What are you reading?

[Catrin]

I read to escape and to relax. Most of what I read is genre, though I do love a lot of the 19th and 20th century Russian novelists and I am picky about the translater(s). I also enjoy good steam punk fiction and certain periods of historic fiction.

Sometimes I want to be challenged and made to think, sometimes I want what I call "mental candy". My point is that it is all good, reading is great no matter what/how/when/where. Read on!

I really enjoy this tread as I've discovered authors here I've not heard of!

[Crankin]

She Fly and Emily, I only read books by authors like you mentioned. I have been on an "adventure reading" kick, due to the virtual book club I joined, and my interest in endurance sports. But, my reading isn't heavy duty, except for some of the non-fiction, maybe. Heck, I was an English minor and English teacher; I have always disliked classic lit. Not only do I find it difficult because of the language, I like to read stories that i can connect to in some way. That might sound anti-intellectual, but reading is reading. I get the New Yorker every week, and make it a rule to get through the entire magazine in a week... so I get my fill of "high end" authors that way, in a short form. Sometimes, I do skip the major piece of fiction, if I can't get into it, but the non-fiction content keeps me very informed, too.
I love New England authors, too and took a whole course on southern lit in college.