Let me say I’m not a big romance fan. Occasionally as a palate cleanser between more “serious” books I’ll read a couple romance novels. Even if they may be easier to read or the subject matter isn’t so dense I still really enjoyed them. And even books that would be considered more serious in nature often have the additional storyline of two people in some kind of relationship.
Last year I was in a downright awful relationship that was abusive, ended very terribly, and led to my relapsing back into alcoholism. I just am struggling with romance books and topics because I guess that wound is still very fresh and painful for me. I’m trying to stay sober again and one thing that helped me last year with sobriety is reading. I’ve always loved to read. But I find myself not finishing and canning so many books that I would normally be able to get through because they’re either romance or have a heavy romantic storyline. And I’ve always notoriously been the kind of person who can force myself to finish any book (ex. reading War and Peace in college for fun). Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Romantic Comedy”, Nathan Hill’s “Wellness”, everything by Terry McMillan. I was kind of enjoying Matt Haig’s “The Midnight Library” but I can sense this is the direction the book’s going in. I’m almost getting to a place where I’m thinking of just giving up reading for a while and coming back later. I know there are other genres – nonfiction, memories etc. – but I’ve always been a big fiction/mystery fan. Just sadly feels like a painful, triggering minefield right now.
by Top_Noise_3932
2 Comments
I used to enjoy reading thrillers, horror and generally any good fiction/science fiction novels. A few years ago I read ‘Naked in Death’ by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts)- it’s a murder mystery story. It wasn’t bad, a bit over the top and slightly smutty, but I’ve read Kelly Armstrong’s works – I can deal with smut. But the next book ‘Glory in Death’ , ugh it had some real pointless smutty sex scenes that just made me groan, like for flick sake. Does this detective do any detecting without her vagina? Imagine Sherlock Holmes using his penis instead of his mind while working, unbelievable. I noped out and aside from university reading and language learning, I haven’t picked up a new book since. Although I’ve amassed a small collection to get into, maybe I was too harsh with Nora. Just needless smut doesn’t do it for me anymore.
It’s ok to take a break from things until you come back to it with a fresh mind. Take some time out and play a video game, get into films, music do something else that isn’t reading. Sometimes a new hobby can help with marking a new change in your life.
If you like reading a lot I think you should giiiiive Infinite Jest a read. That’s a good rehab book. Especially if you twat through books like it’s nothing.
​
Anyway, I’ve had certain books I’ve stuck to and couldn’t be arsed with that killed off my reading habits for a while? Usually I choose a day to try and surge through it or simply leave the book and read anew.