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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

What should you read when unwell?

27/2/2019

22 Comments

 
A virus nabbed me at the end of January, and kept me captive right through this month. Confined to barracks if not to bed, it’s deprived me of walks and singing, and standing at my desk. But I could sit and edit, although I’ve done no new writing, apart from a couple of 99-word stories, and a helluva lot of reviews. February might be the shortest month, but perhaps the greatest in my book-reading tally.
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I’ve been consuming books like hot lemon and aspirin. What else could I do in my depleted state? Watch TV?
 
Two weeks into involuntary retreat, it occurred to me my reading choices weren’t particularly relaxing. Wanting to feel ‘productive’, I’d thought to plough through my TBR shelf, rather than selecting easy reads. But perhaps I should’ve reread old favourites and saved myself the bother of writing reviews. So did I change tack at that point? Of course not. This thing had kept me in its clutches so long, surely it was about to set me free. (Sadly, it was only the midpoint, that’s if I’m over it now.)
 
The bug also afforded me ample thinking time, although the thoughts that filtered through were by no means profound. I wondered if our reading preferences change with illness, and what constitutes a ‘sickbed’ read. When you’re weak, is it heartening to read about fictional illness or is it better to choose a socio-political theme to maintain some semblance of connection to the outside world?
 
Wondering about what had worked for me in other years, I remembered only books I’d read when ill as a child. Two stuck out, both gifts, albeit at different times: one a wonderful collection of Greek myths for children, given when I returned from hospital after having my tonsils removed (a state-sponsored form of child-abuse that’s fortunately become obsolete); the other the totally unsuitable classic Pollyanna when I was far too old for it and when finding the silver lining in an extremely dark sky was exactly what I didn’t need.
 
Over to you? Do you read differently when you’re unwell? What’s your favourite sickbed read?
 
I’m saving my reviews of a few of the books I read under the virus’ shadow for next month, but you can check the reviews of the twelve novels and two nonfiction books I posted by clicking on the image below. My overall favourite was Godsend by John Wray, an even-handed telling of a teenage convert to Islam who, disguised as a boy, travels first to a remote Pakistani madrasa, then to fight across the border in Afghanistan.
You can see my other posts on reading here.

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I didn’t think I’d manage Charli’s end-of-February challenge to write a 99-word story incorporating the word backup until, almost a week from publishing this post, I had the urge to share a health update (and it's looking good):


On the road to recovery?

A virus meant missing the concert; but, never mind, there was another in three weeks’ time. I’d be fighting fit by then: hitting the top notes and tramping the moors, albeit not at the same time. Four weeks of fatigue and bouts of coughing headed for five and I remained a recluse, sleeping sitting up.

Steroids: well I never! A single dose and I’m breathing right. But have I the strength to walk to today’s appointment? It takes half an hour if I march at my usual pace. But there’s backup: my husband’s ‘taxi’ only a phone call away.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
22 Comments
Cee link
27/2/2019 11:39:06 am

I tend to read fanfiction when I'm not feeling well - the more 'junk'-like and self-indulgent the better! XD

Reply
Anne Goodwin
28/2/2019 09:40:16 am

Thanks for sharing, Cee. I don't think I've read ANY fanfiction, ill or well, but then I'd probably have to be a fan first. lol.

Reply
Cee link
28/2/2019 11:03:43 am

*gasps* lol - I'm a big advocate for fanfiction: creativity, literacy, and more diversity (on average.) :)

Anne Goodwin
1/3/2019 07:48:53 am

So much diversity in our choices as readers too. Good there's something to suit all tastes.

Norah Colvin link
28/2/2019 12:19:00 pm

So sorry to hear that the virus is still lingering, Anne. It must really like you. (What's to not like?) I hope you kick it soon and are bothered no more by ill health this year.
I don't remember having a lengthy illness. Mostly when I feel unwell, I don't feel up to reading either. I'll let you know if that changes in the future. Best wishes for recovery soon. :)

Reply
Anne Goodwin
1/3/2019 07:50:40 am

Thanks, Norah, I'm almost there! Maybe I've been too kind to this virus, encouraging it to hang around ;-(

Reply
Norah Colvin link
7/3/2019 11:09:29 am

Hmm. Seems I had read your backup story, but had forgotten it's significance, Anne. Sorry. It's not like me to forget one of your stories. I think I have one last one to read in 'Becoming Someone'. I've been savouring them, not wanting the pleasure to end. I hope you really are on the mend now.

Anne Goodwin
8/3/2019 04:54:19 pm

Sorry, I confused you, Norah. You didn't forget: I pressed publish on this post before the prompt arrived, then came back to it for my 99-word story when the idea of backup clicked.
Glad I caught that burst of health as it was a one-day wonder and I'm back in the doldrums now.

