it has just got to stop

Torchwood novel

In the last month or so I’ve devoured 3 Doctor Who novels and 4 Torchwood novels.  What was I thinking? I keep telling myself I should be reading something more worthy but you know what, it’s winter, it’s cold and it’s perfect snuggling under the covers with a book kind of weather.

There are six Torchwood novels available and 3 more to be released at the end of November, those can be Christmas holiday reading if I can wait that long.  Every novel so far has been 250 pages but the font sizes vary so they’re not all the same length.  I love that I hear the voices of the characters, Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper, Toshiko Santo and Ianto Jones as I read the books. It is a little disconcerting having to think about where they sit in a timeline with the television series.  I think the next three will be odder with Owen and Tosh still featuring.

I’ve enjoyed them all but Slow decay is my favourite.  It brings Gwen’s partner Rhys into the story and the monsters in that story are quite fascinating. Those other more improving books can just wait till I’ve finished my Torchwood stack.

information hygiene

You think carefully about what you put in your mouth.  You wouldn’t pick up food off a fotpath and eat it. You know you can eat chocolate or chips for every meal. You allow yourself some treats but you try to keep it in balance.

Do you think as hard about what you fill your mind with? I can never eat MacDonalds again after watching Supersize me. In the same manner I couldn’t ever bring myself to read a MIlls and Boons.  Any Jackie Collins novel is off my list too. There are so many great books out there and so many interesting and thoughtful blogs, I don’t need to be filling my mind with the written equivalent of junk food.

Every now and then you need to take a brain vacation.  Just like once in a while you treat yourself to sugary fatty snack sometimes you just yearn to read something which relaxes the mind. Or something which your mind processes as fast as candyfloss dissolves in your mouth.

I decided to treat myself to a Doctor Who novel – well okay, 2 Doctor Who novels.  Then I wondered how they compared with Torchwood novels. I’ve just picked up my second Woodie novel for the week. This is starting to feel like a binge. I managed to read a graphic novel as well. It is a history of a family who lived during the holocaust. It was an amazing story and so well done but the balance is still off and I thirst for more Torchwood. My brain is enjoying its holiday from worthier tomes.

loyal till the end

If you start reading a book, do you have to finish it? I do.  I can never bring myself to walk out of movies either.  Part of me always thinks it is going to get better. This is just a bad patch, the story will improve. You might miss something really good if you don’t finish.  I have this habit of just putting the book to one side and starting another.  The half finished books sit beside my bed taunting me with their bookmarks poking out at various stages.  Some have been there for so long I fear I’ll have to start over, I can’t remember what I’ve read already.  I always blame myself for not enjoying a book – I’m not in the mood or I’m not paying enough attention, but that’s completely wrong of course.  I get hooked on certain authors and read everything they write.  Every now and then your favourite author disappoints – they try something different and itdoesn’t click for you. 

No-one likes to think they picked a dud book.  And besides these “hard to get through” titles aren’t random unknowns. Some are award winners but awfully tough going.