If I really do not want to think at all I tend to read Sanderson, Neal Stephenson, maybe a re-read of Douglas Adams, light historical fiction like The Sunne in Splendour, erotica, books on the occult or superstitions, Hunter S. Thompson, Bret Easton Ellis, Dan Brown. I can also enjoy certain types of "conspiracy theory" books as long as I don't believe them too easily.
Usually, though, I consider that "fun reading" is something extremely interesting and engaging but perhaps somewhat complicated, like Biblical criticism (usually textual criticism using the original languages), Buddhist philosophy (I thought that Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika was fantastic and no, I did not need to check the spelling on that one), a structural analysis of ancient Egyptian poetry or discussions on the development of the Greek language. The book about ancient astronomy that I reviewed last year was another such book. All of those books were read at a time when I was looking for a "diversion" after having read something particularly heavy (like Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ).
Usually, though, I consider that "fun reading" is something extremely interesting and engaging but perhaps somewhat complicated, like Biblical criticism (usually textual criticism using the original languages), Buddhist philosophy (I thought that Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika was fantastic and no, I did not need to check the spelling on that one), a structural analysis of ancient Egyptian poetry or discussions on the development of the Greek language. The book about ancient astronomy that I reviewed last year was another such book. All of those books were read at a time when I was looking for a "diversion" after having read something particularly heavy (like Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ).
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
What do you read when your brain wants a break?
18/04/2011 11:08:17 AM
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Re: Wodehouse. Gerald Durrell. Pratchett, old favourites. Douglas Adam, ditto.
18/04/2011 02:34:35 PM
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Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Terry Pratchett, The Queen of Attolia *NM*
18/04/2011 04:13:07 PM
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The BBC news website. *NM*
18/04/2011 06:08:14 PM
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o.O Lovely?
18/04/2011 06:27:17 PM
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I was thinking more about the "when your brain wants a break" part.
18/04/2011 06:30:22 PM
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Hm... Tolkien, Austen, Trollope of late, Christie, Jordan, Eddings, HP, various comics.
18/04/2011 06:31:13 PM
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Pratchett because it's so comfortable, and Matt Reilly because it involves no thinking *NM*
18/04/2011 08:17:36 PM
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My answer: Heyer, Butcher, Rankin, Heyer, Eddings, Feist, and Gail Carriger will join the ranks. *NM*
18/04/2011 08:20:48 PM
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That's a great question. I'm not sure I've given myself a break in quite some time, though. *NM*
20/04/2011 09:07:05 AM
- 437 Views
A mixed bag of stuff
21/04/2011 05:39:04 AM
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