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?

  • disgustandhorror@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The prevailing opinion is that all books are equally valid and the only thing that matters is that you enjoy yourself, and of course it’s the internet so people are always ready to fly into a psychotic defense of whatever children’s media franchise they’ve been fixated on for 20 years. That’s the answer you will see over and over and over and over again on reddit: Harry Potter is just as good as Moby Dick!

    I get it- who cares what other people think? Read what you want.

    BUT, that said, there are more reasons to read than just shallow entertainment, and I think people do themselves a grave disservice going their whole lives avoiding Serious Books.

    I grew up devouring genre fiction but at some point I forced myself to start reading “real” books and my only regret is not starting sooner. Of course, I still read low brow stuff too- currently, the Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps is my bedside book- but diving into challenging literature, taking it seriously, and really making an effort to grok it can be one of the most rewarding things a human being can do in our short lives.