I have a LOT of nightmares – at least three nights of the week. That’s too much, and it’s getting really wearisome. When I realized that most of my nightmares involve some sort of apocalyptic scenario, I made a decision to cut back on dystopian books, shows, and movies (at least temporarily). My subconscious would probably calm down if I didn’t feed it so many ideas. Revolution is new and features sword-wielding Billy Burke (how far you’ve come, Charlie Swan!), so it gets a pass. But I didn’t notice how many of the hot new books are dystopian, and I have to stop reaching for them automatically. There’s already enough happening in the real world to be scared about.
Unfortunately, that leaves me short on exciting reads. Can anyone recommend good, interesting fiction (YA or adult) that’s exciting but not traumatizing? I might focus more on memoirs and stuff for a while, but I need a good novel to relax and cleanse my brain at least once a month. I just saw that a new Lucy Valentine book came out in May, so I might start there!
It’s so funny you write this because I was starting to compose an entry earlier about how I need to fast from heavier books. I don’t have nightmares, really, but I feel the dreariness in my mood when I’m reading something that has a lot of drama and tragedy.
I can’t remember if you’ve read any of Sarah Addison Allen’s books. I’ve only read one, but it was good.
Glad I’m not the only one. I’ve never heard of her, but I just checked her out on Goodreads and she looks very prolific! Thanks for the rec! :)
Perhaps you should read the Mitford Series books by Jan Karon. So sweet and cute and not scary. Then again, there is always the Little House on the Prairie books!
Nightmares aren’t cool. Hope you find the cure soon! :)
Oh I have all the Mitford books! :) Love them. I never did catch up after he moved to Holly Springs though.
I’m currently reading Peak by Roland Smith and loving it! It’s the story of a 14-year-old boy attempting to be the first <15-year-old to climb Everest.
Otherwise I second the recommendations above – those are all really good :) “The Shop on Blossom Street” by Debbie Macomber is another excellent comfort read. “Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings” by Helene Boudreau is a great YA read. Oh! or “In Between” by Jenny B. Jones. I loved that book!
Jenny B. Jones! Thanks for the reminder! Save The Date has been on my to-read list for a long time. The problem is that my library never gets these kinds of books, and I don’t always want to spend money on fluffy reads. :)
I may have recommended these to you before, but definitely give the Merlin trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment) by Mary Stewart a try. I’d pass on the fourth book, though–it’s like a sequel to the trilogy, but not nearly as good, and is told from a different POV (the books are first-person, told by Merlin; the fourth book is [if I recall correctly] told third person and Merlin gets barely a mention).
Also, Stewart tells the legend of Merlin after each book, so you can see where she got the story she tells.
Added to my list! Thanks! :) I’ve had several Mary Stewart books on my list for a long time, but I never get around to them.
I get really intense dreams from books. By far the worst were the Twilight series (really really intense dreams of werewolves and vampires… not cool) and Divergent/Insurgent.
Books I recommend… I picked up “Snobs” by Julian Fellowes earlier this year, it was kind of dense and somewhat slow, but really interesting. Then I was catching up on Downtown Abbey and realized that he writes it as well. He has at least one other book at our library that I will probably check out.
I also read several of Dorothea Benton Frank’s books this year. They are really fun, especially “Isle of Palms”. For a laugh read – “When Parents Text”.
Next time you are going to be in town, let me know I will bring a stack of books for you!