This year I have started out really strong with reading. I've stuck with reading one book at a time instead of 3 or 4, I've really focused on the reading, and I've already completely read 20 books this year.
I was averaging about 1 book a day just by reading only 1 book at a time. If I hadn't been so easily distracted by other books during 2009, I probably would have gotten more reading accomplished. I didn't have a focus. I didn't have a goal, really. This year I did: to read as many books as possible.
Even though I'm about to break my streak, I think I deserve a break. In the next few days, I need to read not 1, but 2, Pulitzer Prize winners. When reading books that have won awards like the National Book Award, Booker Prize, Pulitzer, etc., I've found that I often do not enjoy those books.
It's not that I hate Olive Kitteridge, because I don't. I'm just not in the right frame of mind to read this book right now. I've been having so much fun just reading whatever struck my fancy, knowing I would get through it in a day and move on to my next adventure. If this wasn't required reading for book club, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't still be reading Olive Kitteridge.
Olive Kitteridge isn't a poorly written book, in my opinion. I think I would compare it to Joyce's Dubliners. Which I absolutely hated. For the record, I just really don't like short stories. And Olive Kitteridge is compiled of 13 short stories. Each time one starts and ends, I feel like I've just completed a whole novel and I just want to move on to the next author that's calling out to me.
So it was fun while it lasted. Maybe I will try this again next month and see how it goes. Perhaps looking at the smaller picture is a better idea, and worry about the whole year at the end of the year as I'm looking back. I've already accomplished what I feel is a lot of reading in 1 month. I've read more than most people have read in the last year, 2 years, or even 3 years. Some, probably more.
I'll be starting Elphame's Choice next, by P.C. Cast, whose Goddess Summoning series I completely adore. She's also quite fun to chat with!
I've been reading one book at a time as well instead of 3 or 4, per my norm. And so far, I don't feel as stressed out or flaky. Although, I do have way too many books borrowed from the library.
ReplyDeleteI currently have 3 books checked out from the library, so I know how you feel. :-) Now I'm finished with 1 of them, and have 2 to go!
ReplyDeleteReading 1 book at a time is definitely less stressful. I've got 2 that I'm reading right now, though. I'm focusing more on "The Shipping News" because I have to read it for book club and the deadline is Thursday night.