Reading moods...

It's been a few weeks since I last posted, so I figured it was time for me to share some more of my reading thoughts.   I've been having trouble getting into and enjoying my most recent novel selections lately, even those I figured I would enjoy.   For instance, I just finished reading Winston Graham's Ross Poldark, the first novel in Graham's well-known, and well-reviewed, Poldark series.   This book just didn't do anything for me.  I detested the main character and just couldn't get into the story.   Given the overwhelmingly positive reviews this book has received, and that it falls within the historical fiction genre - my particular favourite - I was quite surprised that I was never able to 'connect' with the book. 

I also starting reading Matthew Lewis' The Monk, which I thought would be a perfect book to read at this time of year.   Unfortunately, it turns out I'm not at all in the mood for it so I've had to set it aside for another day. 

I think part of the problem is that I have too many reading commitments and, as a result, can't fit enough novels into my reading schedule of my complete own choosing.  I'm in one local book club and several online book groups, all of which have reading selections every month.   I'm a very moody reader, and don't like to be 'forced' to read something I'm not in the mood for, which is what may have happened with the Poldark book, and definitely has happened with The Monk.   I think the only solution is for me to take a break from book club reads for the time being, and focus only on those books I truly want to read.    With this in mind I've now turned my attention to Margaret Campbell Barnes' The Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood.   I love novels about the Plantagenets, and am a lover of the Robin Hood legend, so I have high hopes for this one. 

Who else is a moody reader?  Do you think your enjoyment of a novel is dependent upon your reading mood at the time you start a novel?

Spooky Reads....

It's now October, and as we approach Hallowe'en I thought I'd get into the spirit of the season by reading a few spooky tales!  Right now I'm reading Hilary Mantel's Beyond Black, which is described as a great ghost story.   So far, so good.    I'll follow this up with Matthew Lewis' The Monk, a work of Gothic fiction originally published in 1796.   I've been looking forward to reading The Monk ever since finishing Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, where it is briefly mentioned - one of these days I'll tackle Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho for the same reason.   Maybe I'll save that one for next October. 

What about you?  Are there any spooky reads on your to be read pile for October?

Reading Funks

I've been going through a bit of a reading funk lately, and I hope it ends very soon!   I don't get in reading funks all that often, and they are generally characterized by me having zero interest in genres that I normally love such as historical fiction, fantasy and classic literature.   Sometimes my funks are even so bad that I have to take a break from reading altogether for a few days.    I'm not in such a drastic funk at the moment, as books still beckon, it's just that all I feel like reading are light, easy and short reads that require no effort on my part to get through.    My current read, Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen, is a fine example of the type of book I typically turn to when in a reading funk.  The book, which is the third novel in Bowen's Royal Spyness series, continues the adventures of Lady Georgina Rannoch, a young cousin of England's King George V, who is constantly getting herself wrapped up in intrigues and mysteries.   This series is delightfully fun, and definitely qualifies as light and easy.   Hopefully by the time I finish the novel my funk will have passed and I'll be ready to tackle some of my upcoming book club reads, none of which I'm even remotely in the mood for at the moment. 

Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Series

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
4 Stars ****

I've just finished reading City of Bones, the first novel in Cassandra Clare's YA Mortal Instruments series.   I admit that I'm not a big fan of urban fantasy novels, especially those that feature vampires, werewolves and/or demons, but I picked this book up on the recommendation of a friend and am very glad I did so.  Set in present day New York City, City of Bones introduces us to Clary Fray, a seemingly normal teenage girl whose life gets turned upside down when she witnesses a murder in NYC club.   Clary is soon thrown into the world of the Shadowhunters, a group whose purpose is to destroy demons and whose existence is unknown to mundanes (aka everyday people).    Clare has introduced both a memorable set of characters and an entertaining storyline, one that has left me wanting more.   So, what did I do when I was close to finishing this novel?   I went ahead and immediately ordered the next two books in the series, of course!  

Not only has the novel left me wanting to read the rest of the series, it also has me wondering what I had against urban fantasy in the first place.   Does anyone else enjoy urban fantasy?  If so, what do you recommend?

My First Post

Well, here it is, my first ever blog post! 

After checking in with a few other blogs devoted to books and reading, I gave some serious thought to starting a blog of my own.   I knew it would be time consuming, and I had my doubts that anyone but my immediate family and friends would read it, but I decided to go ahead with it anyway.   The result?  Confessions of an Avid Reader was born.   I plan to use this blog to give my thoughts on various books I'm reading or have read, and as a forum to discuss general book-related topics.   

Enjoy!