May
I Read. Therefore I am.
Written by Shiko
I’m not one to have a book everywhere, but I read. Not as voraciously as I used to before demanding day jobs happened, but I read a lot all the same. I tend to obsess over a particular genre for some time and then snap out as soon as I realize that a girl’s warehouse can only hold so many facts, useless or otherwise. That she can only get so much inspiration before it degenerates into boredom. That she has to decide whether her dad is rich or poor, get over it and get down to more African ways of doing business. That in her attempt to grow rich, she has to roll up her sleeves and get down to work. Aside from thinking of course.
So I read widely but if I were asked to pin down the one genre that holds more of my fancy, I’d have to say its True Crime and Investigation.
I’m intrigued by the criminal mind. Not petty muggers, pick pockets and bank robbers. No. Guys like Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway. The kind that kill, dismember their victims and stuff their body parts into suit cases. Those that rape their dead victims and eat their hearts. I will not try their sick in the head ways at home but I’d like to know from them how their minds operate. I’d like to play Clarice and talk to one of them if they could promise not to kill me and stitch a shirt with my skin.
I’ve read more Anne Rules and true detective magazines than I could count and watched countless programs about said insanes. Somewhere in my life there are hard cover volumes of criminal psychology and profiling books that I bought in a moment of blind impulse. Ok criminal psychology was a bit too ambitious but profiling I do read.
Unfortunately am not that brave after all. At some point I started freaking out even at whispering winds. I’d start at creaking doors and swaying shower curtains. I did not ever think that McShiko would kill me but hey, a lot of those victims are killed by loved ones.
As much as I read widely, I still go through other people’s lists of favourite authors and go, ‘whoarethose? This post is a promise to self to spread my wings and widen my reading scope some more. I shall soon look y’all in the eye and declare that my favourite authors are the likes of Robert Harvey Monro Elwes, Quintus Tullius Cicero and Pedanius Dipscorides. Soon as I can pronounce their names.
For now though, am reading Princess, Desert Royal and Mayada. If only for those book covers! Plus am intrigued by the Arab Culture and way of life.
From my log cabin in the woods – Paper book or kindle?
By Kbaab on May 5, 2011
I read too. Most evenings. My genre varies from auto-biographies to simple stories. Currently I’m reading Sandra Brown’s Unspeakable.
Meanwhile I’m googling >>> Robert Harvey Monro Elwes, Quintus Tullius Cicero and Pedanius Dipscorides.
By Shiko on May 5, 2011
Kbaab tell me about google! Let me make it easier for you. Google ‘Ancient authors’. You may just see my footsteps there especially on these three authors.
Oh simple stories. I love simple stories.
And hand across my heart if I came across a Mills and Boon lying around carelessly I would read it.
By Vicq on May 5, 2011
‘That she has to decide whether her dad is rich or poor, get over it and get down to more African ways of doing business. That in her attempt to grow rich, she has to roll up her sleeves and get down to work. Aside from thinking of course.’
Shiko did you just cleverly trash two of the worlds best selling biashara books?
By Shiko on May 5, 2011
Gosh Vic you’re on my account. Hadn’t logged off.
Anyway, I did? Cleverly even? *gasp*
By Murasta on May 5, 2011
“Ted Bundy”, hihihi! That dark mind of yours is highly disturbed child. hehehe!hilarious. Although, I will share a dirty secret: I am a stickler for Crime Investigation Channel…A.W.E.SOME!!
By Shiko on May 5, 2011
Murasta me too! See? We’re sailing in the same boat. These people’s brains are intriguing.
I read of girls who had some serious crushes on Ted Bundy. Apparently for being the man he was. smh. That we shall not do.
By Iquira kenya on May 5, 2011
I went through the obsession with crime books phase now I am on auto-biographies and true stories.
Just finished reading ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory Roberts and it has gone into my all time favorite books!
I am still ADDICTED to the Crime and Investigation channel though..I do not see myself going off that soon though!
Lovely post as always….
By OtienoHongo on May 5, 2011
Oh, nice to know there are people out there still reading something other than blogs, tweets and facebook status! Ok, while still interested in the arab culture, you can read The Haj by Leon Uris…I found it quite interesting and also gives some insight into how the Arab-Israel conflict began and led to the creation of the Palestinian refugees! On crime, I did my fair share of crime / detective novels but its been a while since I read anything along those lines!
By Empowerkenya on May 5, 2011
I read..but mostly entrepreneurial/biz related books. I am obsessed with bettering my financial life so I am constantly reading about new inventions, new trends etc.
I love “criminal minds”—the tv show. I can watch 5 episodes in a row.
I occasionally read other genres; based on whether the book holds my attention.
By savvy on May 5, 2011
I also read with an obsession anything interesting I lay my hands on.
So of course financial books I don’t touch.. unless the storyline is interesting. Oh, they have no storyline!
By guru on May 5, 2011
I read mostly shallow stuff from magazines like mens health, satire from thespoof.com and the comments in aculturedleftfoot blog. I frequently fall asleep reading tech ebooks. I don’t know who writes the stuff I read though.
By EdwinAbuga on May 6, 2011
Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of Vanities was my best read ever followed closely by Stephen King’s Needful things. I like books and pieces that offer me a glimpse into the human psyche. Human nature is a very broad concept so yeah you could say I read widely.
I also read blogs, the Holy Bible, tweets, magazines, philosophy, non-fiction, and sometimes I try and read people.
By pitzevans on May 6, 2011
I have two books which are criminal investigations and disemboweling people
1. last man standing
2.back to ash
cant quite remember the author but great books, great murderers awesome detectives and profilers.