Charli Mills
2/3/2019 10:19:07 pm

Anne, I'm hoping as I'm late to this post that you have recovered. I've noticed that viruses seem to be lingering longer with people. I recall the 24-hour flu and taking a week of sick leave seemed lengthy. Not sure what underlies all of this -- perhaps the latent results of earlier tonsillectomies? ;-) I imagine Pollyanna at the wrong time has had a lasting influence over you! I tend to crave anything I can get lost in when I'm nor feeling well. A good avoidance read.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
4/3/2019 12:29:00 pm

I'm almost 5 weeks in, still not singing or walking, but have made a doctor's appointment for this afternoon, which might be a step forward! I really don't know what I'd have done if I had a job to go to (but I do have an event that seemed weeks away looming) -- it feels a bit embarrassing letting it drag on (as if it's my fault).
Ha, poor Pollyanna, and the aunt who sent it, was the tip of the iceberg at that time, but yeah it's all part of my aversion to feelgood stories when reality is bleak.

Reply
Charli Mills
6/3/2019 04:12:52 am

Five weeks is a miserable length of time to not be feeling well. I hope your visit helped, Anne and that you are no longer needing a backup taxi.

Pollyanna was included in a set of books I received as a gift and I loathed it. It's not so much the cheerfulness but the denial of one's self. Pollyanna represents patriarchal authority and perhaps we were both sensitive to such constructs at an early age. I

Anne Goodwin
6/3/2019 11:25:06 am

It is miserable, but at least I can read. I was full of beans yesterday, but bad as ever today, so who knows?

Yes, it was the denial in Pollyanna that got me, although I recall very little of the context.

Luccia Gray link
5/3/2019 12:21:54 pm

Glad you're on the mend, Anne. I hope you recover completely, soon:) To answer your question, I don't read much when I'm ill. I'm usually sleeping or moaning:( When I feel a bit better, anything uplifting, even if the topic is 'challenging'. I'm reading the Tattooist of Auschwitz atm, because I know it's based on a true story and ends 'well'. It's the kind of uplifting and inspiring novel that helps put our own lives/situations in perspective. All the best, Lucy.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
6/3/2019 11:29:18 am

Thanks for sharing, Lucy. It seems a lot of people are either completely well or too ill to do anything, but I'm in an annoying inbetween state right now.

I've heard of Tattooist of Auschwitz but having read it. Another on a similar subject I enjoyed a couple of years ago is Mischling, about Mengele's experiments. Maybe I should reread to put my own situation in perspective!

Reply
Susan Zutautas link
6/3/2019 06:22:41 pm

I don't tend to read that much when I'm ill. .Glad to read that you're on the mend.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
8/3/2019 04:55:20 pm

Thanks, Susan. I was on the mend but not sure now :-(

Reply
D. Avery link
8/3/2019 03:42:03 am

Dang, even the Ranger gits sick. I usually shake it in a day or two but this year I took a day off work and still it clung for almost two weeks. I mostly slept in any spare time, no reading. Sick times are stupid TV times if not sleeping but even TV didn't happen. I hope you feel better soon.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
8/3/2019 04:59:49 pm

So sensible to sleep when you're sick. I wish I could sleep more.
I've heard from others that this virus is particularly persistent, but it seems reluctant to leave. I will even miss our Ranger 'Christmas' meal on Sunday!

Reply
Molly Stevens link
8/3/2019 02:05:57 pm

The last time I was as sick as you are, Anne, I was still working full-time. Dragging home from work was all I could muster, so I'm not sure what I'd read if I'd had the chance to take to my bed. I don't think I'd want to read about sick people though! Glad you are better. Prednisone is a miracle drug!

Reply
Anne Goodwin
8/3/2019 05:05:37 pm

You're right, Molly, it's hard to call in sick when you can drag yourself to work. Although I've cancelled so many things these last few weeks that are loads easier than my job ever was, I imagine I'd have been yo-yoing back and forth with a few days on and a few days off.
Sadly the steroids performed their magic for one day only, so it was a terrible come-down to be as bad as ever the following day.
I'm sure I'll get there eventually. Then I'll have to go around with a face mask so I never catch anything again!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
10/3/2019 10:24:22 am

I'm so sorry to hear you've had a relapse, Anne. I hope you're on the mend (permanently) soon.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
10/3/2019 03:58:42 pm

Thanks, Norah. If I plotted it, I suppose the overall trend would be towards improvement, but the slow pace is frustrating and I was so upset to sink back down again after I thought I was 'cured'. It makes it hard to plan ahead.

Reply



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    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

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    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
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