Twitter: AlyMcF
says:
For fiction, you might try “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel or “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom. For non-fiction, I’m wondering if you’ve read “Non-Violent Communication” by Marshall Rosenberg (just started that one myself) because it seems like it would be something you’d appreciate.
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I’ve heard lots of good things about “Non Violent Communication”. Thanks for the tips!
Twitter: fuoriborgo
says:
“a whole library at my disposal” that’s what I like about it. what i haven’t figured out is whether owning a iPad/tablet makes spending for random reading material to build up that library, too easy. one other issue that’s holding me back a little is that each time there’s a book i’m interested in, it usually isn’t available in e-format. so, how limited would my elibrary be?
Francesca’s last post … making gnocchi
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
It is definitely true that some books are easier to find on e-reader than others.
I’m just figuring the whole thing out, but there are lots of ways to get cheap and even free e-books, as I understand it. The bigger question is whether you would want to read those ones, which of course comes back to the second issue.
Twitter: kellynaturally
says:
I recently finished reading Life of Pi which I really enjoyed. I’m reading the Book Thief now which is, in a word, BRILLIANT.
Interestingly, I’ve had a Kindle for a couple of years, and I just haven’t made the switch – I still buy books in book form, and still go to the library. I don’t know why, exactly, that I’m resistant. I have a couple digital books, and it is nice for portability, but still…
I felt this way a bit at the transition from CDs to digital media… and it took me several years to succumb; and I now love my iTunes account. But that said… I still buy my children “real” CDs. So. Not sure what this all means. Maybe simply that I’m getting old. Or, that I like the feel of holding a book in my hands, then putting it on my shelf where I can see my accomplishment. Maybe.
kelly @kellynaturally’s last post … Stranger than Fiction
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
I will say this – it’s real books for my kids all the way. I can’t imagine giving a tablet to either of them, because I’m pretty sure that not much reading would get done. Plus, with younger kids, the tactile feel is so important.
But yeah, for me, I’m a convert. Thanks for the recommendations!