Book Chat Issue #129
What to read if your brain is exploding
Book Chat is a free newsletter for readers and eaters. If you enjoy the good things in life, welcome! If you need some excellent reading recommendations, welcome!
I’m conscious that we may enjoy different kinds of books, and that’s okay, but if you have read and enjoyed any of the books I’ve recommended, do let me know, as this would make me happy.
I always love to hear what you’ve been reading, so feel free to share.
Book Chat also gives me a chance to share some simple food ideas. Sometimes these might be in the form of ‘what I’ve been eating lately’, for example at a restaurant or café. Sometimes it might be a recipe I’ve tried myself, (not always successfully). We all have our cooking disasters, but try not to talk about them.
My hope is that you will be inspired to try something new or resurrect an old favourite.
A note to new subscribers: I live in Australia so whilst you might be snowed in in Boston, I’m still enjoying the sunshine here in Oz, so my suggestions might be wildly inappropriate. Never mind. I have to content with a constant stream of soup recipes when it’s 100 degrees here.
Choosing your next read
An Irish author I follow on Instagram asked a question about what books we would recommend to someone in a reading slump, and of course we all replied that it depends on the person and their circumstances.
I would want to know if your reading slump is being caused by overwhelm, or illness, or distress. Or did you just find yourself too busy to read and don’t know how to get started again?
This happens surprisingly often. I also go through periods where I just can’t seem to pick up a new book, even one that I’ve been looking forward to reading. Netflix suddenly becomes very appealing, despite its often negative content.
Here’s a short article I wrote about this: Why I Hate Starting New Books
The short answer is that starting a new book causes cognitive strain. Being in a state of mental exhaustion can significantly affect our ability to read and absorb ideas, or even remember who the characters are. This is especially true if you are reading something boring, instead of what you really feel like reading.
The solution is to be gentle with yourself and trust that your focus will improve when you get a decent night’s sleep, or your health improves, or your mind magically clears. But until then, try this…
Choose books from your favourite genres. If you gravitate towards historical fiction, or romance novels, go for it. Don’t worry about what you should be reading. Check out The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh (it’s published under the title “Ghosted” in the US). It’s a romantic and satisfying read.
I personally like to read thrillers when I’m stressed. I like them well-written and twisty. Check out Before You Knew My Name, a feminist thriller about society’s obsession with dead girls, or Wake, by Australian author Shelley Burr. If you’re after something less dark, try The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth.
I also like to read children’s books and books that make feel soft inside, so I definitely recommend reading some middle-grade fiction. This is my favourite genre when I’m ill or just not feeling myself. Check out Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy.
Try reading YA (young adult fiction). The storylines are usually very strong and easy to follow, so they’re satisfying for readers of all ages. Check out An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. A funny and sweet novel about a young man trying to navigate the world of relationships, both platonic and romantic.
Revisit some childhood favourites (Anne of Green Gables or Matilda, by Roald Dahl).
Try reading some non-fiction, for example a book with very short chapters or daily meditations. Check out I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott.
Read something funny. Check out any of Katherine Heiny’s books.
Lastly, try to choose books with a lot of white space and avoid tiny print. Very dense paragraphs increase cognitive strain.
Good choices for when your concentration is poor
A bonus offer for subscribers
I also do personalised reading lists for subscribers, so if you’re in a reading slump, let me know your reading tastes and I’ll come up with some ideas for you. You just need to tell me what titles you’ve enjoyed, and what you are looking for in your reading life. (e.g. you’d like to try something outside your normal genre, or you’d like something intriguing that will make you think).
If you are interested, just hit reply and your response will come directly to my inbox.
What I’ve been eating lately: Fennel & white bean salad
When I was on my Kangaroo Island holiday (see Issue #128 for swoon-worthy photos of the sea) my beautiful daughter-in-law Emma made a delicious fennel, orange, olive, and white bean salad.
The recipe she used is by Natalie Chassay. Natalie is a very cool chef/content producer, whereas I’m more of a tea and toast kind of girl, but having said that, it’s a good example of throwing things together with ‘gay abandon’ as she says. The results are clearly delicious and I fully endorse this approach.
She also follows my “salad rules”. To be honest, I didn’t invent these rules, but I do strongly agree that the best salads often contain something fresh and crunchy, something sweet or citrus, or both, some soft herbs, and some nuts. This salad has all of those elements.
Give it a try or make your own version. If you’re wondering what to dress it with, I would suggest orange or lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Maybe a pinch of sugar? I quite like something sweet in my dressings, but don’t go overboard.
You can also find Natalie on Substack, but most of her content is behind a paywall. (Sad face). You’ll probably get the gist of what to do from her Instagram video.
And speaking of Instagram, would you like to connect? That would be fun. You can find me here.
International Book Club
Our next read is Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and we’ll be meeting at 9am on Friday 17th April Australian Eastern Standard Time. This will be Thursday April 16th in the US and Canada. I’ll send out a meeting link in early April.
If you’d like to attend and haven’t been to book club before, let me know by hitting reply. If the idea of speaking about books makes you nervous, please be assured that you are welcome to join the meeting and just listen.
International Book Club is free for subscribers.
That’s all for this issue my friends,
Until next time, keep safe and read to your heart’s content.
Marg xx
I am in a bit of a reading slump, at least when it comes to books. I think it comes from being much to caught up in the news. But I really do need to dump the news and focus on what's important--fellow bloggers, of course, and books that offer a release from the horrors of daily realities. Thanks for your thoughtful recommendations. I know I would enjoy every last one.
I am a big Louise Penny fan, and her latest one, The Black Wolf, is another winner, but unfortunately the plot is uncomfortably close to the reality of what's happening now, so it hasn't been much of an escape, though I love it anyway. I'm thinking of rereading two of my favorite children's books, Alice in Wonderland and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Escape down a rabbit hole or through the back of a closet sounds inviting, though neither Alice nor the four children in Narnia have an easy time of it.
Ah well... Your salad will make a satisfying supper. Our weather in Southern California jumps between heat and cold, but salads are always on the menu.
I've actually been lucky to have a run of very engaging books lately with a few duds. I found The Handover pretty predictable and someone asked why was I still reading it but sometimes you just need a bit of fluff to compliment the worthy reading.