Lol hard disagree with some of the “hated” books! A Confederacy Of Dunces is a long time literary favorite of mine and if the Good Omens mentioned above is the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman one, that’s a long time fantasy lit favorite of mine too! I love reading all the positive and negative recs though
I’m stoked to hear so much praise for Circe. Ancient Greek and Roman history/literature is my professional field so I was curious about it but at the same time apprehensive!
Of stuff I’ve read somewhat recently:
Fiction - this is kind of narcissistic bc it portrays students in my field, but A Secret History by Donna Tartt is so readable and faux-profound and creepily fun
Nonfiction - I don’t really read nonfiction books—I feel like I get enough nonfiction and commentary through the news, podcasts, magazines like The Atlantic and New Yorker, and random professional articles circulated in my fields.
Couldn't put it down - the Neapolitan Series by Elena Ferrante.
Made you think - There, There by Tommy Orange illustrated a part of the Bay Area (where I live) that was completely unknown to me
Made you cry - I read Flannery O’Connor’s collected fiction over the summer and some of the stories were so utterly nihilistic they made me physically ill.
Changed your perspective - I read an Ina May Gaskin book during my last pregnancy and it was useful for me that it articulates and illustrates the over-medicalized birthing trends in the latter half-ish of the 20th century which Gaskin’s natural midwifery is reacting against. I’m still solidly pro-hospital and western medicine but I’m definitely thankful that the medical trend is to allow back some natural practices (e.g., aim for lower c section rates, encourage breastfeeding when possible, skin-to-skin right after birth). After that book I’m a little more sympathetic to women who want a natural birth
Baby related - I’m boring—I just read What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Parenting related - Happiest Baby on the Block was very useful for the little baby soothing stage!
Hated (reverse recommendation) - This isn’t exactly a hated/anti rec because it’s an excellent classic but I skipped A Handmaid’s Tale in high school and only just got around to reading it a few weeks ago (I didn’t want to see the series until I do) and oooof is this hard to read as a mother. I should have read it when I was younger. So beware!
@cato99 I read Handmaid’s Tale last year and actually didn’t love it. I had to force myself to finish. I actually think the show is way better than the book.
*************************************** FORMER USERNAME:@runningisrad
Love this thread as I really want to get back into reading more:
Fiction - A Thousand Splendid Suns Nonfiction - Unbroken, a World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, The Tender Bar Couldn't put it down - The Other Boleyn Girl Made you think - The Handmaids Tale Made you cry - Cutting for Stone, The Kite Runner Changed your perspective - Baby related - Parenting related - Hated (reverse recommendation) - I’m going to get flamed for this - 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I really did not like it, so much promise but I just don’t think the story ever got there
@purplg8r I was at a lecture about postpartum depression and one of the things the speaker talked about was mom losing her sense of self/identity and she used reading as her example. Her recommendation was to read, whatever you want to read, aloud. So baby can hear your voice, but she won't really comprehend what you're saying. It was her recommendation for a way to work to bond (baby hears your voice) and to also continue a hobby that brings you joy.
@cato99 I don't know if I've said this before, but your field sounds fascinating.
TTC#1 10/2016 TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each. BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021 planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks, some doors are open, some roads are blocked"
Re: Bookworms Thread
I’m stoked to hear so much praise for Circe. Ancient Greek and Roman history/literature is my professional field so I was curious about it but at the same time apprehensive!
Of stuff I’ve read somewhat recently:
Fiction - this is kind of narcissistic bc it portrays students in my field, but A Secret History by Donna Tartt is so readable and faux-profound and creepily fun
Nonfiction - I don’t really read nonfiction books—I feel like I get enough nonfiction and commentary through the news, podcasts, magazines like The Atlantic and New Yorker, and random professional articles circulated in my fields.
Couldn't put it down - the Neapolitan Series by Elena Ferrante.
Made you think - There, There by Tommy Orange illustrated a part of the Bay Area (where I live) that was completely unknown to me
Made you cry - I read Flannery O’Connor’s collected fiction over the summer and some of the stories were so utterly nihilistic they made me physically ill.
Changed your perspective - I read an Ina May Gaskin book during my last pregnancy and it was useful for me that it articulates and illustrates the over-medicalized birthing trends in the latter half-ish of the 20th century which Gaskin’s natural midwifery is reacting against. I’m still solidly pro-hospital and western medicine but I’m definitely thankful that the medical trend is to allow back some natural practices (e.g., aim for lower c section rates, encourage breastfeeding when possible, skin-to-skin right after birth). After that book I’m a little more sympathetic to women who want a natural birth
Baby related - I’m boring—I just read What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Parenting related - Happiest Baby on the Block was very useful for the little baby soothing stage!
Hated (reverse recommendation) - This isn’t exactly a hated/anti rec because it’s an excellent classic but I skipped A Handmaid’s Tale in high school and only just got around to reading it a few weeks ago (I didn’t want to see the series until I do) and oooof is this hard to read as a mother. I should have read it when I was younger. So beware!
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
Fiction - A Thousand Splendid Suns
Nonfiction - Unbroken, a World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, The Tender Bar
Couldn't put it down - The Other Boleyn Girl
Made you think - The Handmaids Tale
Made you cry - Cutting for Stone, The Kite Runner
Changed your perspective -
Baby related -
Parenting related -
Hated (reverse recommendation) - I’m going to get flamed for this - 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I really did not like it, so much promise but I just don’t think the story ever got there
@cato99 I don't know if I've said this before, but your field sounds fascinating.
TTC#1 10/2016
TTC/IF:included medicated cycles, IUIs and 2 rounds of IVF with 1 embryo each.
BFP finally in 12/2018
TTC#2 06/2021
planning FET
"Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks,
some doors are open, some roads are blocked"