By carolkmail on May 7, 2011
True crime and investigation huh? Right. I have so many things to say about that, which I will not say lest I find myself an unwilling victim
Out of curiosity, I shall be reading the princesses, deserts and daughters as well. The covers are kinda cute! Don’t read anything into that statement btw…
By woolie on May 8, 2011
A lovely post. People have such varied reading interests and that is clear from the comments. I will not be shy to admit that I like a bit of romance so that there’s always a Catherine Cookson lying ovyo-ovyo. My other hunger is for espionage – John le Carre is a master there.
By kirima on May 9, 2011
Reading books was my singular pleasure and indulgence before WWW came into the picture and unfortunately for a few years I lost Mojo kiasi but I’ve conciously decided to pick up where I left off, I even got myself a Kindle in the process and discontinued DSTV subscription.
I don’t have a particular genre but I go through phases eg. Steven King, Michael Chricton, John le Carre, Anne Rice (I love anything with Vampires except Twilight!)
Talking of Arab women try A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hoseinni, a trully touching story also the Kite Runner.
By Nyambura on May 10, 2011
You read Ann rule…wow!. Mad respect.Silence of the lambs will always be a classic. I actually loved it more than the movie and the movie was pretty awesome…I don’t read much true crime but I’ll sample any book in any genre as long as it story looks interesting. Fantasy, Sci-fi and YA are my fave genres though.
@ Kirima: I love vampires as long as they’re not fangless & don’t sparkle
By Shiko-Msa on May 10, 2011
Thanks y’all for your wonderful contributions and recommendations. I’ve read some of the books you’ve recommended and now made a list of those that I have not. Let me just say there’s a loooooooot of reading coming my way as soon as I get shopping for these books.
Iquira thanks dear.
Otieno Hongo at some point said tweets and blogs threatened to interfere with my reading. Infact I believe to some extent they have but I try to balance things out.
EmpowerKenya I live Criminal Minds too. Anything criminal usually gets me.
Savvy lol. Yes some do have a story line of sorts. Like the boy with two fathers.
Guru that cultured left foot has so many comments! Football is emotive kweli.
EdwinAbuga you try to read people? Waar, I’m keeping my distance. Lol.
Pitzevans am onto google to find out who those authors are.
Carolkmail the covers! These are books I’m guilty of judging by the covers. We’re free to say people and thing are cute no? ama it’s the whole #nohomo thing?
Woolie I went through the espionage craze some time. And Catherine Cookson sounds sooooo familiar. I must have read her at some time.
Kirima you finally bought a Kindle? Nice.
Nyambura you know you inspired this article. Thanks. I would like to promise you that I’ll read Sci-fi but haki woiye I can’t.
Ok. I see nobody reads Nancy Friday. Me neither.
By kalengi on May 14, 2011
Crime…a favorite theme for my entertainment choices. I consume it in a different manner though. Rather than curling up in bed with a crime book I watch series and movies. Stuff like Dexter, Criminal Minds, Thomas Crown Affair, Ocean’s Eleven, Inside Man, The Italian Job etc… I guess you’ve figured out by now I’m not a book reader
By carolkmail on May 14, 2011
If it’s cute its cute. I cares not for the #NoHomo drama. They are such tamu covers! Ok. Moving on lest I overdo things
Should I be talking nicely to you to borrow the tamu covered books? 
By mrsmwiti on May 15, 2011
I don’t read, it’s a shame. And when I do, I read magazines and am done reading all the stories i need to read in a mag in an hour.
I try to develop a reading culture in my kids by buying them colorful little books and reading to them. But u know with kids, they end up copying what their parents do!
By millicent on May 17, 2011
I just love books on how the human mind works. Anything that makes me get a feel of Drphil or Frank Njenga even. And so I read “the tipping point”, blink.. the works.
By Nyambura on May 20, 2011
It’s ok girl
I still think your bookshelf rocks. Mob wendos
By The Spinster on May 23, 2011
When it comes to books am looser than a langa on K-street (or wherever they re-located to )! I love to read but draw my line at self help books and Nancy Drews. Personal favorites are just intriguing books.
Nice post!
By Mugendi on May 30, 2011
I have taken it upon myself to read more, mostly because books are an excellent source of awesomeness. And I like awesomeness. But books are seriously enjoyable. And reading is, simply put, seeing with someone else’s eyes, making the brain work, getting away from it all.
Awesome piece.
By Shiko-Msa on Jun 6, 2011
Kalengi I tried to watch Dexter but only cleared a few episodes. It proved a bit too dark for me.
Carol yes that can be arranged.
Mrs. Mwiti, I also get through magazines in about 1 hour flat. No idea why I keep buying them. I guess its those habit things.
Millicent, interesting is the human mind.
Thanks Nyambura.
The Spinster Lol. Trust you to use just the right example. Not too good with the self help either. I was around K-street not too long ago and it was like Guide: ‘this is K-street’ Me: ‘where’re the gals?’
Mugendi thanks. I couldn’t have put it better. I like awesomeness too!
By Andollo Odanga on Nov 20, 2011
Today a reader, tomorrow a reader
By Project 44 on May 14, 2012
Great to see that so many other people are reading out there too. I read a variety of genres, just haven’t been able to read the financial ones (my head tends to ‘knock’ like an engine
).
LOL re her dad is rich or poor….it was like when I read that one about the man giving up his ferrari….enough said
Currently I am reading Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfooz
By Shiko on May 15, 2012
Lol Project44, he sold it no? Lol. I ended up buying most of the books recommended kwa comments, the ones I could get anyway. I’m currently reading Shataram by Gregory David Roberts.
Andolo true.
By Project 44 on May 16, 2012
Hehehehe..yeah, he sold it – I couldn’t even get that right cos honestly I’d rather forget it