Blog 7 - Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones

Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones:

Today's posts focus upon the value of stepping out of our comfort zones.

Out of Comfort Zone Book

• Provide a brief summary "teaser" in which you identify the title, author, and genre and in which you explain what the book is about -- no spoilers.  Share your personal reaction to the book -- what do you see as its strengths and weaknesses, what did you think of it, to whom would you recommend the book?
• Explain how the book is out of your comfort zone-- what is your comfort zone, how is this book out of your comfort zone, how did this affect your reading, what are your thoughts now on this particular genre?  What is the value of stepping out of your comfort zone?

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  Out of my Comfort Zone--  Fantasy-Horror (this is a post from a couple of years ago)
  
  
  Paranormal creatures are definitely out of my comfort zone.  The above three books are fairly recent additions to the horror genre with the Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch falling into the urban fantasy sub-genre.  I must confess that I was not able to read all three in their entirety.  Rivers of London and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter were read as part of this class but Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I never finished.  All three books explore the concept of paranormal beings interjecting themselves into the human world and the conflicts that arise.
  
  
  As you probably know by now, paranormal beings are not my thing as I am easily scared.  However, I have been willing to step out of my comfort zone and read about them.  In some ways, if I can get over being "scared" these books can also be humorous as their plots tend to be far-fetched.  Their satire is also to be appreciated.  Both Rivers of London and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter would appeal to readers of fantasy and horror but also to readers of detective fiction as the main character in each seeks to solve mysteries and seek out the bad guys-- ghosts and vampires.   Readers who like history or the O'Reilly killing series might like the Abraham Lincoln book as it is another "spin" on history. As an avid Jane Austen fan, I started to read the zombie book but for some reason never finished it. I still have it and plan to finish it one day -- the plot starts out following Austen's book which made it interesting for someone who is familiar with Austen's work.
  
  Paranormal beings,  as stated before, are not my thing.  There are several other genres I prefer such as crime fiction and popular fiction;  and, with little time to read during the school year, I am more inclined to read different books than those in the horror genre. However, I cannot deny that these books can be a fun read and are certainly imaginative.  I particularly appreciate how Seth Grahame Smith weaves in history and literature with his horror plots.  His imagination and creativity are extraordinary and clever.  My ventures into this genre have enabled me to expand my reading and help me to connect with friends and students who enjoy this genre on a regular basis whether it be through reading or film.  Checking out what others enjoy is not a bad thing and benefits all involved.  The world would be a narrow place if we did not occasionally step out of our comfort zone and experience what it has to offer. 

May 2019 Reading Out of My Comfort Zone

My recent reading has not pushed me as far out of my comfort zone as the paranormal readings but these recent reads have not been my usual choices either.  With that said, I must say I have enjoyed these books immensely and actually miss the characters.  Over Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to a novel that would allow me to relax and unwind, so I grabbed Where did you go Bernadette as I packed to go to the shore for the weekend. This book has been sitting around digitally and physically for a while and I just haven't felt the inclination to open it -- and so I finally did.  The book is told from the point of view of a young girl who's mother has disappeared. Many people feel that she has abandoned her family, but her daughter knows differently.  The daughter, Bee, attempts to put together her life before she vanished with the help of various documents and emails.  Bee's faith in her mother is unconditional and she is determined to find her, even if it means travelling to Antarctica.

The Poet X was my first venture into an emerging YA sub-genre of poetry as the entire text of a novel.  I wasn't sure how I was going to like reading a book that was an assortment of poems, but I found that I enjoyed the book and had no trouble following along.  The issues in the book seemed very relevant for teens and the idea of finding your voice struck home as I see students struggling to find themselves.  Finding your voice ultimately leads to a new found confidence and comfort with one's self.  Xiamora struggles to be herself in spire of the expectations that are placed upon her by others.  She is a worthy and inspirational protagonist.

Night Tiger is a story set in Malaysia in the 1930's.  It focuses on intertwining  of individuals whose names include the 5 Confucian traits.  The point of view shifts between characters as they seek to uncover the mystery behind a severed finger that must be returned to the grave of its "owner."  The story has many elements that are out of my comfort zone including romance, magic, myth, dream states, and monsters.  There are also the elements of detective work, feminism, a femme fatale and coming of age.  The book is an enjoyable read and I found myself rooting for the characters.  Reaching the last page was not a happy moment for me as I was enjoying the plot and the character development.

Foe is the second philosophical thriller by Ian Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things. This book is different in that it has a futuristic, science fiction quality to it.  This book like the previous one by Reid leaves the author questioning what happened and returning to the text to look for clues.


2020 Comments on the Value of Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones

Comfort Zones are our home base and there are many time returning to these favorite genres.  There is certainly I time and place for our comfort zones.  However, we would remain stagnant if we only experienced the same thing over and over again. That is why there is value in stepping out and exploring  genres.  I know I have mentioned it before, but nonfiction was a genre that did not appeal to me and I shied away from it.  However, over the years I have acted on the recommendations of others and I probably now read almost as much nonfiction as I do fiction.  Jon Krakauer is one of my favorite writers as his books highlight real people and events in a creative and informative manner. If I had not ventured into this genre I would not have read nonfiction favorites such as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Born a Crime, Missoula, Wild, etc.  There is a vast and complicated world out there and our reading can benefit from experiencing divergent thinking and diverse settings and people.  I hope that your exploration into a new genre yielded some positive effects and that you will continue to read and consider broadening the scope of your reading as you move on to your next courses.

Currently reading out my comfort zone book:  American Dirt.

Blog 6- Genre Reflections

Blog Post 6 -- Genre Reflections

Update your blog to include your genre research and reading. 
Post on Blogger by Thursday, May 28. 
Provide the following:
--An overview of your genre
--The appeals of your genre
--What you personally like about your genre
--Your review of the book you read and how it is an example of your genre-- evaluate it as such
--3 recommendations you would make to readers for books or authors in your genre.

 
This post should be multiple paragraphs, informative, and aesthetically pleasing.


My May Genre Reading

As you all know, my comfort zone has become more varied as I have read more and more and diversified my reading interests.  However, I have always gravitated to the mystery/suspense/detective fiction genre.  This genre has many sub-genres which appeal to a sense of suspense.  As a couple of you mentioned during your genre projects, mystery often appeals to people who like to figure out puzzles and problem solve.  I consistently find myself trying to figure out who committed a crime or how the investigators are going to apprehend the perpetrator. Mysteries keep readers on the edge of their chairs reading. There have been many nights when I have stayed up until all hours just to finish a mystery.

This past month I have read several books. The book that best fits in this mystery/suspense genre is The Lace Reader by  Brunonia Barry.  The books takes place in Salem and focuses upon Towner who has returned to the city after a long absence.  The book blends suspense and mystery with romantic and paranormal elements.  The book had me constantly thinking about how different memories and events related to one another.  One of the supporting characters is a police man who is trying to figure out if a crime has happened. A better classification of the book might be psychological suspense because, in the end, the narrator's perspective is called into question. Towner previously suffered a nervous breakdown which caused her to be institutionalized and undergo electric shock treatments. After several plot twists, red herrings, and high stakes events, the mystery unravels and the solution becomes clear but not expected.  The setting of Salem adds an exotic element as historical events and conflicts are paralleled by modern conflicts.

Viewing this book as a psychological thriller places it in the same realm as several popular recent bestsellers: Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, I am Thinking of Ending Things, The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window, and The Wife Between Us.   Each of these books contains a mystery but the narrative point of view imposes many plot twists into the story-line. Writers play with unreliable narrators, the narrative structure and chronology.