The Cozy Book Corner No. 5: Balancing Fiction and Nonfiction

Welcome to my Monday feature!

Note

I have moved this feature

from Friday to Monday.

In each weekly post, I explore 

my thoughts on several 

book-related topics.

Note

This post might sound a bit 

like the one from last week.

Please bear with me. I think my 

subconscious mind simply decided to

expand upon the topic presented in 

the previous post.   

Book blogging is such a delightful venture! All of us who blog about books do so because we love to write book reviews, post other kinds of book articles, and, of course, also love to meet other passionate bookworms. 

Most book bloggers, I've noticed, blog about fiction, and prefer specific fiction genres, as well. However, there's a number of book bloggers who also, or even exclusively, blog about nonfiction. The first example that comes to mind is that of Brian Joseph, whose blog, Babbling Books, contains fascinating posts about both fiction and nonfiction books. I'm not sure whether he consciously strives to keep a balance between these two broad categories, but I do see a nice mix of the two on his blog.

In the years since I began to blog about books (2010), I have often resisted specializing in one specific genre or category, preferring to have an eclectic blog, instead. However, I have also noticed that, whenever I have posted a review about a nonfiction book, I usually got very few or no comments. This was very discouraging, as I wanted -- and still want -- to be able to read and review all the genres I love, and these definitely include nonfiction books. 

One day, I decided to start a blog specifically for classics, literary fiction, adult fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction. I also wanted to include Christian fiction. Thus, MindSpirit Journeys was born, in 2012. Meanwhile, I decided to dedicate my first blog, A Night's Dream of Books, exclusively to the Young Adult Fiction genre, with perhaps an occasional adult title (historical romance, for instance) every so often.

I soon began to feel the pressure of having two blogs, so I abandoned MindSpirit Book Journeys for quite some time. I didn't think I'd ever return to it, but eventually, I did, for the simple reason that I wanted to review books I knew my YA audience wouldn't be interested in. Most of these were nonfiction books.

Then the tug-of-war began.....it took me a long time to actually acknowledge it, but now I am doing so. Both fiction and nonfiction are interesting to me; both draw me in, and there are times I prefer to read one more than the other. So it's quite impossible for me to attempt to make sure I read an equal number of books in each category, much as I would love to! I simply "go with the flow", at least most of the time.

Even when I begin reading a novel that keeps me turning pages, there are times when I fall into certain moods, or some topic catches my interest. At such times, I frequently will abandon or "leave for later" whatever novel I happen to be reading, and reach for a nonfiction book.

A case in point: for several days now, I've had the novel Water For Elephants in my sidebar, posted as the next book I'll read. Well, sure enough, a nonfiction book has caught my attention, and this is the book I'm actually reading.... I'm not sure why I got into it, except that the topic involved -- the Kaballah -- has been an interest of mine for quite some time, even though I haven't read about it consistently, or extensively. The reason for this, ironically, is that I've been pulled away by either other nonfiction books, or some very compelling novels! Now I'm feeling a pull in the opposite direction, and so I have started (I'm currently in the middle) Kaballah: Key to Your Inner Power, by Elizabeth Clare Prophet.

I have already changed the picture in the sidebar to reflect my real current read. So now I'm feeling somewhat "guilty" for not reading the other book at this time, when I was "supposed to". I almost feel as if I have to make it up to this book, as if its feelings had been hurt.... Kinda funny, right?

I do want to read Water For Elephants. I will probably do so after I finish the Kaballah book. Well, that will happen unless another nonfiction book happens to catch my eye.... Could there possibly be such a thing as "fickleness" and "unfaithfulness" in reading?

I wonder if other book bloggers also experience this tension between reading fiction and nonfiction. I wonder if any of my fellow bookworms agonize over their decisions to read one or the other of these two categories...

Compounding the problem, in my particular case, is the fact that I do have two blogs, AND, on top of that, am a pretty slow reader, usually managing to finish 2 or 3 books a month. This means that, if I read a book that I know I will review on one of my two blogs, that's time I cannot spend reading a book that I will review on the other blog, because of the different target audiences.

