Welcome to Bookish Blatherings, a Bad Bird Reads feature where I ramble about bookish or bloggerish things and hopefully you will join in on the discussion.
So, I thought I was doing better, but I just got worse on Christmas. I am pretty sure I have the stomach flu. What’s worse is that throwing up doesn’t even make me feel better. I am nauseous 24/7. It really is the worst feeling. On the bright side, I will be losing weight because I haven’t eaten anything except applesauce and toast for the past two days. Just so you know, the only things okay to eat when you have the stomach flu or an upset stomach is applesauce, bananas, rice, and white toast.
Okay, enough about my misery. I didn’t want to blog today but I hate leaving my blog stagnant for too long. So I thought I would do a short one. When I’m sick I like to read. Not always, like this weekend I couldn’t pick up a book and concentrate if my life depended on it. But more often than not I crave reading when sick. I want to get my mind off the sickness and dive deep into a story. But not just any story. I don’t like a lot of action or drama when I’m sick. My mind can’t handle it. I like plain, slow books. Those fluff reads are perfect for sick reading. I even read erotica sometimes because the plots tend to be simple and the characters noncomplex.
So this got me thinking, what does everyone else do when they are sick? Do you read when you’re sick? Does it depend on the sickness or are you a no reading while sick person? If you do read while sick, what genres do you like to read?
Do you read when you are sick? If so, what genres work best for you when sick?
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Rachel Lightwood @ Istyria
I cannot read when I’m sick. I just can’t! I know what you mean about wanting to escape though. I tend to movie or TV show marathon while I’m sick. It’s easy to do – I just have to lie down and watch! – and do want require too much concentration so it’s perfect.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I do like a good movie marathon when sick. Especially cartoons.
Lekeisha
I read a lot when I’m sick. The genre doesn’t matter so much, it’s the characters or the world. I tend to watch lots of television and movies too. Hope you feel better soon!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, TV is a must when sick.
Shomeret
It depends on the sickness. If I have a fever, I just sleep until the fever breaks. Then I might read when I’m getting better. The most memorable read while I was sick was Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky while I was in high school. It was a reading assignment that I had to get done, but I found it nightmarish and I absolutely hated it. I think I want to read feel good books when I’m sick. Crime and Punishment just made me feel worse.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, fevers make everything impossible! lol Crime and Punishment sounds like the worst book ever to read when you sick.
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons
I hope you’re feeling better. For me, nothing is worse than throwing up. Give me severe pain over nausea any day. Anyway, to answer your question, I go for something with humor in it. That is always my go to when I’m in bad mood, sad or don’t feel good. I find a book with a lot of snark in it. Shelly Laurenston, Eve Langlais, Molly Harper are all great books for me. They are all quick reads that aren’t overly complicated and just fun overall.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Throwing up is the worst!!! I hate it so much. I know it’s better to get that stuff out but just noooo! Snarky books are a great choice.
Jaclyn Canada
I hope you feel better soon! I’m with you…I like to read books that I don’t have to think too hard about while I’m sick so absolutely no epic fantasy. I like a paranormal romance or a re-read of a well known loved one that I already have.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Re-reads! Yes, now that is a good idea when sick.
Nathan
I hope you are feeling better soon. If I have a cold or something like that, I often don’t read. I did however read Dinotopia Sabertooth Mountain when I was in grade 6 with the flu, that lasted for close to two weeks and stuff was coming out all ends. And yes, on a watered down ginger ale and cracker diet you do lose weight. But if my epilepsy is bothering I read books that take my mind out off the problems my brain is having. Urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal romance, all work. This also works for being in stressful situations. Escape into a good book, it’s much better then focusing on the stress and chaos around oneself.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I agree, escaping into a book is almost always the answer, lol. I like a good urban fantasy any time.
Braine Talk Supe
Yup, while the rest of us are packing on the pounds, you’re losing weight. Way to keep things positive!
When I’m sick like you are, I can’t read or even watch TV. I might as well be in a coma. I’m one of those who is almost dead when I get sick. Feel better soon!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
LOL, yup, no Debbie Downer here!
Anna
I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, but I guess it’s not all bad if you can read all day long. When I’m sick, I usually sleep or watch movies. For food, I’ll stick to water, jello, Popsicles, and broth.
Get better soon. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I had so much broth while sick I was like 50% made of broth at the end.
Missie
I so agree that I had slow, plain books. I hope that you feel better soon!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings Enter my 2nd Annual Blogoversary Giveaway
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Thanks!
Brandi Breathes Books
Oh no, feel better! I read okay when I am hurting in back or neck but hard with headache or nausea.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
with headaches I am dead to the world.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I hope you’re feeling better, Jennifer! It sucks being sick, and nausea is the worst 🙁
I can read when sick, if I’m not feeling too out of it, and then, I really need something that makes me feel good – a sweet romance with some hot scenes is perfect for sick-reading.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Nausea is the worst! Thanks though.
Melissa (Books and Things)
((HEALING VIBES))
I hope you feel better soon! Hate stomach flu! Hope you are well enough to read but don’t push it. If not, lots of fun movies are on order. 🙂
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I was all about the DVDs while sick.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
I pretty much just wish for death. lol I don’t get sick often but when I do it’s brutal. Thank goodness it doesn’t happen often. If I do end up reading fluff is usually what I go for too. Very very easy reads. Hope you’re mended soon!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
For almost 3 years I didn’t get sick then this year I have been sick so many times! It’s driving me crazy. I am so carful with germs too.
Christy
Aww poor Jennifer. So no drunken shenanigans for you tonight? 🙁 Hope you feel better. It depends on the sickness, but usually I prefer to watch stuff because it’s hard to really enjoy the reading.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, watching movies or shows is easier sometimes depending on the sickness.
Renee (@Addictofromance)
Well when I am sick, there isn’t much I can do except read hehe so I do plenty of it. But normally I am only in the mood for PNR when I am really sick.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
PNR is always a good one to grab when sick.