tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post6096098236446071097..comments2024-03-27T05:13:25.241-05:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: Reading With Your Brain OffGreg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-343625658383263072010-03-27T17:13:08.942-05:002010-03-27T17:13:08.942-05:00a warning for reading future flynn novels. he for...a warning for reading future flynn novels. he forgets to edit quite frequently. one egregious example is a when he starts a paragraph giving a character one age and then two sentences later another age. yes they can be enjoyable, but i put them down because my editor's eye couldn't take it...yes i realize i did not capitalize...see, keen editor's eye.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989064012373735643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-35686950901033555012010-03-15T21:36:03.967-05:002010-03-15T21:36:03.967-05:00Well, I'm the opposite. I usually read way bel...Well, I'm the opposite. I usually read way below my intellectual level. As much as I enjoy classic literary fiction, I can't help reading fluff. Thrillers and sci/fi/fantasy are fun. If they catch my eye, I must read them. So I read literary fiction as a break from my usual. <br /><br />One one blog, I ranted along with the blogger about literary fiction readers (book bullies) mocking and belittling us for reading genre books-- especially YA. I'm so pleased to find out that some literary sorts appreciate genre fiction for what it is--fun. Can't imagine only reading one type of book all the time.<br /><br />I second the Rollins and Preston/Child thrillers. If you are ever in the mood for pure adrenelin action packed thrillers, check out Matthew Reilly's Scarecrow books-- nothing literary about them-- they are like reading an action movie. Too fun!Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102907186589066829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-40006243063581152492010-03-05T09:59:45.749-06:002010-03-05T09:59:45.749-06:00I completely agree with you! Sometimes you just n...I completely agree with you! Sometimes you just need to turn the brain off! Which is actually why I started reading YA.<br />Lately, though (since I've started blogging, actually), I find that I have so many "brain turned off" books on my plate that I've forgotten what it feels like to read a real book. So what used to be guilty pleasures that didn't make me feel guilty are now starting to make me feel guilty.brizmushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163313230550265190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-74532658413653576942010-02-27T22:34:55.432-06:002010-02-27T22:34:55.432-06:00@Kris - Oh yeah, Greg Iles counts! I read The Foot...@Kris - Oh yeah, Greg Iles counts! I read The Footprints of God several years ago, and only remember something about a supercomputer that turned out to be SO super, it could control the world. Or, something...What's next for you on the Random House list?<br /><br />@Lauren - You know, I always see those Janet E books littered throughout used bookstores, and have always wondered what the allure is. Thanks for shedding some light! ;) I've also read a fair amount of Koontz and Grisham, and you're right, both are usually pretty entertaining.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-69837710169484956562010-02-27T21:10:34.280-06:002010-02-27T21:10:34.280-06:00When I want to just zone out and read a brain numb...When I want to just zone out and read a brain number I tread Dean Koontz or John Grisham. Both are pretty darn good and always entertaining. If you want to know my guilty pleasure though (and this is when I need to literally turn off my brain) I read Janet Evanovich "Stephanie Plum" series (oh jeeze now everyone knows my dirty little secret) hahaha! You won't see them reviewed on my blog b/c there are about 20 of these books and they all have the EXACT same plot line: Bounty hunter gal low on money takes a job, kooky grandma, sexual tension with co-worker, goofs up, gets in a pickle, gets out of a pickle, catches bad guy, gets paid, the end.Lauren {Geeb}https://www.blogger.com/profile/12127992084400995650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-75503971694165783092010-02-27T19:06:34.801-06:002010-02-27T19:06:34.801-06:00I could definitely use some of that mindless readi...I could definitely use some of that mindless reading, but I cannot get distracted off my R.House List so in every other aspect of life I'm mindless!!! Try some Greg Iles, entertaining (and I've read a lot his books) but couldn't give you any details .....that is the qualifier yes?Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14833527611674059460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-54463263014849977722010-02-26T13:54:47.971-06:002010-02-26T13:54:47.971-06:00@Michelle - I've never read James Patterson, b...@Michelle - I've never read James Patterson, but I've always heard what you say - he's awful! But, then again, that's part of the fun. To be a true bibliophile, you gotta read the bad to appreciate the good more, right? Interesting point about the "women's fiction." And, no, I wouldn't have thought you meant chick lit. ;)<br /><br />@mummazappa - I've never quite understood the allure of those "urban fantasy" novels - but if it's your equivalent of my Vince Flynn, I say more power to ya!<br /><br />@Stacy - Hmmm...Never read James Rollins nor Preston/Child stories. That good, eh? <br /><br />@Hagelrat - Great point about rereading! You probably pick up even more the second time through when you're relaxed and your brain's off anyway.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-55092593960902017962010-02-26T10:05:16.981-06:002010-02-26T10:05:16.981-06:00I re read for this reason. Goin gback to old favou...I re read for this reason. Goin gback to old favourites and switching off the grey cells.Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12876050775872445521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-84296112267456509382010-02-26T03:24:57.954-06:002010-02-26T03:24:57.954-06:00ahhhh, I cannot do without my James Rollins....he ...ahhhh, I cannot do without my James Rollins....he is my man! i can inhale his books faster than anything; well his and the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Oh man oh man those are so good! I could gobble them up!Stacy at The Novel Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11438410877723922583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-88519421325410800642010-02-25T19:00:48.825-06:002010-02-25T19:00:48.825-06:00oh, i hear you brother! before i had my baby i was...oh, i hear you brother! before i had my baby i was all about reading books i could 'learn something valuable' from, things that stimulate the mind so to speak. Then i stopped getting more than 3 hours uninterrupted sleep in a row (still the case after 7.5 months) and hey presto now i love YA urban fantasy fiction! lately i've been delving into a bit more of the literature side of things but it takes its toll on the old noggin and am back to a YA book right now. my mum says you never really get your brain back once a baby comes along, so maybe i will be dependant upon YA forever.........Danielle Zappavignahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493099952285137131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-75850059429116114402010-02-25T16:04:37.468-06:002010-02-25T16:04:37.468-06:00I've read only two "thrillers" in my...I've read only two "thrillers" in my life, one being a James Patterson and the other was "Last Snow" by Eric Van Lustbader.<br /><br />The James Patterson book was abysmal. I couldn't stand the thing and couldn't finish reading it fast enough. I enjoy his young adult series, but his adult books are horrid.<br /><br />The Van Lustbader book, however, was really enjoyable. It had some brains to it and I actually had to think to keep up with it, which is what I like in a book no matter what. In looking more into his works, I noticed that he was chosen by Robert Ludlum's estate to continue the Bourne series, so it makes sense that I liked his books.<br /><br />However, if I really want to turn my brain off, I pick up anything deemed "women's fiction." Not chick lit, because that is just pure drivel and I end up wanting to burn it, but "women's fiction." You know, Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, etc. Something about other people's drama is just so soothing to me.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03031333610996926579noreply@blogger.com