So many kids, I don't know what to do.



Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Dick and Jane and Randomness

I haven't been reading much lately.  Pre blog I used to average about five books a week.  Post blog I have read three books so far in 2011.  (The Time Traveler's Wife, Taking Lottie Home, and some chick lit I can't remember the title of.) (What is the proper way to denote a major work of fiction now that underlining means it is a website?  Anyone?)
I miss reading and recently realized I need to resume.  My dad lent me a Ken Follet book.  It is a work of fiction set in the time period around World War I.  (My students think I am so "cute" for reading this in my leisure time.  Hello?  I teach U.S. History.)

Wow.  Maybe I should have eased back into reading with a light romance, or maybe a short story. 

I began reading it on Saturday and am now on page 270.   The plot just started to roll after 200 pages of lengthy, but very interesting character introduction. 

I woke up Monday with sore arms and I couldn't figure out why.  I don't lift during the racing season.  I finally realized I had been lying on my back reading the book outside and my triceps were sore.  I bet that book weighs about fifteen pounds.  It is kind of like leisure reading and a workout all at the same time.

My dad thought I was on to something and suggests that in future I tape a barbell to all my reading material. 

I came in late from track workout last night and thought I would read a little while I ate dinner.  My oldest was sitting next to me doing homework and three out of the remaining four were in bed.  I figured it was a good time to read without being interrupted by people who can't reach anything they need or who want me to chase them.  I was wrong.  Ty continually started telling me long stories about this and that which ultimately had no point. 

I finally said, "Ty.  What does it mean to you when a person is quiet and looking at the open pages of a book?"  
His reply, "You have to read, but you would like a distraction." 

No.

When I started falling asleep last night I tried to toss the tome onto my nightstand.  My night stand fell over.  I now have to have Dad reinforce it. (Not really.)

Pre blogging I used to carry around a small notebook with the names of all the books I wanted to read in it.  Sometimes I had a list of over fifty titles I would look for at the used book store.  Currently I have two or three lists of two or three books and I can never find the lists. 
Do you have a system for keeping up with books you want to read?

Summer will be here in just 22 short days, not that I am counting.  I plan to resume my library and reading habits so I would like to know from you what is the single BEST book you have read lately?  (Just so you know I do not read fantasy, or sci fi.  I just can't hack it, but if you think you have read one that is phenomenal I might try it.  Maybe.)
Also, has blogging affected your reading habits?

14 comments:

  1. One of the best non-scifi books I've read "lately" would have to be "The Room" by Emma Donohue. It's super interesting and she is a great writer. "Run Like A Mother" was good too,--it's nonfiction written by 2 moms who run. You might like it. :-)

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  2. I love to read and yes blogging has affected my reading habits. The books that I have enjoyed most recently are the Dragon Tattoos series. I am a sci-fi geek so I can't offer anything else you might like. Sorry. Whoops! I thought of something. I love history and particlularly Modern European history. You should read "Is Paris Burning." I loved it. If I can find my copy I can mail it to you. Send me an email if you are interested.

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  3. This is so true! I use to read about 150 books a year, and then I started blogging. Now I don't read any for a while, then I stop blogging for two weeks and read 10 books, and then I blog and don't read for a while.

    I am currently reading *127 Hours* by Aron Ralston, but I have only just started. I do know that he cuts off his arm somewhere in here.

    Oh, and italics are correct for book titles. Unless there are no italics, like here in the comments, then it's whatever works, I think.

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  4. I sound so uncultured, but I don't read anymore. I stopped in college and never picked it up again.

    Does reading US Weekly count, though? I am a champion picture looker ater. And I do listen to NPR!

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  5. I just read "These Things Hidden" by Heather Gudenkauf, she also has a book called "The Weight of Silence" both are really great!



    I also read "House Rules" by Jodi Picoult I really liked it too.

    I love to read, and have several books that I have recently read, but for some reason I can only think of these (I just finished These things Hidden, and read House Rules before that)

    I thought about reading Gone With The Wind, since I have seen the movie several times but never the book....wonder how hard that would be to finish...

    I don't really like romance so none of the books are romance. I'm not saying that there isn't romance involved...but that's not the main topic of any of the books I listed.

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  6. I absolutely adore reading, but with two small kids, my reading has taken a significant dip in the last few years. It's just too hard to concentrate and I can't seem to read for any significant amount of time and then lose track of the characters, etc.
    Blogging is easy reading :-)
    Short and sweet and easy to follow!

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  7. I don't read as much as I used to, but probably not due to blogging. more like life, and kids, and TV shows...
    anyway, a Kindle will solve your sore arms! It holds thousands of books and is so lightweight. It's good for me because I like to read four or five books at a time. and I have yet to pay for a single book - every book on my Kindle was free, and last count was 83?
    okay enough of the Kindle commercial. :) as for awesome books I have read lately - no suggestions. I have read some decent books but nothing great lately. still got tons on the Kindle, so I'll keep you updated .

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  8. I have some books downloaded onto my iPhone but mostly I just borrow from the library. Everytime someone recommends a book, I just add it to my queue (spelling?) and then pick it up. I've had to renew many times because I cannot read every book within the 3-week period!!!

    My daughter talks to me too even though she sees me reading a book. I guess they expect us to be "at attention" all the time!

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  9. I have a wishlist of books in the Nook section of Barnes & Noble. That seems to help, but I'm constantly forgetting about things here and there or my list just gets to be too overwhelming.

    I loved Water for Elephants. That was probably the last one that I really, really enjoyed. About to start My Life in France (Julia Child) for Book Club and I've heard The Help is really, really good (also on my list).

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  10. I definitely read less now that I'm blogging. I keep a list of books I want to read as a note on my iPhone. I should use the "to be read" list on goodreads, since I keep track of what I've read on there.

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  11. Blogging has overtaken my reading habits and time too. I used to read 4 or 5 books a week and now ... I only read in the car on long trips or in doctor's waiting rooms! Crazy! ... Best book BY FAR ... Joel C Rosenberg's The Twelfth Imam!

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  12. Blogging has killed my reading dead. I HATE that about it. I'm just so wiped by the time I get to bed at night. I'll pick up a book, read 2 sentences and throw it on the nightstand.

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  13. The arrival of kids, and the habit of blogging have definitely resulted in the departure of reading. I mean, besides all these wonderful blogs. When I do read, I have a weakness for Historial Romance. (I know, somewhat shameful for someone with an Honors English Lit degree - but I read so much serious stuff in school.) It can't be all fluff though -- I do want to learn something about the era - so I turn to the great, late Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. "Ashes in the Wind" is one of my favourites.
    I can indulge my serious side though...right now I am reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter"...so far so good.

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  14. I love to read, and I keep up with my reading pretty well because I'm #1. in a book club #2. am reading books that I suggest friends read, so we can discuss them over lunch or over email (that way I get a lunch date out of it, too...I'm very social!) and #3. my hubby and I try to escape to the "man cave" (home theater/family room) downstairs at least one weeknight and spend time reading instead of watching t.v. There are really comfy sofas down there. We sometimes do that as many as three times a week, but that's usually not the case.
    My best books this year? "The Help," "The Art of Racing In The Rain" (Which I really didn't think I'd like because it's from the point of view of a dog, and that sounds stupid to me...but it was a book club pick. It was FABULOUS!), and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" - a funny name, but a great book!

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