I have had three books on my nightstand, none of them held my attention. Every night I picked one up, read a few sentences, closed the book, sighed and turned off the light.
I like variety. I can have a few books going at a time. These were all good choices, the issue with each book was a slow writing style. Right now, my mind is on overload, so if I have 15 minutes to read before I go to sleep, I need a faster paced writing style. A story that keeps my interest.
I felt like Marie Kondo (the Japanese expert on tidying up your house). Talk to each book, wish them well and give them away.
That was very liberating!
With a cup of Tazo – Zen tea in hand, I got comfortable at my desk and began my book search. I logged into Facebook to review the “Historical Fiction Book Lovers” site.
SUCCESS – I found an interesting book by Amy Tan, “Saving Fish from Drowning.” The book had mixed reviews, because it was quite different from her previous books, i.e. The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God’s Wife.
For me, I liked it immediately. Tan starts the story with news clippings of 11 Americans who disappeared while traveling the Burma Road from China to Myanmar. It appears to be a true story, so I searched Google to find out what happened to these 11 Americans. Turns out, Tan made this story up, this left me curious.
I found a second book by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books). His books take place in Barcelona. First time I’ve heard of him. This book seemed very interesting with action, intrigue, rare book dealers – not boring.
Now, I might complain of too much reading and lack of sleep!
What’s on your nightstand?
Brilliant Viewpoint 
I’m reading a Canadian release By Chance Alone by Max Eisen, a memoir about Auschwitz, which I am finding very good but much too disturbing by bedtime reading. So I plan to alternate it with Elin Hilderbrand’s new beach read, Summer of 69, because I lived through that era and her books are always light and fluffy if sometimes annoying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like a good plan. For summer, I like the idea of “Summer of 69.” I will look that one up. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! Every now and then I clean out my Kindle the way you clear your nightstand – too many “free samples” where I never got hooked, and even a regrettable purchase or two. Like Joni, I enjoy the WWII fiction genre (reading “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” now), but summer beckons with lighter reading. Kind of like beer and wine this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, I have been wanting to read “The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” how are you liking it?
LikeLike
Ooo, I want to try THE TATOOIST… too. Reading poetry at the moment, which is nice to pick up for just a few minutes at bedtime!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds good. Any type of reading before bedtime is great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read The Shadow of the Wind but it was a bestseller in Spain a few years ago. Should be interesting.
I just started Letter from Beijing, by Pearl S. Buck. An oldie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I LOVE Pearl S. Buck. When I was young, I read so many of her books, but I don’t think I read the one you are reading. I will have to look for it. She has a very nice writing style, once I started reading I couldn’t put her books down. Thanks for the reminder to look her up!
LikeLike