Over the past couple of weeks, as I chose books to receive as birthday presents and what to read for Readathon and which my next #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks choices would be, I started noticing that my reading of late has been mostly what one would consider genre reads -- in my case, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery. Of my last twenty reads (including the three I have going at the moment), sixteen have been genre.
So, as we introspective readers do, I started thinking about why this was the case. And the more I thought about it, the more I got the feeling that it was the fault of modern politics and news and social media. I am tired of this world that we live in -- tired of the violence and hate and heartbreak and destruction. I am tired of hearing about the latest new war, the latest grizzly murder, the latest act of gun violence, the latest trampling of someone's civil rights, the latest evidence that we are destroying our planet. If I have to read about murder, I want it to be in Victorian England, far away from me and with some ridiculous motive. If I have to read about an army, I want it to be knights and rangers, fighting against the forces of evil that threaten their castle. If I have to read about awkward teenagers, I want them to be awkward because they are in Fairyland, being teased by a Blue Wind. If I have to read about a government, I want it to be that of Ankh Morpork, where I can chuckle at Lord Vetinari's iron grip without feeling the squeeze myself. I don't know how long this shift toward genre reading will last but my guess is at least until after the current election cycle is over.
How about you? Have you noticed a need to escape into genre reads lately?
Embracing the farfetched,
K
Yes, absolutely. My shift has been towards vintage crime novels of the 1920s and 30s. Dorothy L. Sayers, Josephine Tey, Agatha Christie etc. Life was not any better then for anyone except the very rich, but I feel divorced from it by modern life, so it feels like an escape to another time when people were less materialistic than they are now. I also feel the same about science fiction and fantasy. Although with the former I think it's more to do with wondering 'What's out there?' than escaping.
ReplyDeleteYes, the lack of materialism can be a relief to read about! And I've been meaning to start my Josephine Tey rereads. Perhaps that's what I'll do this summer!
DeleteYes, although for personal reasons. I've been reading an incredible number of fluffy mysteries lately.
ReplyDeleteFluffy mysteries are the best for escaping. They're convoluted but straightforward at the same time. Everyone's motives are eventually revealed, unlike real life. They just seem so tidy by the end.
DeleteThe election certainly isn't helping, though. I can't even believe we are in this ridiculous mess.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a country that I'm proud to live in at the moment ...
DeleteAw hon. Yeah. I feel this. Presidential elections are never good fun, and this one's been even ghastlier than regular. I do not blame anyone for retreating into other worlds.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for books!
DeleteWellll I pretty much always read genre novels. But they are good for reality escapism
ReplyDeleteYes they are. I do want to be able to read a classic again sometime though!
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