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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would fit the bill. That will get you right back in! Congratulations on your new life and love.
Three I have really enjoyed of late, are: The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, She Rode Shotgun and November Road.d.
When my reading appetite gets low sometimes or I weary of the challenges of human relationships, I tend to seek out travel books or nature writing. The humor and charm of books such as these help my mental digestion and stimulate my book hunger again: --Beauty Tips from Moosejaw--Will Ferguson
--In a Sunburned Country--Bill Bryson
--A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
--A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush-Eric Newby
--Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail--Cheryl Strayed
--A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There--Aldo Leopold
Alternatively, a light-hearted or big-hearted memoir with an animal focus can also fix me up:
--Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog--Ted Kerasote
--The Dog Who Wouldn't Be--Farley Mowatt
--My Family and Other Animals--Gerald Durrell
Sometimes if I'm in a slump, I like to read something with humor. Not a comedy or a non-fiction by a comedian but just a book with good humor. I usually tag it that way on my page.
Congratulations! Now to get tbat reading mojo back, right?!A couple of fun recent reads I loved:
The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise - funny, quirky novel set among the Beefeaters and the Tower of London.
In Her Sights - first in series - female bounty hunters - romantic suspense
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows - a little culture clash, a little romance, a little mystery, and yes erotic stories told by Punjabi widows in a writing class.
The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure - opens with a woman moving into her new luxury apartment building in India. The elevator opens and there is a cow in it.
Murder at the Cat Show hilarious cozy set at a cat show where the cat personalties rival the human.
Frederica - my favorite Georgette Heyer. Works when all else fails...the early scene of the Baluchistan hound and the dairy maids in the Green Park makes me laugh out loud.
Light, funny - I wonder if Jen Lancaster might do the trick? Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
Be warned that I hated her at the start of the book, but it's not long before it turns around, and I've really enjoyed her books and (most of) her humour since!
Hi Kim!We read a book here a few months ago that everyone loved-it will give you faith in mankind again
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Check out some of our reviews-I think it might fit the bill
I see that you've liked some of the Stephanie Plum novels, so if you like that kind of humour you might enjoy that.Other funny books (often what I like to read) but some lean more to mainstream not mystery are:
The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise and also her The Pigeon Pie Mystery (yes, Theresa mentioned the first, but I feel very happy that people have read it since it was something I have been recommending ever since I read it a couple of years ago or so :) )
Home to Woefield and its sequel (the sequel is better and won a humour award) Republic of Dirt: A Return to Woefield Farm
Short stories (best on audio discs, but good in books) lots of them are funny and some a bit poignant, any one of the Vinyl Cafe books by Stuart McLean
I agree with Joanne that for feel-good book, The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland is good, and also with Michael because of the the humour in the memoir The Dog Who Wouldn't Be.
Joanne wrote: "Hi Kim!We read a book here a few months ago that everyone loved-it will give you faith in mankind again
The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
Check out some..."
I also endorse that one!
We are looking for something light but good, right? That will entrance and captivate her, but will not be too hard or heavy to read. So I still stand by the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, because that will just be a great read, immediately entrancing, and will not feel too heavy on the soul. But another one that came to mind is Frederick Backman, who wrote my grandmother asked me to tell you that she’s sorry. Not bad for an entry way back.
~*Kim*~ wrote: "I have been in a total reading slump this year. I've only read 2 books and didn't have any interest in my challenges at all. I really want to get back in to it (I have a ton of unread books), but j..."I'm zero help on the reading slump, but just wanted to remark that it is great to see you, and I'm happy to hear that you have love in your life and that you came to visit us!!
Light, funny, endearing ....The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey MooreI love Julia Stuart ... my favorite is The Matchmaker of Périgord
And these are always a hoot
The Miss Julia series by Ann B Ross - # 1: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
The Harmony series by Philip Gulley - # 1: Home to Harmony
Book Concierge wrote: "Light, funny, endearing ....The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey MooreI love Julia Stuart ... my favorite is [book:The Matchmaker of Périgord|2..."
Yes, Julia Stuart strikes again :)! (the pigeon pie mystery and the tower, the zoo and the tortoise).
I would start with something relatively short, and maybe an audio book. Sometimes an old favorite will do the trick.Since you're in a new relationships, consider picking up something unusual and true you can both talk about. I agree with the Gander Newfoundland book - it's the kind of book you'll want to tell people about while you're reading it. You might then plan to travel together to see the broadway show that's going around the country. My library had it on audio online.
Also The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit. When my husband was reading it, he kept telling the family about it, and it generated some conversations, and we started reading it too. The audio of this is pretty good too.
By the same authors as books mentioned above, most people really love Daisy Jones & The Six, and A Man Called Ove. Daisy Jones is best on audio.
If you're still traveling, you might look for a popular book set in one of those locations. While on a plane to Switzerland, I read a bestseller by Dan Brown that was set in Switzerland. It made it all more special. There are a lot of blogs you can google about books to read from various locations around the world.
Good to "see" you Kim!I've also been in a bit of a reading slump, but just for the past month or two.
