When I was a kid, I read a lot. I recognize now that it was to escape. I slowed down the pace of my reading when I started building a life that included entertainment with friends and family as well as the obligations of living (vacuuming, cooking dinner, emptying the cat box, etc).
The last few weeks, I've regressed. I not only read at night (which means I'm sliding on some of my obligations of living), but also in the morning, before work. This morning, I seriously considered taking a mental health day and just reading all day, but I promised to do a jobsite walk this afternoon. Plus, I'd rather really get away if I'm going to take time off work.
I'm uncertain if I should cut myself some slack and just move through the phase without the self-flagellation or if I'm being self-indulgent to do so. If I were to just apply a little discipline, would it help? We'll see.
It's very much like having a recalcitrant child, but without the extra cost of food, schoolbooks, and clothes.
Later: Jeri (in the comments) put it best when she describes reading as "an inexpensive mental vacation."
You all will be pleased to learn that tonight I finished the book I was reading - Young Miles (a compilation of The Warrior's Apprentice, "The Mountains of Mourning", and The Vor Game) by Lois McMaster Bujold - and am moving on (in the absence of the next Miles book, which I will be purchasing momentarily from Amazon) to The Mislaid Magician, or Ten Years After by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.
Even Later: There, the remainder of the Miles series has been ordered, mostly through Amazon, but a couple from Paperback Swap. [cue evil chuckle] While I'm waiting, I'll decimate my "to read" list as well as I am able. :)
12 comments:
It doesn't hurt to indulge every once in a while. As long as things don't get too out of hand go ahead and escape.
I was a big reader as a kid too... my "spot" was the third step up on the stairs to the second floor, back against one wall and feet against the other. I'd put my stack of books on the 4th step, lean up against my pillow, which I think had a rabbit on it, and cover myself up with my blanket and entertain myself for hours.
I still managed to read quite a bit in high school, and even in college, but after college I fell off the bandwagon. A few months ago, I went into a reading kick in a major way -- staying up 'til 2 a.m., waking up and reading chapters while eating my breakfast, coming up with excuses to read in the evenings at the expense of my domicile obligations...
Not sure what happened, but eventually I must've satisfied something within and now I've slacked back off the reading a bit. But I know that if I was to pick up a good book tomorrow, the old compulsion would return and that once I hit the "halfway through" point of the book, I'd be up reading until I finished it.
Damn habits. LOL
Read away, Anne. All things in moderation, but some times require more reading time than other times.
It's not like you're turning into a crack 'ho, or anything...
Beware! Beware! Lest you turn into me!
Heh. Someday I'll post pictures of my mum's library and really make you jealous. (And yes, when I designed a house for them, I put in a dedicated library. It's pretty wonderful. :)
I see we have even more in common than we thought, onewandering. :D
One of the reasons I was tempted to take the day off was that I hit the midway point on the book I'm reading. It's *so* hard to stop at that point... if the book is good, that is.
I don't read nearly enough, Anne. Don't have the time.
I don't think you have a problem.
Hah! Read away! Reading is one way of re-ordering yourself internally. I like that way of centering myself.
I truly, honestly don't understand why this is a problem either. I read everyday. I read at the breakfast table and at the dinner table. I read before I go to sleep. When I take the bus, I read on the bus. I used to read during my lunch break but now I internet. Of course I do less at-home reading when I get my daily quota in on the bus so part of my recent increase is due to now having to drive to work. But still. Reading is not the enemy.
Reading in and of itself is not the issue. It's reading instead of the other 100 other things I "should" be working on. Reading in the morning replaces the gym. Reading at night replaces emptying the diswasher and working through the bathroom in the basement project.
I'm pretty aware of when I'm procrastinating/escaping from stuff.
I like you read a lot as a child. I still do, but I consider it a necessary break at times. I reread Potter VII last week and now I have to play catch up on every thing else. We were reminded that end of 9-weeks is next week. YIKES!!!
Hope your walk through went well and remember that housework can always be done later. :-)
I still think, as a phase, that it's not a bad thing. In some ways it's a coping mechanism, an inexpensive mental vacation, and much more healthy than booze or binge eating!
I have a good stack of books that just came in from Amazon that I'm looking forward to - because come November and NaNoWriMo I won't be reading - only time for output. Plus, I get worried about muddying my voice. You know, because I'm such an A list writer. ;)
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