I've been in something of a reading slump lately. I attribute this to being very busy, the pull of the computer, and not loving the books I was reading. I was only reading a few pages in bed each night before falling asleep. I didn't realize how much I was hating this or how much I was missing my quality reading time until I started a new book on Saturday. Michelle advised me to quit the books that were annoying me and to find something I really wanted to read...excellent advice.
So I reached for Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg, it was one of my DI finds. From the very first page I was hooked and happy. I just love the language.
"They say that one of the reasons for tragedy is that you learn important lessons from it. Appreciation for your normal life, for one thing. A new longing for things only ordinary. The feeling is that we are so caught up in minutiae--slicing tomatoes and filling out forms and waiting in lines and emptying the dryer and looking in the paper for things to do--that we forget how to use what we've been given. Therefore we don't taste the plum. We are blind to the slant of the four o'clock sun against the changing show of leaves. We are deaf to the throaty purity of children's voices. We are assumed to be rather hopeless--swallowed up by incorrect notions, divorced from the original genius with which we are born, lost within days of living this distracting life. We are capable only of moments, of single seconds of true appreciation and connection. That is the thought." page 1
So now I'm happily reading again. When I came home from Michelle's house I was tired and had a headache (I had stayed up too late the night before, we had a lot of kid chaos, a wet dog, and it was 103 degrees). I got comfortable and cocooned myself in pillows on my bed and read for awhile, so other than the ache in my head I was happy. I'm on page 88 and just loving it. I can't even tell you how happy this makes me. I love having a good book to look forward to all day, and love it when I feel weary and can steal a little rest in the middle of the day on my bed with my book. I haven't been feeling that way lately with the other books I was reading and didn't know why I was out of sorts...duh.
**Do you do this too? What are you reading now?**
16 comments:
I do get this way sometimes, but I'm with Michelle. If I don't like a book, or just can't get into it I don't read it. It take it back to the library and get something else. I love having a book to read at all times, and probably spend too much time reading, but it is my escape. And I read books that give me something to think about, like this one - appreciating the life you have. Right now I am not reading because I packed all my books, they were the easiest thing to start with, and I wish I had something to read. Oh well, soon enough I will be able to get back to it. Only 3 more weeks of packing and cleaning.
I love it when I love what I'm reading. I relish the feeling of looking forward to reading whatever book I'm reading--it gives such satisfaction and an added excitement to your day. My problem is reading things I like too fast so I end up missing things. Congrats on finding a book you actually make time to read!
Put this one on my list. It sounds good already. As you know I loved the book I was reading and am feeling withdrawls. It will be my post in the next day or two so I will elaborate then.
Yes, I am still home. I am packed and waiting, the kids are taking their sweet time.
i fighting through killer angels. i will not give up!!!!!!!!1
I used to be the same way. I thought I had to finish a book once I started it. But recently I realized there are way too many good books out there for me to waste my time on something I don't like. I have to read in order to stay sane. My husband doesn't quite understand my obsession, but I think that comes from having to read soooo much throughout med school, residency, etc. Both my kids are asleep right now, so maybe I should go read right now. :)
This book sounds great, and I am glad you are enjoying yourself. I am reading a book called "Parenting the Ephriam's Child" right now. I feel like I spend so much time reading books on how to be a better parent or how to raise better kids that I never get to read a book just because it sounds good. I have a list a mile long....I will add this one to it!
I am constantly doing this! I really hate it actually. If something doesn't grab me on the first page it is collecting dust. Glad you found a fun book to read. Happy Reading!! I look forward to this next week in CA.
Fabulous! I'll have to look into that book. I read 2 books on the trip -- The History of Love and The Last Time They Met (Anita Shreve).
Glad that you are out of your slump.
It's so easy to give advice to others. I actually very rarely quit reading a book before I finish it. I'm not sure why I do that. I just spent three weeks reading a book that I didn't love. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It didn't compel me, and I was only reading a few pages each night. Now I'm reading Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh and enjoying it. It's not as quote-worthy as yours, though. Hooray for good books!
I do stop reading books if I don't like them. I use to think that I had to finish them because of school but when I finally realized that now I don't have to finish a book I've started, I read a lot more.
I am reading Cane River (it was for book club last month, I still haven't finished readin it) and Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, sometimes I just get in a Harry Potter mood. Your book sounds good, I'll have to read it soon.
That does look good. I'm working on a whole slew of self-helpers. I'm supposed to be reading Jane Eyre for book club, but I'm not excited about it. Read it? Any good?
I've been in a HUGE reading slump, but I just picked up the Kite Runner. We'll see if I can get into that book.
I really enjoyed the quote...so very true.
Sounds like my kind of book; thanks for sharing the quote.
I find myself pushing through books I'd rather not be reading for book club. I've found you can't judge a book by it's beginning; sometimes it is worth it by the time you get to the end. But I love it when I can read a book that grabs me.
I just read Roots for book club which was worth its 700 pages, but I enjoyed listening to Birth of Venus on tape even more.
I love the quote- I get in slumps and don't realize I'm in them until I'm loving a book and can't wait to go to bed so I can read. Then I'm lik, 'What have I been missing? I'm crazy. I never want to stop reading.'
Right now I am reading "Ride the Wind." A very interesting historical fiction about a women who was captured by Commanche Indians as a child. VEry good.
Hey Jill--I'm just catching up on blogs and just wanted to say I just finished reading A Year of Pleasures by your same author, Elizabeth Berg. I really enjoyed that book so I am thrilled to hear her others are also good. Thanks! And I have ups and downs with book reading too. Finding a good book always cures me of my blahs.
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