Wed Reading Meme...

Starting my binge watch of The 100 - have 6-7 episodes to burn off. It's actually amongst the better of the CW's new series. About two groups of people - a bunch 20-somethings on the ground (they are supposed to be teenagers, but they are played by 20 something and 30 something actors) and their parents playing politics in a dying space station orbiting Earth. Lots of fun.

1. What did you just finish reading?

Same as last week. Jim Butcher's Skin Game.

2. What are you reading now?

Same as last week - Roger Zelzany's Lord of Light - which I'm struggling with for various reasons. Mainly it's the writing style - third person distant, formal, omniscient, written in a very classical and formal/academic textbook style. (ie. People don't talk like this and no on the planet speaks English in this style, not unless they are an English professor. And as you may or may not have figured out by now from reading my blog - my preferred style is casual conversational, with witty and somewhat sardonic remarks.) I'm willing to bet that this style (the formal textbook English/Roger Zelzany's style not mine) is much easier for anyone who reads English as a second or third language - because it is devoid of slang, the English is fairly precise, and the word choice is formal and academic in character. I remember when I was learning French - books written in the formal or academic French were far easier to understand. As was formal spoken French. Also formal English is easier to translate, than conversational English - let's face it some words just can't be translated. Same was true with French.

But for me? I'm finding it akin to reading stereo instructions and reminds me far too much of work. I do read stereo instructions for a living - or rather contracts and technical specifications, which are basically the same thing. The story is interesting, I love the metaphors, but I feel like I'm wading through quick-sand to get to it. Not helped by the fact that the print is quite small, and faded (it was printed in the 1970s) and I've become near-sighted and currently require reading glasses - which I refuse to wear on the subway and train, which is where I'm reading this book.
Add to this - that I can't seem to focus on anything for very long - due to work worries and current living situation stresses (one of which dropped in on me out of the blue).

So...after about a week? I've only made it to page 80. And I don't really care about any of the characters. The story is almost too allegorical for me to actually connect to it emotionally. It's a story for the mind not the heart. And I think I need a heart story?

But I promised co-worker that I'd give it at least 100 or so pages. Don't you hate it when people loan you books that they love and consider treasures - and you just don't get it? But you desperately want to?

I'm pretty sure it's the writing style that I'm having issues with at the moment, not the story itself. This style reminds me a little of GRRM's, Suzanne Clark, and Terry Prachett - who I also struggle with. And well my mood - I want heart reading material not mind. This feels like mind.

3. What I'll be reading next?

Looking forward to Illona Andrews' Magic Breaks which comes out in July and has gotten really good reviews.