NCantonLibrary Chat discussion

Hey everyone! While the library is closed, I thought some folks might appreciate a place to chat about what they are reading. As always, I have multiple books going at once. My husband and I are listening to the Decameron, because why not listen to a classic book about people in self-isolation during the plague? And I'm slowly making my way through Jenny by Sigrid Undset. (Her historical trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter is one of my favorite things ever.) I have a few other things going as well, but honestly, nothing that I'm loving.

What about everyone else?

Shelia

Ugh. I just bailed on a fantasy audiobook I was listening to. It felt like I'd been listening to it for a year, and yet I was only at 15%. (I hate to disparage any book, but, yeah, it was The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons.)

How much of a book do you read/listen to before moving on? Or do you finish everything you start?

Shelia

I try to finish things, but if I find I don't like it (either because it can't hold my interest or I just don't like it) by about 10 chapters or ~100 pages in, I move on.

Selena wrote: "I try to finish things, but if I find I don't like it (either because it can't hold my interest or I just don't like it) by about 10 chapters or ~100 pages in, I move on."

Yeah. By that point, you've definitely given the book a fair chance.

Not going to lie, if I start an e-audiobook and I don’t like the narrator, I end up bailing pretty quickly!! Which usually means I’ll switch to reading it as a physical book or sometimes I abandon completely. Ha!

Valerie wrote: "North Canton wrote: "Hey everyone! While the library is closed, I thought some folks might appreciate a place to chat about what they are reading. As always, I have multiple books going at once. My..."
Valerie, it's great to see you here, since we can't see you in person!

And I've found it so liberating to allow myself to stop reading a book I don't enjoy. :)

North Canton wrote: "Ugh. I just bailed on a fantasy audiobook I was listening to. It felt like I'd been listening to it for a year, and yet I was only at 15%. (I hate to disparage any book, but, yeah, it was The Ruin ..."

I agree - it is freeing to be able to stop reading a book! I was a total bookworm as a kid, but that faded during college (because I couldn't keep up with my classwork and read anything else!), and I started reading a lot again a few years ago. Around that time, I heard a piece of advice to abandon a book after 30 pages if it's not working for you, because otherwise it'll just sit on your nightstand and you won't read at all because you don't feel like reading THAT book. I stick to that advice pretty regularly, and it does help!

Right now I'm too distracted to read anything intense, so I'm finishing up the last Gail Carson Levine books I'd never read (I was surprised to enjoy her historical fiction Dave at Night). I enjoy her writing, even if it is for middle grades! :)

I also just started The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with my older kids (ages 3 and 5). We're halfway through, and it's been a delight to share a longtime favorite with them. I think we'll go on to read the whole series during this quarantine. Hopefully that will help make some nice memories for them during this wacky time!

After years of my husband harassing me to read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, I just finished it, and he was absolutely right in his recommendation. If you've never read this, the ebook and e-audio are both available through Hoopla and the Ohio Digital Library (which uses the Libby and OverDrive apps). I listened to the audiobook, read by Nadia May (one of my favorites). It's just 4 hours if you're looking for something quick.

Anyone else reading anything good these days?

Goodreads has put together a nice list of books coming this summer. Check it out!
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1823

It might be freeing to stop reading a book but I can't bring myself to do it. I keep thinking I will find something something redeeming in the book. Just finished the escape by Baldacci and as usual with his books I couldn't put it down.

Jean wrote: "It might be freeing to stop reading a book but I can't bring myself to do it. I keep thinking I will find something something redeeming in the book. Just finished the escape by Baldacci and as usua..."

That's actually a really good point. Even the "worst" book usually has something going to for it.

Madison wrote: "I know this is late, but currently I am reading the Harry Potter series. I am on the third book and currently in love with them. I have seen the movies, so I decided to try the books. They are grea..."
It's never too late to talk about Harry Potter! So glad you're enjoying the series. :)

So I'm reading a bunch of short horror stories from the early to mid 1800s and DANG is it weird.

The Severed Hand by Wilhelm Hauff, for example. I guess I expect all horror to end badly for everyone involved, but this one? (view spoiler)[He murders a person (by accident, you kinda have to read it) and loses his hand for it, but he survives and lives a super comfortable life after without being too mentally scarred (hide spoiler)]

I'm just not used to this. I'm really liking the collection, but I keep expecting modern tropes. I'm happier without the modern tropes though.