Okay, here's my story. The election changed my reading habits --for the worse.
Back when I worked, I used to read voraciously (riding mass transit gives one lots of time to read books). I also used to buy up to three papers a day, The NYTimes, The NYPost and the NYDailyNews. Now I no longer buy newspapers and I only read them via someone linking something to them; I do not even scan the websites. My last job was at Barnes&Noble, and there were free publishers' samples in the kitchens that were on 3 floors (out of what 10-12?, I forget), along with cds and other items like calendars, not to mention my employee discount. At one point, a librarian felt sorry for me and gave me a new card as I had worn it out using it so much. Now I hardly venture into a library (here in NYC, in my immigrant neighborhood, I don't speak Hindi or Spanish or Russian, which all have sections. The new arrivals are pretty much eye candy schlock.
Currently, as crazy as it sounds, I'm rereading a lot of my books that I have, both from school and later. (How many people have a copy of The Warren Commission?) I reread one my Japanese history textbooks, by Edwin O. Reischauer. I was shocked at the liberal bullsh1t I never noticed 35 years ago. At one point, the author did the same 'US war crimes' dance when it came to Hiroshima and Nagasaki that we've heard of late. I also noticed that a lot of the gory Japanese history was downplayed, specifically The Rape of Nanking. (Iris Chang's book on that part of history is excellent.) I still read my poetry, Whitman, Dickenson, Frost and a few others. I used to be a voracious reader of historical mysteries, will still read the series I have. Not too long ago, I reread the Hornblower series, for the third time. I just finished Lord of the Rings for the 5th time. I also had to re-buy, as someone borrowed my copy and I never got it back, my preference over Atlas Shrugged, It Can't Happen Here, by Sinclair Lewis; I've read quite of bit of Lewis and do enjoy other of his works, like Arrowsmith, Main Street and Babbit. A year ago, I finally bought a large one book compilation containing the entire 10 book Amber series by Roger Zelazny; I love those books. I am also partial to the Rumpole of the Bailey series, by John Mortimer, as well as Bernard Cornwell historical fiction books, like the Richard Sharpe series. My reading has been altered by the authors, as well, specifically being a moonbat (like boycotting movies). I won't read Stephen King anymore. I find very little new stuff of any interest. Give me my bound volume of The Iliad and The Odyssey.
As far as internet reading, that's way down. Besides the two forums, both great sites for news aggregation, I will go Ace of Spades (I enjoy the freewheeling sockpuppetry). Another blog I frequent is neo-neocon, which has a good commenting community. But I no longer go to a ton of saved favorites like My Pet Jawa, Idiotarian Rottweiler, Whizbang, Hot Air, Powerline, Gateway Pundit, Jihad Watch or any of the other so-called conservative sites. I simply can't be bothered because all the political posturing in the world is not going to stop the onrushing civil war the progressive/commie thugs are hell bent on starting in order to keep and increase their power; another old saying comes to mind, be careful what you wish for. I just find the political gaming theorists to be full of shyt and can't be bothered anymore; a lot of those places had 'tone' problems, as calling Owebama a few years ago a racist commie thug would have gotten me banned. I'm sick and tired of the sugarcoating euphemisms that have been hurled around of late to provide cover for our Lard and Sewage*, King Putt.
I use the internet for recipes and other cooking needs, so I don't have to buy cookbooks anymore, although I still use the few that I have. I used to play the game of 'follow the links' and see where I ended up, but even that is not now enjoyable.
I feel like I'm living in a surreal calm before all hell breaks loose. Because of that, I tend to stick to old and comfortable book friends more than anything else.
* Thank you, Libertas.