What to do?! I'm seriously thinking of flipping a coin the next time I get ready to start reading something!  I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. I should be asle to decide, in a logical, non-emotional manner, which book -- as well as genre -- I should read next. Well, perhaps Mr. Spock would calmly be able to do so, but I have emotions, and it's frequently my emotions that influence my choice of fiction vs. nonfiction. On the other hand, intellectual interests do influence my decision to read nonfiction (although these interests are tinged with emotion, as well, albeit one of intellectual fascination). There are many topics that utterly fascinate me. Most of them have to do with psychology, art, literary criticism, theology, and even some philosophy and science. History is another topic I want to read more about, as well.

The thing is, when I am caught by the pull of a particular interest, I am unable to ignore it, and stick with the book I had previously chosen to read. Whether the pull is an emotional or intellectual one (or a mixture of the two), actually doesn't matter at all. I feel compelled to abandon my previous reading plan, and go with the one that has unexpectedly presented itself....

Meanwhile, my mind and emotions are usually torn; I want to go on with my original intent. But there are other times in which I feel no regrets whatsoever, and happily go on with my revised reading plan.

So the struggle continues.... As I look over my bookshelves, here in our living room, my eyes lovingly caress all those fascinating book spines, and I sigh with a mixture of love nd despair.....I love all of these books, and want to read them all, but don't know if I'll EVER be able to, especially when there are times I can't decide between reading fiction or nonfiction, and, even when I make a choice, I still look longingly at the book I have "left behind" for later, wondering if perhaps I never will get back to it....               

What are your thoughts 
on this subject?
How do you balance fiction and nonfiction in 
your reading life?

Tuesday Intros No. 7: Through A Glass Darkly, by Karleen Koen

Welcome to First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros,

hosted by Diane @

Bibliophile By The Sea!!

Every Tuesday, each participant
shares the first paragraph 

(sometimes two) from a book
they're reading,

or thinking about reading.

The book I've picked this week is...

 Through A Glass Darkly
Karleen Koen
Hardcover, 743 pages 
Random House, Inc.
July 12, 1986
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction,
Romance

About the Book
  

A magnificent tapestry of a grand and glorious era.

As opulent and passionate as the 18th century it celebrates. Through A Glass Darkly will sweep you away to the splendors of a lost era. Like Gone With The Wind, it is rich with characters so vivid -- from aristocrats to scoundrels--they create their own immortality Here is the story of a great family ruled by a dowager of extraordinary power: of a young woman seeking love in a world of English luxury and French intrigue. and of a man haunted by a secret that could turn all their dreams to ashes...





Chapter One

Two voices, raised in anger, carried through the half-opened window of the library. Recognizing them, Barbara stopped and looked for a place to hide, a place where she might listen but not be seen. Seconds later she was burrowing into the ancient ivy that crisscrossed the mellowed red-pink brick of the house. Entangled, dense, persistent, its vines as thick as her wrists in places, the ivy released the house reluctantly. Each spring it sent cunning, thin green fingers curling under the window frames and into the rooms, and each spring her grandmother calmly snipped the fingers to bits with a pair of sewing scissors and ordered the gardeners to trim it down to size. Now, in November, it clung to the house stubbornly. Already many of its glossy dark green leaves were dulled yellow-brown with cold.
  

I can't believe I've owned this
novel for years, and have
yet to read it..... Incredible, right?  
From what I've posted above, 
would you say that
I should keep reading? 

The Cozy Book Corner No. 4: 'The Book Hangover' and Some Perpetrators Thereof

Welcome to my Monday feature!

Note

I have moved this feature

from Friday to Monday.

In each weekly post, I explore 

my thoughts on several 

book-related topics.

The idea of 'the book hangover' is nothing new; it's been familiar to readers for years. In fact, I have found some blog posts dedicated to this topic. At some point in the past, an anonymous, and clever, bookworm came up with this term, and it  is a very appropriate -- as well as funny -- one to describe the state of mind of a reader who has just finished a book which has totally and irrevocably captivated them.

Since there are two broad classifications for books -- fiction and nonfiction -- I will first discuss the symptoms of the hangover in the case of fiction. 

