I've missed you amid all the hubbub of grad school. Today, I want to chat about guilty pleasures, of which I've indulged in rather a few most recently.
Now, for any book lover this could range to anything from a sultry, grocery store novella to some flighty novel of fancy. Personally, I have eclectic tastes. Lately though, due no doubt to the stress and deadlines of graduate life, I have gravitated toward chick-lit. Chick-lit is really anything and everything that addresses issues of womanhood in a clever and usually comical fashion. More likely than not though, this genre in particular is known for light-hearted tales of love, life and laughter. Plus, they are sumptuously easy reads, which is another glorified bonus.
And, dear readers, since we have no secrets from one another, here is my unabashed list of easy-to-read and deliciously guilty pleasures.
These books are the epitome of chick-lit. Not only are they delightfully funny, but also dripping with romance and swift bouts of sublime awkwardness that make the heroine (Becky Bloomwood) come alive right off the pages. The fact that the author and heroine are both Brits make this must-read series all the more desirable (at least to an accent-loving fool like me). Think of this series as a break from the real world stresses of everyday life. I would also recommend reading these in the bathtub to achieve optimal relaxation (I know I did).
2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Yeah, go ahead and roll your eyes at me. I simply don't care. This book is beautiful, expertly crafted and a true masterpiece deserving to be read and re-read to the end of time. But really, this guilty pleasure read could be any one of your favorite works, readers. Think of a book that touched you, that seemed effortless to consume and that you could finish quickly. Got it? Then, there you have it. For me, that book is Pride and Prejudice, but for you it could be something entirely different. But . . . Elizabeth Bennet is one kick-ass heroine. Just saying.
This is by far the guiltiest of reads and not just because I'm admitting that I'm on yet another bandwagon book of the moment. Yeah, I know that it's not incredibly well-written or something that will ever be considered a classic, but you know what? Who cares? This is your world and you are entitled to read whatever you want. I, partly out of curiosity, picked up this book and didn't put it down until I was finished with it three and half hours later. Yep, it's one of those. Also, I find it rather sexy, aside from being rather generic in the author's obsession with stereotypical good looks and wealth. In that regard, I can take it or leave it, but the romance that blossoms between the two protagonists is sort of beguiling. It definitely isn't for everyone, but I can't deny that I enjoyed it while it lasted.
4) True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
Yeah, the author kind of makes me gag, but I have a soft spot for good, old-fashioned Southern love stories. I audiobooked this recently on a long drive home and I, surprisingly, didn't regret it. The characters are deep, affectionate, witty and utterly oozing with Southern charm. It's likely not Sparks' best book, but I can guarantee it a top spot among his others that were made into movies. Half of which aren't really even good, save for The Notebook of course. Still, give this one a go if you find yourself in need of some Southern charm and a good night snuggled up tight with this guilty pleasure read.
5) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
A former long-term boyfriend gave this to me one lazy Fall afternoon. I thought he was rather bold in giving me a book about love, so I took it and read it at my leisure. Then, I was surprised when I started to find myself really falling for the characters. Their love was insatiable, otherworldly and somehow something that made me sit up and pay attention. I was astonished that cried at parts and soon found myself reading this book at any free moment I had. When I finished it, I went to him and asked if he had read it. He had. At that moment, readers, I was yet again assured that I was in love with him. It wasn't just because he gave me a book about love, anyone could have done that. Rather, it was the fact that he recognized a beautiful story and wanted to share it with me. Now, if that isn't romantic for us book nerds, then I simply don't know what is.
