Book crazy (or just plain crazy?)
It’s a new year, a good time to start a new habit. (Once again, I’m bringing oodles of originality to the blogosphere. Wow.)
For those of you unfamiliar with my ways, let me confess to you…
I have a fondness for fiction books. No, fondness isn’t the right word. All-consuming passion is much better. I love reading a good page-turner, I crave good plot like fine chocolate. I must have it; life wouldn’t be the same without literary fiction.
Once I’m drawn into an imaginary world, I don’t leave easily. My real life during that time? I admit it suffers. Cleaning, cooking, all domestic responsibilities – I do the minimal. All home education activities, I do, yet I long to escape into my book, and I hurry the kiddos along, Not good for teaching long division. Interactions with Doc? Also not helped by book lust.
To get myself disciplined in this area, I’ve devised a simple plan.
Monday through Thursday: no fiction books. Since I have no control, and wife/mommy duties are viewed as a hindrance to my reading, I’m banning myself from fiction early in the week. (Books like To Kill a Mockingbird, read in only three days, or A Kite Runner. If memory serves me right, I read that in less than 24 hours. See why I need a schedule?)
A non-fiction doesn’t hold the same mesmerizing power, so it’s permitted. The Bible, obviously, I should be reading everyday. Anything that could begin with “Once upon a time…” is a NO.
Friday through Sunday will be reserved for fiction. I’m giving myself permission to let the kids run naked in the streets because I’m behind on laundry, serve cereal for dinner because I forgot the defrost dinner due to my reading, and basically ignore the world around me. All so I can indulge my love for great fiction. I could seriously read one book a weekend this way, all without feeling like I should’ve done something more productive.
I think it’s a good plan. I do well with routine and as long as I don’t start a new book late on a Sunday night, I should be able to do this.
Do you do need to limit your book reading time or are you more disciplined than I?
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January 5, 2009
В· 
Monica Brand В· 
19 Comments
Tags: books, fiction, non-fiction В· Posted in: Reading, Thinking, True confessions
19 Responses
I really don’t have a problem limiting my book reading time. I DO have a problem limiting my blog reading though!;)
Sarah Valente (kingdom twindom)s last blog post..Out of the Mouths of My Babes #1,000,543
Twitter: CBerbs
- January 5, 2009
I understand where you are coming from. I also have trouble limiting myself when I’m in the midst of a good book. It’s January 5th. I’ve already read two books this year, and I’ve started a third. Unfortunately, or more likely fortunately for everyone around me, I can’t keep up this pace. During the day when my kids are awake, I try to read only my bible. Then, at night after they go to bed, I let myself sink into the books. I also have a daily to do list that I keep copied en masse. I only read after the items on the to do list are marked off. Some days, that sadly (very, very, very sadly) means no reading at all.
Caseys last blog post..National Delurking Week
I love love love a good book, which is why i have banned myself from bookstores, only the library for this gal. I read super fast so i don’t have to limit my book reading time…i do however try not to start a new book if I have something totally important to do the next day.
Mels last blog post..Scandal Ridden & 14/365
I’m in a different situation entirely, Monica – I can indulge my reading jones whenever I’d like with the exception of work hours, and even there I can find a way to do it if I so choose. Currently I’m 3/4 the way through “Generation Kill”, nearing the halfway point on “Executive Orders” by Tom Clancy, and I’m getting ready to start “Organic Community” by Joseph Myers.
I’m big on fiction – love memorable characters and good plot twists – but I have to balance it out with non-fiction. After all, nothing makes it easier to fall asleep than a boring book that you nonetheless have to read.
Rick Dawsons last blog post..Praise Team Motto
Tom Clancy. Ha. He’s such a guy’s author.
Organic Community, huh? That sounds interesting, Rick.
Mel, I’m much more likely to buy a non-fiction book. As for fiction, I get it at the library and if I adore it, then I buy it. That reminds me: must purchase copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife so I can re-read it.
Hmmm — do I think it will last? I don’t know. . . But it sounds like a good plan. I don’t always suffer that problem when reading fiction, but there are certain books that cause that reaction to the detriment of all else.
Actually, I do think it’s completely do-able. When I am not reading fiction, I sort of forget about it, and I’m surprised at times when weeks/months go by (though not recently) when I haven’t even picked up a novel.
Sounds like a schedule I need. I will almost always put a nonfiction book down if a fiction book’s within reach. Of course, reading for Solomon Summaries is curing that.
(And though the Bible is nonfiction–except for some fiction stories in it–it could begin with “once upon a time.”)
Heathers last blog post..Reflections and Refractions
Heather I always thought “In the beginning” more poetic.
I know exactly what you mean!!! I think I may need to adopt your plan. I can get totally and completely consumed by a good book. Putting a book down in the middle of a good story is like stopping a movie in the middle of a dramatic scene and I have a terrible time doing it. I’ve read four of Karen Kingsbury’s books in the Baxter family series since the new year.
Monica @ DailyDwellings last blog post..A Lot Can Happen in Four Years
Four books in 6 days?? Monica, the first step is admitting your addiction.
The second step is coming to believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to our rightful place in a Barnes and Noble complete with bedding and facilities
Rick Dawsons last blog post..Bella
Amen, Rick. Now you’re preachin’
Hi Monica!
My name is Jenny, I am a bookseller from germany. I read your entry here accidently, it jumped my eyes like everything with books LOL
Well, I do understand that you want to limited your time. But I would do it on a different way. well, let tell you that I go by railway to work, so I am using this time to read and I read in my lunchtime. But when I see how often my co-workers have got started a new books while I am still in the same, I wondered. Well, I found out that they only read one book at same time, while I have one book only for the way to work and another or two at home. But I think I read too less at home. So I have decided that I will go every evening for an hour before I will go to bed. I think that’s better (at least for me) to read every day and not wait till Friday. PS: Do you know the website http://www.goodreads.com? You should visit it.
Hi, Jenny, it’s good to meet you.
Once I start reading a good book, I can’t stop at just an hour. I’ve thought of giving books to my husband to take to take to work with him, just so I don’t have access to it. That’s how easily tempted I am! I’m too weak in the face of fiction temptation. Thanks for the link, I will check it out.
Hi Monica!
Hope you will like the site. Let me know.
What kind of books do you prefer reading?
Oh, dear. You’re kidding me, right?
Nope, remember I just came today for the first time on your blog. So I wonder whether you read everything or whether you say I like to read f.e. novels, fantasy, crime detective stories, biographys etc.?
I do prefer crime detective stories, sometimes thrillers, but not all. I like more the classical way of detective stories like Elizabeth George or Deborah Crombie or Val McDermid or Veronica Stallwood, just to name a few. Especially in train it must be kind of this to pass the time on fast
My heart belongs to literary fiction. The classics, inspirational, and well chosen fantasy are favorites too.
Years ago, when I worked in a bookshop and had direct daily access to the new titles, I would read an occasional thriller like James Patterson. But I would never actually buy it; I couldn’t see them on my bookshelf next to the books I already owned. I read Agatha Christie in high school. And I bet I blew off a lot of study time whipping through a few of her books.
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