Allison Symes's Blog - Posts Tagged "escapism"
Fads and Fancies
Do you find you have reading "fixes" you just have to indulge in for a while?
I find I read in cycles. There will be periods when all I will want to read are magazine articles. Other times I will want to read short stories. Then again I will have periods when it is nothing but crime I read and so on.
Equally there are times when nothing but "proper" books will do. Other times you can't prise me away from my Kindle!
Mood of story varies too. There are times I really have to read anything funny. This is particularly true when the news in unremittingly grim. The value of books and stories for escapism should not be under-appreciated or looked down on. Being able to escape for a while I think is good for you.
When I come out from that kind of reading, I tend to go for "nothing but the facts Ma'am" and I catch up with my non-fiction TBR pile.
There is ALWAYS a TBR pile. (I've got one on the Kindle too. The advantage with that one is it can't topple over!).
So what do I fancy reading later tonight then? Hmm... decisions, decisions (but such nice ones to make!).
I find I read in cycles. There will be periods when all I will want to read are magazine articles. Other times I will want to read short stories. Then again I will have periods when it is nothing but crime I read and so on.
Equally there are times when nothing but "proper" books will do. Other times you can't prise me away from my Kindle!
Mood of story varies too. There are times I really have to read anything funny. This is particularly true when the news in unremittingly grim. The value of books and stories for escapism should not be under-appreciated or looked down on. Being able to escape for a while I think is good for you.
When I come out from that kind of reading, I tend to go for "nothing but the facts Ma'am" and I catch up with my non-fiction TBR pile.
There is ALWAYS a TBR pile. (I've got one on the Kindle too. The advantage with that one is it can't topple over!).
So what do I fancy reading later tonight then? Hmm... decisions, decisions (but such nice ones to make!).
What Reading Does For Me
Hmmm....where to start on this one!
1. Reading helps me escape. It doesn't matter if the day is a good one or not - when I get to read I get to switch off.
2. Reading shows me worlds, real and fantastical, and expands my horizons. You can't know everything, no one person could, but books are a brilliant way of expanding your knowledge. They can help you develop new interests too.
3. Reading inspires my own writing. I see what other authors do with their characters and think well I would have written them this way instead because... and off I go with my own tales.
4. Reading non-fiction expands your general knowledge. Handy if you like quizzes!
5. Reading expands your vocabulary. Handy if you love word games as It do.
6. People will never run out of present ideas for the book lovers in their lives!
1. Reading helps me escape. It doesn't matter if the day is a good one or not - when I get to read I get to switch off.
2. Reading shows me worlds, real and fantastical, and expands my horizons. You can't know everything, no one person could, but books are a brilliant way of expanding your knowledge. They can help you develop new interests too.
3. Reading inspires my own writing. I see what other authors do with their characters and think well I would have written them this way instead because... and off I go with my own tales.
4. Reading non-fiction expands your general knowledge. Handy if you like quizzes!
5. Reading expands your vocabulary. Handy if you love word games as It do.
6. People will never run out of present ideas for the book lovers in their lives!
Entertainment and Escapism
I can understand why, after the coronavirus is over, there will be lots of books and stories dealing with that topic. It's just I can't bring myself to write stories like that. I'm not sure about reading them either. Why?
For me, in times of trouble, I want books and stories to make me laugh and give me some escapism for a while. I don't think that should be undervalued.
I raise a hearty three cheers for all who, by writing, seek to entertain and amuse us. It is not an easy thing to do.
So I shall continue to look for escapism and entertainment. Those can be very good coping mechanisms and books and stories are great vehicles for delivering on those things.
I do hope and pray though that the bookshops, particularly the independents, will recover well from this. I hope online buying of books has proved to be a lifeline.
The one thing that is clear to me is people still want stories. And I doubt if I'm the only one who wants entertaining right now!
For me, in times of trouble, I want books and stories to make me laugh and give me some escapism for a while. I don't think that should be undervalued.
I raise a hearty three cheers for all who, by writing, seek to entertain and amuse us. It is not an easy thing to do.
So I shall continue to look for escapism and entertainment. Those can be very good coping mechanisms and books and stories are great vehicles for delivering on those things.
I do hope and pray though that the bookshops, particularly the independents, will recover well from this. I hope online buying of books has proved to be a lifeline.
The one thing that is clear to me is people still want stories. And I doubt if I'm the only one who wants entertaining right now!
What I Look For In A Good Book
Regardless of genre, what I look for first in a good book is a gripping lead character. I don't necessarily have to like them (!) but I do need to be intrigued by them enough to make me want to read their story.
This applies to non-fiction too if you accept the "narrative voice" of the text is a kind of character too. Does that voice grip me enough to keep on reading or does it send me to sleep? (Never a good sign that!).
Once I've finished the book, is it going to be one of those I enjoyed reading but won't read again? Or will it reach the dizzy heights of being one of those absolute favourites I happily turn to time and again when I need them back in my life for a bit?
I don't know about you but I do like light reading anyway and I especially like it now. I am not going to be reading the doom and gloom merchants (I can get that from watching the news).
I know the reality of what is out there but it doesn't mean I have to read about it.
My reading is about entertainment and escapism and those things shouldn't be despised.
So my criteria for what is a good book does boil down to its entertainment value and that is down to the character portrayal.
This applies to non-fiction too if you accept the "narrative voice" of the text is a kind of character too. Does that voice grip me enough to keep on reading or does it send me to sleep? (Never a good sign that!).
Once I've finished the book, is it going to be one of those I enjoyed reading but won't read again? Or will it reach the dizzy heights of being one of those absolute favourites I happily turn to time and again when I need them back in my life for a bit?
I don't know about you but I do like light reading anyway and I especially like it now. I am not going to be reading the doom and gloom merchants (I can get that from watching the news).
I know the reality of what is out there but it doesn't mean I have to read about it.
My reading is about entertainment and escapism and those things shouldn't be despised.
So my criteria for what is a good book does boil down to its entertainment value and that is down to the character portrayal.
