Queereaders discussion

When difficult things happen and you're feeling blue, what books do you find help you take your mind off things (give you some mental downtime)?

For me, when I want to forget everything and gain some mental downtime, I usually read something by P.G. Wodehouse like Carry on, Jeeves. The Wodehouse books can make me laugh with their sheer silliness.

Either that or something by Jasper Fforde. Fforde requires me to engage my brain a bit more, but I find him funny too. The Nursery Crimes series starting with The Big Over Easy was wonderfully unserious.

Another series I find comforting is the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Lots of great human comedy in those books that makes me laugh. I love the one about the beauty pageant, Morality for Beautiful Girls. No, they aren't terrifically deep, but they're light & fun reads.

In such situations I turn to my guilty pleasures: Star Wars and Star Trek novels. The universes and characters are so well known and the endings are happy. Old classic sci-fi novels, like Heinlein juvies are suitable too.

I have a sci-fi guilty pleasure like that too Kernos. The trilogy beginning with Master of the Five Magics. No character development to speak of and somewhat formulaic, but I find it freakishly enjoyable for some reason. I love rooting for the protagonist, and nothing in the series ever depresses me. Pure mind candy. I've probably read the series 10 times over the years.

For comfort food, I turn to Star Trek novels too. I keep a little stash of yet-unread Treks for emotional emergencies.

In less crisis, my dear old The Once and Future King is mental and emotional sustenance.

Bryn wrote: "For comfort food, I turn to Star Trek novels too. I keep a little stash of yet-unread Treks for emotional emergencies.

In less crisis, my dear old The Once and Future King is mental ..."

I'm planning on re-reading The Once and Future King soon. I just got a brand new copy. It's been decades.

Greg wrote: "I have a sci-fi guilty pleasure like that too Kernos. The trilogy beginning with Master of the Five Magics. No character development to speak of and somewhat formulaic, but I find it..."

I'm not familiar with this. Must give it a try.

It depends the kind of difficulty I'm going through. In my current situation, with my mom dying of cancer, I will steer clear of books about cancer or other devastating illnesses. When I am unable to focus on reading for longer periods of time, short stories are always appealing. They can be light, schmoopy romances or much darker stories, just as long as the problems the characters are dealing with are significantly different from my own.

I also like rereading old favorites. Some that come to mind that I'd like to visit again are:

The Lathe of Heaven
The Dancers at the End of Time
James Kirkwood Jr.'s books, especially P.S. Your Cat Is Dead and Good Times/Bad Times

That makes a lot of sense Nancy. I can't stand to read books about illness right now either with my father's condition. Too close to home. In fact, characters in a few of the TV shows I was watching randomly developed brain tumors as part of the current storylines, and it annoyed me. That was supposed to be my downtime!

By the way, I really enjoyed The Lathe of Heaven. Is that your favorite by Ursula K. Le Guin?

@Nancy, The Dancers at the End of Time is definitely a feel-good book. I'm only discovering it for the first time (though nostalgic with other Moorcocks). Lifts the spirits.

Bryn wrote: "@Nancy, The Dancers at the End of Time is definitely a feel-good book. I'm only discovering it for the first time (though nostalgic with other Moorcocks). Lifts the spirits."

Bryn and Nancy, oh, I just noticed that this was by Michael Moorcock! I've read a bunch of books by him - Elric saga, the Castle Brass ones, etc. But I've never read this one. I'll have to check it out!

after I work through the waugh oeuvre, I want to tackle wodehouse next.
didn't the queen mother order wodehouse for the future queen to read after queen mary advised her to take more interest in lilibet's education?

interestingly enough, while my mother was dying from cancer, I enjoyed reading elisabeth kubler-ross and memoirs of orphans. so when mom left us, I was prepared and I think I handled my grief and loss more readily than the rest of my family.

Rambling Reader wrote: "didn't the queen mother order wodehouse for the future queen to read after queen mary advised her to take more interest in l..."

I didn't know that!

I'll try to find articles about the royal family and wodehouse. very fascinating insight into that family.

Bryn wrote: "@Nancy, The Dancers at the End of Time is definitely a feel-good book. I'm only discovering it for the first time (though nostalgic with other Moorcocks). Lifts the spirits."

God this. Moorcock it different in a fascinating way. He understands the Shadow archetype, I think.

Greg wrote: "...For me, when I want to forget everything and gain some mental downtime, I usually read something by P.G. Wodehouse like Carry on, Jeeves. The Wodehouse books can make me laugh with their sheer silliness...."

I've not read him. I have seen some of the Britcom Jeeves, but did not really appreciate the humor—a bit too dry, or I just didn't get it. I typically like Britcoms, though. I wonder how the TV series compares with the books?

Rambling Reader wrote: "I'll try to find articles about the royal family and wodehouse. very fascinating insight into that family."

Let us know what you find Rambling Reader. It kind of makes sense the royal family would be fans. Now I'm curious!

Kernos wrote: "I have seen some of the Britcom Jeeves, but did not really appreciate the humor—a bit too dry, or I just didn't get it. I typically like Britcoms, though. I wonder how the TV series compares with the books? ..."

I've never seen the TV series Kernos so I have no idea. I found the books very funny though - a bit silly but very funny.

Rambling Reader wrote: "interestingly enough, while my mother was dying from cancer, I enjoyed reading elisabeth kubler-ross and memoirs of orphans. so when mom left us, I was prepared and I think I handled my grief and l..."

I haven't read anything by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Maybe I should. My friend who died of aids in 1995 found it comforting. He wanted me to read it, but I wasn't ready then.

It's likely counterintuitive Nancy, but Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir by Paul Monette I found twenty years ago, or whatever, to be a beautiful book about love and loss and grief. Also look at his essays Paul MonetteLast Watch of the Night: Essays Too Personal and Otherwise and Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story.

As well as AIDS books I like Star Trek too.

And Octavia E. Butler.

And Charles de Lint.

loved both borrowed time and becoming a man by paul monette. beautiful books

Greg wrote: "Bryn wrote: "@Nancy, The Dancers at the End of Time is definitely a feel-good book. I'm only discovering it for the first time (though nostalgic with other Moorcocks). Lifts the spirit..."

The Dancers at the End of Time is the only Moorcock I've read. I keep meaning to check out the Elric books. Has anyone read The Adventures of Una Persson & Catherine Cornelius in the 20th Century?

Julia wrote: "It's likely counterintuitive Nancy, but Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir by Paul Monette I found twenty years ago, or whatever, to be a beautiful book about love and loss a..."

Thank you, Julia. I will definitely check those out now that Mark's death is not so fresh in my mind.

Nancy wrote: "Has anyone read The Adventures of Una Persson & Catherine Cornelius in the 20th Century? ..."

Not me yet

I'm more likely to turn to Mystery Science Theater 3000 when I'm upset, but if I were to read something, it'd be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I aspire to be Douglas Adams.

Eileen wrote: "I'm more likely to turn to Mystery Science Theater 3000 when I'm upset, but if I were to read something, it'd be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I aspire to be Douglas Adams."

Somehow I haven't gotten around to reading this yet, though I've certainly heard it mentioned a lot!

If I had to pick one book it would be LOTR. But whenever I am reading I am content, if not actually cheerful.