What books do you want to read?

In my younger years, I was an avid reader of new age and self-help books. Over the years, I have come to realize that I am beyond help and no amount of perusing novels about how I can become a better human will make a bit of difference, so why bother? 🙃 Additionally, I have been duped too many times to count by New Age gurus who ended up being a great disappointment to me. For example, I bought into Sylvia Brown the "psychic," only to later discover she was a fraud. I had purchased all her books and was even planning on having a private consultation with her.

My previously naive mind came to realize that the people I admired could be liars, which was a blow to me. I felt betrayed and scammed. I was angry because the author had hurt so many people. Either making vulnerable people believe there was hope in finding their loved one or making them believe there was no hope.  Another New Age author I loved, disappointed me when I thought about what she was really writing about. When I logically broke down what she was saying, I realized she held viewpoints that I found to be anti-abortion 

Alas, I have become jaded and distrustful of authors claiming to have all of the answers to life's questions.  They actually piss me off because they are preying on our vulnerabilities and trust to make money. Back in the day, I was ever so naive and simple. Yes indeed. I was simple and entertained by media that I would no longer be able to enjoy. Stuff like Dr Phil, Oprah, and Soap Operas. Teenage series such as Beverly Hills 90210 and OC, were also favorites of mine. I remember loving Grey's Anatomy. I would never be able to watch that stuff now that I've been exposed to a higher quality of entertainment. 

That seems to be the way of things tho, does it not? I mean, I loved The Sweet Valley High book series as a teenager, and I'm certain I'd probably gag after reading the first couple of pages, now. Additionally, as a young adult, I enjoyed steamy romance novels, of very low quality, whereas now I can't imagine them being entertaining. 

Presently, I am mostly enjoying fiction, when it comes to literature. I enjoy almost all genres besides Western and Romance. I especially love young person literature. I am a great fan of Phillip Pullman, for example. I usually only choose highly rated books, because I need the story to really hook me, and I don't like wasting time or money. The sad state of things is that I can't usually read anything that starts off slow. The boredom is just too much for me. 

Now, keep in mind that I am currently obsessed with audiobooks, so technically, I am not reading. To have a story read to me is comforting and reassuring. It's amazing how a good narrator can add so much depth to a story. Terry Pratchett's Witch series has such a marvellous narrator, making me laugh throughout. As a child, there were only a couple of times that I remember being read to, and I always longed for that. I think Mama was too tired out most of the time.

I enjoy reading books that highlight adversity and injustice. Literature that emphasizes our human capacity to persevere against the odds. I like to see how we come together during times of peril. I need to see the ways we fight back. The ways we can sometimes achieve at least a measure of justice. I am not a fan of authority figures, so I gravitate to literature where the story centers around a fight against corrupt systems of authority. 

For me, the fictional genre is less important to me, than the quality of the writing. Certain writers just have a way of hooking me in and keeping me engaged. A really good story is ever so important to me. Pan's Labyrinth is an example of the kind of story I love.  I also love The Book Thief. The world would hugely suck if it weren't for reading. Reading and enjoying audiobooks have provided me with a means to escape reality when reality is treating me like garbage. 

I like returning to stories I found magical. That is how I am able to provide myself with comfort and peace. It is the familiarity. It is the storytelling. I also use my favorite shows and movies for comfort. Movies like Sing Street, Napolian Dynamite, The Help, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Bridget Jones Diary, and Scott Pilgrim, are all examples of movies that provide me with comfort during hard times. Oh! And I mustn't forget Studio Ghibli movies! Those are my favorite comfort movies that I watch repeatedly. 

But I digress. I guess my answer to today's goddamn prompt, is that my only requirement when it comes to literature is that the story has to be engaging. Presently, I think I am going to revisit, some whimsical stories that are infused with some humor. Those books are not only comforting but also create happy chemicals in my brain. I feel like I am in need of this because lately, I have been feeling the sadness creeping its way back into me again. 

Thank you ever so much for reading my stuff.