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Or rawther, any book reviews lately.
The answer is quite simple.
I got burned out on reading.
Here's what happened: When I discovered all of these reading challenges I was so excited, I signed up for as many as I could. I realized not long ago that I bit off a lot more than I could chew. You see the lists of books in my sidebar, that I'm supposedly reading right now? I stopped reading them in mid-August. I simply got fried, and decided to take a break from books. It was becoming like a job for me.
When I was in the middle of the reading challenges, I really enjoyed them. However, as deadlines approached for the ends, I began to feel pressure to complete them. One day I just threw my hands up and said, "Forget it! I don't want to feel pressured to read!" I found myself turning into a reading machine, and I didn't like that.
The demands of my job recently have also made it difficult to find time to open the covers of a book. It's not uncommon for me to work 12-14 hour days. By the time all is said and done at the end of the day, I've been too tired to focus on the written page. Instead of falling asleep to a soothing literary lullaby, I've been falling asleep listening to the drone of the automated voice of the Weather Channel's local forecasts. Puts me to sleep every time. But I digress...
But now, I'm feeling the itch to get back into the bibliogroove. I will always love books, but after signing up for so many challenges, and feeling pressured to complete them, I had to take a break. However, there is some good to come out of this: Thanks to these challenges, I've read genres that I normally would never have read. I participated in posts that I never thought I'd write. It was an enriching experience for me.
Next year, however, I'm only signing up for one or two challenges. Three, at the most. And if I get overzealous again, kittens, please, hold me accountable. Let me know that I'm biting off more than I can chew. Help keep me in line!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
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10 comments:
I know when you have the time that you'll be back in "book mode". It's tough when the job is taking over so much of your life. When you do review books soon, I'll be hear waiting to read your great reviews! Get some rest, if you can :)
You forgot how to read!!!
*points finger and giggles like a lunatic*
I don't do any of the challenges, even for writers. Like you, I don't like the pressure.
I totally know what you're going through. I just finished a crazy reading binge that ended with 2 huge short story collections. I'm feeling incredibly burned out now, and not in the mood to pick up anything. I know the mood will come back around eventually, but right now, I'm fried.
I don't blame you, I signed up for my first and only challenge and found that the closer the deadline became the more stressed I was as I hadn't really nailed down the books yet. That on top of getting quite a few review copies that I may or may not be ACTUALLY interested in reading.. I started to feel like reading was becoming my job too. So I TOTALLY hear you, and good for you for keeping a healthy balance in your life. When you're ready, I look SO FORWARD to your posts again. :0)
what you're talking about is the reason i don't do the challenges- i have enough to-do lists! :-) seriously though, you don't want reading to become just another chore. totally understandable!
One of the reasons why I only did one challenge. Of course I am having problems finishing that one!
I agree, you shouldn't be pressured to read, just like you shouldn't feel pressured to blog! So I forgive you for the lack of reviews. And, like I've told you before, it takes me like a month to read a book! I only read at night before I go to bed and usually fall asleep after 3 pages. Hmph!
You did get a bit carried away there ... and you aren't legally obligated to finish them you know!!! Don't stop reading ... just read what you want to! Or you'll have to change your blog name and you don't want that!
Its ok to get burnt out. And its ok not to complete the challenges. I hope you get back into a reading groove. I miss your reviews.
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