What is a 'good' book?

I read a lot of books -- somewhere between 8 and 10 in the average month – but I don’t consider myself to be “well-read.” That title goes to serious students of literature, who read classics and analyze themes and really think about the author’s deeper meaning. The books I read don’t have a deeper meaning. Sometimes they barely have a plot.

I don’t read much non-fiction either. Yes, there are some great books in the marketplace right now, and I like to read ABOUT the premise behind the book, and get the general idea of the concept to mull over. But I rarely read the book itself. I’m just not that interested.

I think the reasons are two-fold.

First and foremost, I know I can’t read everything, so I read what I really WANT to read (thrillers, spy novels, dark humor on a grand scale), instead of what I OUGHT to read (serious books about serious topics, anything labeled a “classic”). I’m way past the point of having to impress anyone with my reading list or knowledge of current events or even my ability to engage in meaningful conversation about esoteric topics.

Which brings me to my second reason for reading so much pulp fiction. My reading life is a solitary one right now. I don’t know very many other people who read for pleasure and even fewer who want to discuss what they’ve read. If I read trash, I put it aside and promptly forget it. It was a good few hours of escapism. But if I read something thought-provoking, I want to share my thoughts and discuss. But with no one around to discuss WITH, better to skip that frustration altogether.

So if you want some mindless distractions, I’ve got some “good books” for you to pick up. If you want to be well-read, however, better check what my friend Carter is reading these days. It will feed your mind much better than the brain candy I’m ingesting these days.