Maybe something super light and fun?
Christina Lauren has some super fun ones- her most recent is The Unhoneymooners- set mostly in Hawaii, beach vibes, romantic comedy, light, funny, easy to read.
Another feel good book for me this year was Dumplin', YA Book with a netflix movie based on it also.
I agree with Cin, Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office was pretty laugh out loud also.
Anita wrote: "I'm zero help on the reading slump, but just wanted to remark that it is great to see you, and I'm happy to hear that you have love in your life and that you came to visit us!! "Thanks Anita, I've missed it here. I hope I can get things going again in the reading department.
Glad things are working out for you in your life! Light and fun reads are a great way to start back up. My recommendations:Ready Player One
Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas Chronicles
84, Charing Cross Road
Sh*t My Dad Says
Tales of the Black Widowers
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
I feel like this will be an unpopular opinion among the bookish folks here at PBT, for obvious reasons, but when I am in a slump I find that a respite from reading is often helpful. I will catch up on shows, or listen to music, read comics instead of novels.
I used to read nothing but horror and got into a slump I think from overexposure. Once I got back into reading I went in a totally different direction with stuff I wouldn't normally read.
So I think a break is OK. Sometimes feeling the pressure to keep the momentum you had before kills motivation, but also try something completely out of your wheelhouse that is short and sweet.
Meli wrote: "I feel like this will be an unpopular opinion among the bookish folks here at PBT, for obvious reasons, but when I am in a slump I find that a respite from reading is often helpful.."I am the same way. I am currently in a bit of a slump (I just can't seem to find anything that I am getting sucked into following The Dutch House) but I did just binge the entire first season of the Roswell reboot on the CW over the long weekend! lol.
Nicole R wrote: "Meli wrote: "I feel like this will be an unpopular opinion among the bookish folks here at PBT, for obvious reasons, but when I am in a slump I find that a respite from reading is often helpful.."..."
A good binge is always helpful for me...
Was The Dutch House just too good to follow up?
I have this on my unofficial want-to-read.
Meli wrote: "Was The Dutch House just too good to follow up?I have this on my unofficial want-to-read."
I really liked it! I am having just a bit of a book hangover from it.
It's really simple, but I love that cover!
I never really have reading slumps --- I always need something to read for commuting. But I do have times when the amount of time available or the lack of mental time to focus severely restricts my reading. At those times I tend to either read short stories or essays or very light romances or cozy mysteries -- things that don't need a lot of time or attention.
annapi wrote: "Glad things are working out for you in your life! Light and fun reads are a great way to start back up. My recommendations:Ready Player One..."
Oooooh, I'll second "Ready Player One", especially if you were an 80s child (or teen)! :-)
Theresa wrote: "I never really have reading slumps --- I always need something to read for commuting. ..."I don't, either. I guess I just push through. I suppose I get spurts where I don't like what I'm reading, as much (though I might still rate things 3 (ok) or 3.5 (good), but nothing's "really good" for me. That's the closest I would say I get to a slump, if you could call it that.
Aw that’s so great about your high school sweetheart! I hope it continues to go well. It’s nice seeing each other grown up and everything, it’s fun. Also, I’m here to see what tips you get, as I need them too!
Congrats! I recommend Plainsong. It's just a nice story of various people told in a very simple way. And if you like it, there are other books that are somewhat related. Anyway, hope you like it (if you decide to read it).
Amy wrote: "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would fit the bill. That will get you right back in! Congratulations on your new life and love."I don't know anything about Kim's situation, nor do I know anything about the book you're recommending, but when I read both her ask and your response, I just thought...divorce, new boyfriend, seven husbands and thought to myself, let's not jinx anything here and there's gotta be a different book we can recommend for her... :-)
Charlie wrote: "Amy wrote: "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would fit the bill. That will get you right back in! Congratulations on your new life and love."I don't know anything about Kim's situation, nor do I..."
😂😂-I thought the same
Then you haven’t read the book! I actually thought it would be the perfect book for her.
I have definitely not read it and a good reminder that you can’t judge a book by its title (or its cover). Didn’t mean to impune your judgement or infer your suggestion was bad/wrong, just sharing what went thru my mind and thought I’d share as funny.
I did read Evelyn Hugo, and I thought it was quite sad(view spoiler) The Hollywood glam helps. Daisy jones was more enjoyable imo. But we all have different definitions of fun. I’ve been reading too many depressing books lately, and I’m wearing blue colored glasses right now.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Plainsong (other topics)Ready Player One (other topics)
84, Charing Cross Road (other topics)
Sh*t My Dad Says (other topics)
Tales of the Black Widowers (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Christina Lauren (other topics)Edward Kelsey Moore (other topics)
Edward Kelsey Moore (other topics)
Stuart McLean (other topics)
The good thing about it is the reason that started my slump. After 2 1/2 years (at that time) of being divorced, I'm finally dating again. I hooked back up with my high school sweetheart. Our situation is a different one and involves a lot of traveling, but it's working for us right now. LOL!
But anyways....Does anyone have any recommendations for quick or light or funny reads that will help ease me back into reading?