In a similar vein to the question posted earlier today, I wanted to know what book reco would you see as a huge green flag when dating, and why?
My answer: Lonesome Dove
Why: It delves into themes of friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships. If they like the book it tells me they have an understanding of the nuanced dynamics that make human connections meaningful.
Something Wicked This Way Comes. Anything by Ray Bradbury, honestly.
Honorable mention to sharing a childhood favorite, and bonus points if that childhood favorite is by Louis Sachar, Andrew Clements, Jerry Spinelli, or Wendelin Van Draanen.
Something wicked isn’t exactly a romance lol
That wasn’t required criteria. 😉
I don’t want to argue, genuinely curious. What about Bradbury do you like? I’ve read a few of his books, and honestly just couldn’t stand the way he wrote. I’d like to be more specific, but I don’t really know how to explain. What makes it appealing to you?
That’s a fair assessment.
I think if you don’t like the way he writes, you’re not going to like him. I happen to like it—the prose, the stories he tells, and even the way he writes—quick, fast-paced, short chapters.
I have ADHD and longer paragraphs, chapters and books can be a challenge for me. I flew thru Something Wicked and Fahrenheit 451 due to the digestible format.
I also read Something Wicked right before Halloween, so I think that helped flavor my experience with it.
More and more I’ve been trying to read books that fit the environment I’m in or the current season (for example, I read These Silent Woods when I was in North Carolina earlier this year, revisited the Wayside School books and Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret in September at the start of the school year, and experienced Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first time around Halloween this year).
Not everything by Bradbury has been a hit with me—Halloween Tree was good, but not one I will revisit. His short story collection The Toynbee Convector was a bit of a slog (my favorite part involved a snippet from his Martian Chronicles I believe, so planning on checking those out next.)
But Something Wicked was a pleasant surprise in the best way. I picked it up knowing nothing about it, started reading it with zero expectations—and finished it in 2 days.
It’s not for everyone, and that’s why if someone listed it in their profile, I’d view it as a green flag and swipe right!*
*if I was looking, which I’m not. Happily married to someone I met before swiping was even a thing 😂