Now, I know this is the season for joy and Christmas cookies, so I have no right to be in a bad mood, but I am. In between trying to meet work deadlines, finishing up baking, running to various family get-togethers, agreeing to other social commitments that I typically avoid but get guilted into during the holidays, and dealing with a temperamental computer, I have not had time for ANY reading for at least the past seven days. It is making me, not to put too fine a point on it:
INSANE.
How do people who regularly have no time to read stand it? I swear, if we ever get around to having kids, I am going to be the worst mother in the world, because if the choice comes down to driving the kids to piano lessons or reading a couple of chapters, I'm going to have to choose the reading just to preserve my mental health and theirs.
So, no reading news today, and no new lists. My heartfelt apologies. I am going to try and work efficiently this week, so I can return to the reading life soonish and get out of this book-deprived funk. In the meantime? A very healthy and happy New Year, filled with lots of good nonfiction books, to all of you.
I remember when I was visiting my family in D.C., and my brother asked me to babysit my three year old niece. I was so excited thinking I would get some time to read. After my brother and his wife left, I settled on the couch with my book until my niece came up to me and asked me to play. Huh? I'm a bad aunt. (I did spend the whole time playing.)
Funks are bad. I'm sorry, CR. If it makes you feel any better I'm reading The Invisible Kingdom. Having worked in a science library for several years doesn't make reading science any easier, but I am just smart enough to enjoy the book.
Sending you and your readers wishes for a wonderful New Year with much more time for reading.
Posted by: Venta | 29 December 2009 at 08:26 AM
when i was a graduate student in library school, i also had a part time job and full time job. so between those and that whole eating and sleeping and doing laundry thing, i had almost ZERO time to read, and it was awful. i mean, what's more ironic than a library student with no time to read? bah.
Posted by: Beth | 29 December 2009 at 08:28 AM
Venta, darling,
You are much nicer than me. I will play with nieces and nephews, but I am also guilty of plunking them in front of DVDs so I can stop playing with them. Awful! I know. I like to think they'll think of me as the cantankerous aunt who is nonetheless good for a tenner every birthday.
Hey, "The Invisible Kingdom"! I hope you like it. You should know, particularly if you're not a science reader, it slows down a bit in the middle. Just skip ahead to the last few chapters; they pick up the pace again.
Beth,
What's terribly ironic is that I had time in college (both undergrad and library) to read and I didn't! What the hell! I mean, sure, I was working and stuff too, but I remember cutting a lot of classes. I think I did a lot more sleeping. Which, frankly, I enjoyed, and can't feel too bad about. But man, once you're in the habit of reading every day and you go without for a few days, it's like you're missing your fix!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 29 December 2009 at 08:47 AM
Insane is absolutely correct. I'm also struggling with my inner pagan, who is being guided by the Winter Solstice right now.
Posted by: Sarah | 29 December 2009 at 10:10 AM
Horrors! Hope you're back with your nose in a book soon.
Posted by: Heather | 29 December 2009 at 10:30 AM
Oh, you poor soul! I read a pile of junk (the fun kind, with cheesy vampires and therefore kinda squicky sex scenes)--one a night in a bubble bath. Seriously, the best therapy.
Hope this week is better!
Posted by: Rachael | 29 December 2009 at 11:17 AM
Oh, come on, Sarah, let your Inner Pagan out! Is your Pagan angry that we haven't seen much sun over the solstice? I will hope for better weather and better reading for you soon.
Heather.
Exactly! Oh the humanity!!
Rachael,
Thank you for the sympathy, and for the fantastic word "squicky," which I'm rather unsure of the meaning of but which I want to work into my conversations immediately anyway. Kinda icky? Squeamish but icky in a good way? Do tell!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 29 December 2009 at 04:58 PM
I know what you mean...I hate missing my reading time.
As for the children thing...when you're driving them to this lesson and that practice, etc. you have lots of wait time out in the car.
Hope things calm down soon and the world effs off and leaves you alone for a bit.s
Posted by: bybee | 30 December 2009 at 03:12 AM
Squicky is... hm. Icky, with a twist? Icky and skeevy, and therefore irresistible? Yeah, more like that.
Posted by: Rachael | 30 December 2009 at 05:43 PM
Icky and skeevy and yet surprisingly hot!! Now THAT I want to put on a t-shirt. (Or maybe just "icky with a twist," which is also awesome.) Perfect. "Squicky" is now officially part of my vocabulary.
I hope you have lots of enjoyable squicky books to read in the new year, and plenty of time and bubble bath to read them in!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 30 December 2009 at 06:08 PM
If you have kids, you will still be able to squeeze in some reading time. I know when my daughter was first born, I read a lot less than usual, but I was reading some even in those first few weeks. Once she got to be a year old, I was probably reading as much as before. Now that she's 8, she also loves to read, and we both usually have our noses in separate books (although she also reads to me before bed). I say this as someone who works full time and has a long commute - if you love reading, you will find the time for it! Of course, housework may suffer - but what's really important? ;-)
Posted by: Vicki | 09 January 2010 at 05:09 PM
Thanks, Vicki,
This is very good to know. I know my nieces and nephews are all readers, and that gives their moms a bit of time for their own stuff, so I'll have to learn from your and my sisters' examples!
Oh, my, housework. I don't do any now so at least it won't be shock that I won't be doing any then either.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 11 January 2010 at 03:43 PM