I've had a great reading week. I finished Calling Dr. Laura early in the week and Anatomy of a Disappearance mid-week. I'm also almost done with Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, which is turning out to be one of the best research-oriented nonfiction books I've read lately. Yesterday, I figured I could start another book, Family by J. California Cooper, and before I knew it, I was done with that book as well.
From my excitement, you can probably guess that this doesn't happen often. I think this past week being a snow week helped - we had to skip the gym (not cool), our dinners have been mostly soup (yum), there was nothing of importance trying to get my attention (yay), and so books got read. And they have all been good books. Family was beautiful to read, though not as striking as several other books I've read on slavery by African American authors. Anatomy of a Disappearance was mostly poetic to read, but the plot wasn't too impressive - that was okay, the writing made up for the plot. I have read much better graphic memoirs than Calling Dr. Laura, but it was still refreshing to see a different take on this medium. And Stuff has made me realize that I am not a hoarder, no matter how many magazines I tend to pile in my house or how disarrayed my desk can be.
By this time last year, I had finished only 5 books. The year before (one of my better reading years in quality and quantity), it was 8 books. Two years prior, it was again 5. Both the years when I had read only 5 by February, I didn't read more than 45 books overall. Not a bad count, but I do miss the years when I read so much that I didn't miss reading. I always had something that occupied my attention on the poor reading years - family troubles, wedding year, other stuff. This year is going to be the biggest game-changer of all for sure (arrival of a baby) but starting the year off with a lot of reading may help me bounce back sooner and easier? I don't know. I would love to be able to read even fluff books after July. And maybe I just need to make an easy-reads TBR list for the second half of the year.
I'm not sure what to read next. Maybe The Cellist of Sarajevo or This One Summer. Or maybe I'll spend the day cataloging my ebooks - I have no idea what all I own in ebook format and it would be nice to get them listed somewhere, and then use IFTTT to automatically add newly purchased books to the same list. Or maybe I should clear my desk. (I always wait for a weekend to do this, but once the weekend rolls around, it feels almost silly to do any chore.)
Can I say how thrilled I am to see a 48 degree high predicted for today? After ridiculously freezing temperatures this past week - our town broke all its previous records for low temperatures with a -11 degrees on Friday (That's Fahrenheit) - I would like not to have to squish my face into my jacket to cower from the cold winds whenever I had to step outside. After living in a winter wonderland for a week - it was too cold for any of the snow to melt - some of the snow has started saying goodbye today. Now that I got my snow fix for the year, I am more than ready to welcome Spring.
18 comments:
We've had a record low and a record low for a high here as well. I'm ready for winter to end!
It's been brutal here too weather-wise. We are up into the 30s today or supposed to be, we'll see. The last few years, my reading hasn't been above 75 books per year and some years, just over 50, but I'm okay with that. I figure (sadly) with some people lucky to read one book a year, if I read even 25, I'm doing well. I'm at 6 right now.
You're on a roll! Isn't it a great feeling? I'm glad you liked Family. It is definitely more subtle than quite a few other books I've read on slavery, but I thought it had its own wonderful charms. :)
The Cellist of Sarajevo is brilliant, one of my favourites. And Stuff sounds so interesting - I'm not a hoarder, but I do need to declutter and lose my attachment to buying stuff sometimes.
I think I might have STUFF in my audio library. Sounds like I need to listen to it soon. Not sure why I even bought it - maybe one of those daily deals. Take care and enjoy your "warmer" weather. :-)
I think life just happens, and our reading just needs to adapt to it. You are doing great with your reading though :) And ah, I wish it was a bit colder here! It's 65 degrees here in San Francisco, and I just wish we had a bit more of the colder weather that winter should give.
Yay for being on a reading roll! I feel like every year I read less and less. What the heck! And, I'm so curious about Stuff. I hope you'll write up more on that one. When I see all the books we have and all my crafty supplies, I wonder :)
It's great to start the year off with a lot of reading! I think your idea of an "easier reads" list is great for after the baby comes. But even if you get really busy, that's the great thing about reading - books will always be there when you're ready to go back to them!
I love it when I am on a reading roll and able to spend time reading. I am glad you have enjoyed your reading as of late!
I hope you enjoy The Cellist of Sarajevo as much as I did! I thought it was beautifully written. It's a quick read, regardless. I need to find time to catalog my e-books too. That will be a big project, I imagine. What did you end up deciding to do?
Aren't we getting more freezing temperatures (and some snow) this week? I would love it if they would end!
Yeah, I'm with you. I'm not particularly worried about numbers as long as I feel that I am reading as much as I would like to. Some months/years, I can barely make myself lift a book, and other months/years, I feel as if I could write some books myself.
I did read Family based on your recommendation and I am so glad that I did!
Glad to hear that Cellist of Sarajevo is brilliant. I didn't yet get to start it but hopefully, next week is the week!
Stuff was very popular a few years ago - I was seeing it on tons of blogs. I believe that's when I TBR'd it. It is a great listen - fascinating and very intriguing. I was worried it may turn out to be a little dry but it was anything but dry.
Ooh, what I wouldn't give for a 65 degree weather! We only get a few days of that during spring and fall. The grass definitely looks greener on the other side, eh.
I was worried too about my books, craft supplies, and magazines, even glass bottles, if that's not too weird. Luckily, after reading this book, I came across people with crazier habits than I have. I did feel sad for them and their families, but I wanted to run to my husband and tell him that I'm not a hoarder lalalalalala.
I agree! I probably won't get much read initially but as long as I can squeeze in a page here or there once things settle down, I'll be thrilled!
I so wanted to do ebook cataloging but I decided to do something that will have some visual impact, so I cleared my desk. Mostly. There are still drawers I need to handle, but for the most part, my drawer would be able to breathe now if it were living.
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