My pattern is to read two books consecutively, one non-fiction and one light fiction. Which one gets picked up depends on my mood and energy level.
His assistant, Archie Goodwin, does the detective legwork and narrates the stories.
Rex Stout, like Agatha Christie, having found the formula that made them rich, kept churning out their books one after another for our reading pleasure. Stout wrote 47 Nero Wolfe books, including novellas and short stories. Christie wrote about twice that many, although not with the same characters. And her endings are not easy to guess.
The non-fiction book I just finished is How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams. The Dilbert creator recently died of prostate cancer at age 68, and because of my son's cancer, I am interested in all things related to this terrible scourge. So, I picked up this one, wondering "What was his life ten years before the cancer?"
The book is memoir-ish, giving it an edge for me over the generic how to succeed book. I appreciated Scott's sardonic humor: "Why would anyone take advice from a cartoonist?"
I didn't agree with all his theories but found plenty to make it worth the read, such as his distinction between setting goals and establishing systems. (Systems are more effective at achieving success than goals, he claims convincingly. I have since addressed my chronic, goal-setting addiction by rewording them as systems.)
Having finished this, I'm ready for another intelligent non-fiction.
I have several Nero Wolfe books waiting on my Kindle. I'm not yet bored with Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. I like getting transported to 1950s Manhattan.
I get that. I used to read an educational book during the day and then cozy mystery at night. Was fun. Happy Reading and boogie boogie. Also, great to see you posting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ivy. I'm trying to settle on a blog schedule that makes sense for me.
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DeleteFunny title of the Adams book. Shame he's gone.
ReplyDeleteHis passing is a great loss to the world. He contributed so much in his own creative way.
DeleteI've been reading too many thrillers recently, so need a change.
ReplyDeleteI love a good thriller. When I find an author I like, I read all their books.
DeleteMost of my reading has been non-fiction - cookbooks, nature, abandoned places. I drift into fiction when I read some Spanish books though. (I'm learning Spanish and find it's easier to read kid's books so I can understand most of the words.)
ReplyDeleteAbandoned places? That sounds super interesting!
DeleteThank you for the books. These look interesting.
ReplyDeleteTwo books consecutively is one more than I can do. I avoid fiction while drafting my own, saving it to my in-between writing books. Nonfiction is okay to read while writing, though maybe not such as have a strong voice like the late great Scott Adams'. I did get this very book by him as a gift to DS some years back, before the Internet chose to punish this author.
ReplyDeleteI am always interested in what the Internet punishes.
DeleteIt's good to read something you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteReading Dilbert helped me at a time when I was experiencing a rapidly deteriorating job situation. Some days I could swear that Scott Adams had a spy in my office because some of his comic situations were literally happening at work. Eventually, I found a new job (one I am still at). As for my reading, I've read more than one book at a time for much of my life. Right now I'm having a dry spell (i.e. several DNF's in a row). I have confidence that the dry spell will end.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good fiction. I didn't know the Dilbert creator died. Neil Patrick Harris has a choose-your-adventure autobiography that you mind find interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm dropping by to wave hello. 🙋♂️
"Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read." — Athenaeus
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop