Currently Reading

I love to read both fiction and nonfiction. This has been true as far back as I can remember and is probably why I chose to major in English. Though I do enjoy both informational books and novels, when it comes to pure fun, novels win. They are an escape from the sometimes not so exciting realities of daily life. Not that I'm complaining about my life. It's a pretty good one. And in all honesty, I think if real life was anything like most novels, it would be way too dangerous and chaotic for my liking. While it's fun to read about a character's breathtaking adventures and harrowing near misses, if I had to go through all that in real life, I'd be drinking Malox by the gallon to calm all the ulcers I'm sure I'd develop.

Though I do like novels, sometimes it can be hard to find one that isn't filled with explicit language, sex scenes that are basically typewritten porn, or graphically descriptive gore. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I don't find that entertaining. While I most definitely do not advocate banning books, it sure would be nice to know what it is I'm getting into before I start a book. More than once I've started a novel, which I thought would be a good read, and start to get a little bit into the story, when I get bombarded by indecency. It would be nice if there were a rating system for books, similar to what we have for movies. I know I'm pretty safe with classics (which while they may be suggestive or tackle adult type themes, don't launch an all out assault on the imagination) or Christian fiction. But sometimes, I like to read something contemporary and explore different authors besides my tried and true favorites. I finally got the bright idea to google "clean fiction." And I'm so glad I did.

I found a great novel that I'm really enjoying, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. There are a couple instances of some swearing, but it's not a constant barrage. It's realistic fiction set in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi about the lives of black maids and the white women for whom they work. It's well written and interesting enough to keep me wanting to read when I should be going to sleep. Definitely a thumbs up so far.

So what books have you enjoyed in the past? And what are you reading now? I would love to have some suggestions for what to read when I finish The Help.