February 18, 2009

What to Read When You are Having a Crappy Week...

I am officially having a crappy week! Not an awful, tragic week as many people have been experiencing in our country lately but still a tough time for me.
I have been travelling up north this week for work and I got stuck in the floods that are currently happening in the north of NSW - nothing too major until I had a minor car accident and did some damage to the work car I was driving. I wasn't hurt in any major way and neither were the people in the other car so really I should be thankful for that - the thought of being involved in an accident that had hurt other people would just be devastating for me. But, the accident has left me with a very sore left arm which I will be having x-rays and ultrasounds for this week (sounds more dramatic than it actually is I think) and I was also stuck in a town far away from all my loved ones for a night which made me very miserable. But, I am home now and enjoying that feeling very much.
As I said at the beginning, I realise that my experience is absolutely nothing compared to what other have been through in these past weeks and I know I should be very grateful that things were not worse (and I am!) but I think the whole experience has just reinforced for me how vulnerable we are.
Ok, so enough of my whinging! The whole point of this post was to think about, and ask for suggestions, on what makes good reading material when you are having a rough week/time? I've continued to enjoy my Alexander McCall Smith reading during this time but I must admit I am also thinking about reading the books that got me through tough times in my childhood (Enid Blyton was always a favourite!). What about you?? What do you pick up when you need picking up?

11 comments:

Eva said...

I reach for mysteries, or I reread my favourites. Lots of these are from childhood...in fact, I just put a bunch of kid books on reserve at my library, since I'm still feeling icky from my stupid cold.

Anonymous said...

Ga! You have had a crappy week poor thing...I hope your arm is ok. My two fav pick me up reads are Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and Roald Dahl My Uncle Oswald. The shenanigans of Rob from High Fidelity always makes me feel better about life, and Oswald is just hilariously silly distraction!

Karen said...

Hi Eva - I am actually in the mood for some mysteries at the moment - especially ones set in the UK for some reason. This is not usually a genre of books I read all that much. I agree with you about the kids books!

Hi antipodeanowl - Thanks - I hope my arm is ok too! Thanks for your reading suggestions - I don't think I have read High Fidelity before - have seen the movie though. I haven't read that Dahl book either although some of his others are my faves (especially Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear you've had a tough week.

Reading wise, old favourites (eg Austen, Trollope, Conan Doyle, E S NesbitCold Comfort Farm,I Capture the Castle) always cheer me up.

Hope you find something that improves your mood.

Karen said...

Hi adevotedreader - Austen is a fave for me when I am feeling like this too - especially Persuasion.

megan said...

Oh no! Sorry to hear that you're having such a crap time of it. I tend to go back to Tim Winton when I'm feeling crappy - they don't necessarily make me feel cheerful (especially not my fave The Riders :-D) but the way he writes always evokes an emotional response in me and I love beautiful sentences :-)

Also I am always comforted by Austen, too!

Karen said...

Hi Megan - I love Tim Winton (especially Dirt Music) but I agree - not sure his story matter would be uplifting at the moment!

Iliana said...

Eek, that is a crappy week. Hope the ultrasound and x-rays come out ok.

I'm like Eva, I reach for mysteries. Well, I usually have one going on anyway but I try to go for those series which are favorites.

Or how about reading some David Sedaris. He's hilarious.

Karen said...

Hi Iliana - I have been meaning to read a David Sedaris book for ages now so it might be a good time to pick one up!

Jennifer said...

I hope your feeling better. I also reach for mysteries, usually the cozies. My fave for a crappy week is MC Beaton. Again hope your feeling better.

Karen said...

Hi Jennifer - many thanks for your thoughts and your book recommendations. I am feeling a lot better now thankfully.