Writer's Block: Light reading

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I had to answer this, if only to get away from postcolonial theory for a while (not that I haven't been distracting myself adequately all day, anyway).

I know I've mentioned before that Patricia Cornwell is my dirty literature secret. I enjoy the feeling of reading something that, quite literally, transpires like a film. Or I occasionally turn to fantasy, along the lines of George R.R. Martin (only one book left to read, before I have to wait for him to publish) – he is surprisingly good. For a girl who is entirely disillusioned with fantasy, and prefers Pratchett (another light read), this was enlightening. Not so much the 'a chosen one saves the world', season with romance, a pinch of tragedy, spectacular magic, two and a half likable bad guys and a hefty dose of sword-fighting. And DeLillo is always good for light reading: dark sarcasm is thrilling. Or Austen, light and fun, the closest I get to chick lit.

Poetry is always a good choice, adjust poet according to level of brain death. Short story collections never fail. Bolaño's The Last Evenings on Earth is beautiful. Bolaño in general is a beautiful, disturbing vortex. Or I pick up a book about narratology or modernism, but I'm told that's something of a quirk. What do you read when you need something light?

Writer's Block: Light reading

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I had to answer this, if only to get away from postcolonial theory for a while (not that I haven't been distracting myself adequately all day, anyway).

I know I've mentioned before that Patricia Cornwell is my dirty literature secret. I enjoy the feeling of reading something that, quite literally, transpires like a film. Or I occasionally turn to fantasy, along the lines of George R.R. Martin (only one book left to read, before I have to wait for him to publish) – he is surprisingly good. For a girl who is entirely disillusioned with fantasy, and prefers Pratchett (another light read), this was enlightening. Not so much the 'a chosen one saves the world', season with romance, a pinch of tragedy, spectacular magic, two and a half likable bad guys and a hefty dose of sword-fighting. And DeLillo is always good for light reading: dark sarcasm is thrilling. Or Austen, light and fun, the closest I get to chick lit.

Poetry is always a good choice, adjust poet according to level of brain death. Short story collections never fail. Bolaño's The Last Evenings on Earth is beautiful. Bolaño in general is a beautiful, disturbing vortex. Or I pick up a book about narratology or modernism, but I'm told that's something of a quirk. What do you read when you need something light?