I’m sooooo behind in my reading. Best I can do these days is
3 books a week and I listen to 98% of my books. Yesterday I checked my TBR
list. Eleven. ELEVEN. I’m trembling. I’ve never been this behind. What’s even
worse is there are over 100 books on my wish list. A blanket of sadness has
fallen over me as I realize there will be no way to read the hundreds of good
books out there. I will unintentionally miss brilliant stories in many genres.
Recently I encountered three young ladies who are avid
readers. They read every genre and an average of five books a weeks. They rarely
watch TV. Sigh. I so envy the young. I’m
so old we called the Polar Vortex winter. In my past there are many years I only read a
couple of books a year. Imagine a flash bang of guilt being released here. To
assuage my guilt I encourage people to look for new to them authors. Part of me
is consoled with the knowledge my four children are avid readers. I like to
think they’re taking up my slack. But geeze, so many books.
How do you make decisions about what and where you read? I asked this question in a group with several
literary fiction and non-fiction writers and….eeep… was absolutely stunned by
the amount of, never romance and NEVER a
self published book answers. BTW, I considered leaving the group but decided to
stay and, shall we say, educate them on occasion. I mention this because the three reader gals
said they NEVER choose a book by the publisher. Only by the sample or blurb.
Time for some questions. Do you read print, digital device,
or listen? If you live in the snowmageddon and storm areas that frequently lose
power, do you have a little generator dedicated to keeping your computer and
reading devices alive? How do you, strictly
as a reader, find your next read? Word of mouth? Ads? And, sigh, how do you find
the time to read your selected book treasures?
Oh! One other thing for writers. Does reading inspire you to
write? It does for me.
Rita writes thrillers with military heroines. Extraordinary
women and the men they love.
10 comments:
I'm sighing along with you, Rita. Life got busy somewhere, about 12 years ago, I'd guess, when I started having kids. Reading time was sacrificed, but I've been slowly carving out more and more time for that each year. I find it recharges me, and I sleep better at night if I can get lost in someone else's world for fifteen or twenty minutes before my head hits the pillow.
Oh, and I love to read either print or digital. Depends where I happened to pick up a copy of the book. I tend to buy from ads these days, on BookBub or eReader News. But those are mostly new-to-me authors. For my favorite authors, I'll see something on their newsletter or on Facebook that reminds me to pick up their latest.
Anne Marie I feel like it just isn’t fair. Why wasn’t I born beautiful AND rich so I can have time to read all I want?
Exactly, Rita. Not fair. :P
Rita, now I feel... inadequate. I'm lucky if I read a book every three weeks. And it's only the half-hour before bed. Unless it's Christmas time, and then I get long lazy days of reading. I read mostly print and a growing number of e-books. Like Anne-Marie, I learn about my faves on Facebook or newsletters, but for new-to-me writers, I go by the blurb and the back cover. If the premise is interesting, I'll buy. I rarely listen to audio.
Marcelle if I didn't have audio I would die. To me a well narrated book is better than a movie. I listen when I have to do something I hate doing. Makes my life a lot easier as I hate doing a lot of crap.
Yes, books are an inspiration, and once in a while a lesson in what not to do. Currently reading The Art Forger. Wonderfully well plotted with a heroine who's brilliant but deliciously screwed up. So much to learn, so little time. Rita, thanks for the thought--and emotion-provoking blog.
So true about lessons Jean. I have a book the was a hot item. Ugg. I found it awful and bought a print copy to mark all the 'never do this' passages. Another book people were raving about drove me crazy. He used suddenly 2-4 times on each page.EACH page.
My TBR pile grows every month! I try to read every night before bed, but I don't always succeed! I mostly read on mu Kindle in bed while hubby is sleeping. And yes - reading a good book always inspires me to write.
Oh you make me laugh, Rita. "Call the polar vortex winter?"
I read everyday and it does recharge me--except when it doesn't. If I'm at a tender place in my work, reading non-fiction is a better match. Reading fiction can gum-up my works. (I'm a freakish mimic. I'll start writing like whomever I'm reading.)
Oh you make me laugh, Rita. "Call the polar vortex winter?"
I read everyday and it does recharge me--except when it doesn't. If I'm at a tender place in my work, reading non-fiction is a better match. Reading fiction can gum-up my works. (I'm a freakish mimic. I'll start writing like whomever I'm reading.)
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