Depending on how much a reader has enjoyed and, most importantly, identified with, the characters, setting, plot,  and prose style of the book, this state of mind can range from one of mild irritation that the book has been completely read, to one of total, stubborn denial of that irrefutable fact. A given reader might be absentminded for a few days, while their mind constantly replays scenes from the book. Another reader might fall into a bad mood that will also last days, and which nothing will take away, not even the normally enticing prospect of reading another, possibly even more exciting, more fascinating novel. Then there's the case of the true addict. This person will simply lie in bed, staring off into space, and refuse to get up except when absolutely necessary. If forced to do so by a concerned relative or significant other, they will comply like a lifeless zombie or robot; it's as if they were actually not in their body. If prodded, they might say something that a character in the book would say, which indicates that, indeed, they are not in their body, but inside the book, and even living through the plot. 

It seems that the only cure for any of these types of hangovers -- especially the last one -- is to simply re-read the book that caused this agonizing condition. However, a re-reading will never be the same as a first reading; things will just not be fresh and new for the sadly afflicted reader. Re-readings are usually most effective when some time has gone by. In cases of extreme hangover, though, this might be an intolerable proposition to the 'hangoveree'. In such cases, nothing but total immersion will do. The effects are usually immediate, and very noticeable to observers. The reader's eyes lose that tell-tale glazed look, the person regains their composure, and is able to return to normal activities, as long as, of course, these don't interfere with their rapt re-imbibing of the beloved tome that caused the symptoms in the first place.

While I have never been as severely affected as the reader in the third hypothetical scenario above, I have gone around in a sort of sulky funk whenever I've finished reading a novel that I loved SO much, I never wanted it to end.... This has been especially the case with book series, although it's also happened with stand-alone novels. How have I gotten over these 'book hangovers'? I simply have let them run their course. While in this frame of mind, I have not been able to start another novel. I haven't even been able to pick up a nonfiction book, instead. So this means I simply haven't read anything at all for several days. Perhaps I won't be able to do so for at least two weeks, or more....

Nonfiction books are a bit different. They don't usually give me hangovers per se, simply because there are no memorable characters to fall in love with, no fascinating plots full of twists and turns to keep me glued to the book. Nonfiction books, if they carry a heavy impact, are actually meant to give a reader a hangover, but of a far more pleasant type. In the first place, the reader might not read them at a frantic gallop, because, in many cases, these books are supposed to be pondered. This is especially so with books of philosophy or literary criticism, for instance. Psychology books, whether academic or self-help, are also meant to be pondered, and, in the case of the second category, often contain exercises the reader is supposed to go through. Books on theology also fit the description. Perhaps history books do not lend themselves as much to pondering, but then, it depends on the author's theme.

In short, nonfiction books do not generally cause a reader extreme suffering when they are finally read. They will, of course, linger in the reader's mind, but this lingering will be one that is actually welcomed by the reader. At least, such has been my own experience. I will sometimes go back to these books in order to re-read and absorb favorite passages. At other times, I wlll return to passages which have actually angered me, as I am in disagreement with the author. In one case, I even wrote some very strong rebuttals in the book's margins, thus breaking one of my own sacred rules regarding books -- NO writing allowed in books! It didn't matter in this case, though, as I owned (and still own) a second, unsullied copy of this very same book.

As for advice in getting over a 'book hangover' related to fiction, I say the best thing is to let some time go by. Do not attempt to immerse yourself in another novel's fictional world until you feel you are totally ready, until you have completely gotten over the 'loss' of the read novel's world. Do pick up the beloved novel you have just finished, look longingly at it, and perhaps give it a loving caress. You can even hug it if you like. Then put it back on the shelf. If this is too stressful for you, then just carry it around with you everywhere you go. Open its pages and take a whiff every so often. Perhaps re-read a favorite passage at lunchtime. Laugh over it, or cry over it (as the case may be), as you read. Just be careful not to get carried away, if you're in public. I would thus recommend you drink some soothing tea as you read, if you're at lunch. During working hours, you won't be able to dip into the novel, of course, but, if possible, you can, from time to time throughout the day, unobtrusively open the desk drawer you've hidden it in, giving it a little pat, along with a fond smile.

After following the above procedures for a few days, you will probably have desensitized yourself to the novel enough to then start another one.

If the above suggestions don't seem to help, then just give in and re-read the whole book. It's not worth it to go through such agony!

