Hello. Have you read any books lately (or other writing if no books come to mind) that you particularly appreciated reading?
I don't read books as much as I used to. Which was non-stop. It's a hard habit to pick back up if you're forced drop it for a few years. Long story about a terrible girlfriend I had in college.
The short(est possible) answer is; I keep going back to my complete works of Poe. Way better than Lovecraft. I particularly like Fall of the House of Usher for the way it captures the gloom and despair of loneliness and creativity unshared. I think it's fun to read Roderick as Poe's self-insert, and to spend some time just listening to him talk about the things Poe cares about, the books Poe wishes he'd had the chance to read, and so on. His anxiety and depression about the state of his creative work and intellectual curiosity are very relatable, and I like to think we might've been kindred spirits in another lifetime.
I'm also deeply fond of W.M. Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair,' as a critique of literary moralizing (and whose lessons I try to apply to my own writing,) and of Jane Austen's delightful 'Northanger Abbey.' Really under-celebrated among her work.
Lately though, I mostly struggle to make the time to read anything but non-fiction essays about world events, technology, economics, and my greatest love Sociology. I feel both a responsibility to keep in touch with current analysis of social conflicts, and a deep dread about keeping in touch with current analysis of social conflicts. I believe a good part of the issue with my getting back into the habit of reading New Books is that reading is how I interact with the world primarily these days, and it's such a drain. I feel like I've been ready for the next act for decades, and the author is still finding ways to ramp up the tension, while refusing to reach a crescendo. I guess it's working for the majority of the audience, but I've seen this all before, and I'm deeply tired of the endless drama. I'd be better off going back to books. I could stand the pacing and structure in my diet.
If you want my advice, never stop reading books. You'll regret it if you do!