The world of reading is enormous. It's an infinite universe, really, once you start getting into sci-fi. 😜 For someone accepting of all genres, like me, this can be a problem. There are so many books! How do you pick just one to read from cover to cover?
To compound my problem, I often only get in 5 to 10 minutes of pre-bedtime reading in before my eyelids slide shut. So my reading rate, right now, is very slow. That makes it challenging to finish books that require more focus and tempting to read "cotton-candy" books. Of course, the easy, escapist books start to make my stomach hurt after awhile.
All the possibilities lead to an ever growing pile of books. So right now, I'm working on finishing up four that are in various states of completion. Here's the run down:
"Between the World and I" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The is as much beautiful and accessible and it is painful and challenging. Race in America is a complex and emotional issue, and I am learning about myself, as a white woman, by reading Coates' letter to his son. Reading this short book is hard, and I am trying to give it the consideration it deserves. That is why I keep putting it to the side and picking up something else.
"The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick
I'll be honest. The reason I'm struggling with this one is that I'm really not enjoying it much. The only female character in the book is weak, self-centered and aggravating. It always bothers me when there aren't well-drawn women in a book. I don't find any of the characters engrossing. None offer any insight to the alternate reality they are living in. Still, I try not to give up on books too often, so would like to see it through.
"Glass Sword" by Victoria Aveyar
This is the sequel to "Red Queen," which I enjoyed well enough even though it had some typical YA book problems (love triangle, uneven characters, a plot that doesn't make sense if you think about it too much). "Glass Sword" has really turned the volume up on the cringe-inducing teen angst. I think the author doesn't want to get through the plot too quickly, so she has her characters think about their decisions and relationships ad nauseum. Snap out of it already!
"Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling
This is a funny and light read. It is truly a book to just read and enjoy. Kaling takes a breezy, self-deprecating look at her career and social life. It shouldn't be taking me this long to get through, but I checked it out from my public library's e-library. The first 14-day checkout period expired, and the book was automatically returned. Then I was on a wait list. Then I had to find my password again, and I was getting distracted by these other books. Book problems!
And then there are all the books on my to-read list that I could be reading right now. Am I missing out? What should I abandon these books to read instead?
