this sounds silly… i feel a wee bit embarrassed to post this. maybe it’s because i’m neurodivergent or maybe it’s because i’m a wee anxious bean… how do people read like anxiety inducing parts? like if i feel like something bad will happen to a character, i will struggle to read it.

i like cosy books, and i usually rewatch tv. or if i’m watching a new series i need to look up spoilers. like, it doesn’t take the fun out of it but i miss being surprised. i miss watching new series and finding new stories.

for example i am nearly 40% into priory of the orange tree and i am LOVING it so much, but i am struggling to read onto the next part because i know something bad will happen. then i look ip spoilers thinking it will help, and it didn’t. anyone who is similar to me, how do you push through it? any tips?

Want to recommend a book for consideration? Please leave a comment here! Keeping book suggestions to this thread helps me keep track of suggestions by containing them to one space.

From the intro thread, books should be: 🌱 Focused on a particular type or a specific plant or fungus 🪴 Engage in ethno/botony, environmental science, mycology, and ecology 🌷 Celebrate the natural world ➡️ Non-Fiction Only

and should not be:

🧑‍🌾 Gardening or plant/medicine dictionary style content 🐞 Heavily focused on animal or bug life 🍅 History of food or ingredients 🔁 Very similar to a title already included

Books can touch on these things, but should not be primarily focused on them. Books also must have some kind of narrative component; please do not recommend dictionary or encyclopedia style books.

Please also be intentional about the balance of author demographics and the ethical considerations of botany. Recommendations that uplift marginalized voices will be prioritized when I am considering additions. In particular, books that highlight these topics from non-western perspectives are of high interest to me. I would love help with more representation from Africa, Polynesia, the Levant & North Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, et all. with a special emphasis on Indigenous voices from these places over white/Europeans studying those areas.

I really do appreciate recommendations - I would love to know why you recommend a book, too, to help me vet titles. I don't promise to add everything but I definitely will consider everything suggested here.

Thanks for helping me make this quest great!

For me, it’s A Clockwork Orange. It’s not that I think it’s a bad book in terms of writing or character development. It just makes me sick to my stomach every single time. I can’t read the book or watch the movie straight through.