I go through phases of reading, and right now I’m trying to get back into the swing of it again.
Somewhere, maybe on tiktok, I saw mention of Fourth Wing. A lot of people praised it and I knew it had to do with dragons (which I love), so I was quick to give the sample a try.
I finished the sample in literally no time and am now pretty deep (but not finished, please no spoilers!) into the book. It’s not particularly well written or innovative, sometimes the way the author writes makes me cringe a little, but god damn if I don’t think it’s a fun story. It’s very easy to read and not difficult in any capacity to understand, which is a stark contrast to the other book I’m slowly reading (House of Leaves.)
I’m a 27yr old female, so probably out of the age range for Fourth Wing, and sometimes I feel like I should be reading more “challenging” and mature things. It’s a weird guilt that I’m pretty sure I put on myself and that no one else actually cares about, and I was curious to ask if anyone else struggles with this a little?
Maybe you can try reading something in between what you’re reading now, and something more challenging?
Like instead of reading Ulysses (considered one of the greatest yet difficult classic books in English) you should read something like…well, I’ve been reading John Irving. A bit more literary and not genre, but still very good writing. Or really anything that is on “best of the year” lists.
A lot of that stuff isn’t difficult to read at all. So it’s not challenging, even if it is more “mature” in the sense of not being young adult.
One book I read recently that I loved was the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Not challenging at all, a breeze to read, emotionally affecting and well written and highly respected. Expand your horizons; try new things out. DONT try to read dusty old classics if you don’t want to!