Again, with nonfiction books, the torture of the hangover is practically non-existent. However, if you really love the book, then the above tokens of affection toward it can accompany any subsequent dipping into it, and will make these re-readings much more pleasurable.

Now here is a partial list, in no particular order, of books that have given me this condition which is so common for us bookworms:

Fiction

Classics

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

My Name Is Asher Lev - Chaim Potok

Narcissus and Goldmund - Hermann Hesse

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - Betty Smith

The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

Victory, by Joseph Conrad

Popular Fiction -- All Young Adult

The Twilight Saga - Stephenie Meyer

The Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling

The Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead

(fortunately, she has a spinoff of this series, but it's not quite the same...)

Of Beast and Beauty - Stacey Jay

Spellcaster - Claudia Gray

Nonfiction

The Story of Philosophy - Will Durant

From Socrates to Sartre - T.Z. Lavine

Personal Power Through Awareness - Sanaya Roman (this is the one I had some disagreements with)

A Kabbalah for the Modern World - Migene Gonzalez-Wippler

Daily Guidance From Your Angels - Doreen Virtue

For further information on identifying and dealing with this all-too-common literary affliction, please consult:

21 Signs You're Suffering From A Book Hangover @ BuzzFeed Books

How To Survive A Book Hangover @ Hello Giggles

Book Hangover Memes @ ermilia (This post presents some pictorial descriptions of the condition.)

What are your thoughts 
on this subject?
Which books have given you 'a book 
hangover'? How did you come
out of it so that you were able
to start another book?  

Tuesday Intros No. 6: The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, by Dominic Smith

Welcome to First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros,

hosted by Diane @

Bibliophile By The Sea!!

Every Tuesday, each participant
shares the first paragraph 

(sometimes two) from a book
they're reading,

or thinking about reading.

The book I've picked this week is...

 The Last Painting of Sara de Vos
Dominic Smith
Hardcover, 304 pages 
Sarah Crichton Books     
April 5, 2016
Art, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

About the Book
  
This is what we long for: the profound pleasure of being swept into vivid new worlds, worlds peopled by characters so intriguing and real that we can't shake them, even long after the reading's done. In his earlier, award-winning novels, Dominic Smith demonstrated a gift for coaxing the past to life. Now, in The Last Painting of Sara de Vos, he deftly bridges the historical and the contemporary, tracking a collision course between a rare landscape by a female Dutch painter of the golden age, an inheritor of the work in 1950s Manhattan, and a celebrated art historian who painted a forgery of it in her youth.

In 1631, Sara de Vos is admitted as a master painter to the Guild of St. Luke's in Holland, the first woman to be so recognized. Three hundred years later, only one work attributed to de Vos is known to remain--a haunting winter scene, At the Edge of a Wood, which hangs over the bed of a wealthy descendant of the original owner. An Australian grad student, Ellie Shipley, struggling to stay afloat in New York, agrees to paint a forgery of the landscape, a decision that will haunt her. Because now, half a century later, she's curating an exhibit of female Dutch painters, and both versions threaten to arrive. As the three threads intersect, The Last Painting of Sara de Vos mesmerizes while it grapples with the demands of the artistic life, showing how the deceits of the past can forge the present. 




Upper East Side
November 1957

The painting is stolen the same week the Russians put a dog into space. Plucked from the wall right above the marital bed during a charity dinner for orphans. This is how Marty de Groot will tell the story in the years ahead, how he'll spin it for the partners at the law firm and quip it to comedic life at dinner parties and over drinks at the Racquet Club. We're dipping shrimp in cocktail sauce, working Rachel's best china out on the terrace because it's mild for early November, you understand, while two thugs -- middlemen disguised as caterers, let's say -- are swapping out the real painting with a meticulous fake. He'll be particularly proud of that last phrase -- meticulous fake. He'll use it with friends and insurance agents and the private investigator, because it sets up the rising action of the story, suggests that a prodigy or mastermind has been patiently plotting against him, just as the Russians have been conspiring all these years to colonize the stratosphere. The phrase will also help disguise the fact that Marty didn't notice the beautiful fake for months. 
  

I have just found out about this
book on Goodreads, and I 
think it promises to be very exciting!   
From what I posted above, would you
say I should keep reading?