Saturday, March 24, 2007

So Many Books...So Little Time

A couple of months ago, a friend and I were discussing the book 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Many of them I have read, and of course, many I have not. As I have mentioned before, I am a “glass half empty” type person, so of course I immediately started thinking to myself - “there are definitely more than 1000 books I want to read before I die. I am 44 years old…… I started to do the math……

I am a single parent. I work 40+ hours a week. Between homework, housework, lawn work, cooking, etc…. I don’t have nearly enough time to read as I would prefer. I read pretty fast, but WHERE TO FIND THE TIME?!!!!!!!! If I could read 2 books a month that’s only 24 a year. A pretty paltry sum! If I live another 40 years that’s only 960 books left in my life!!!!!!

Panic set in.

Ok, if I make myself set aside time and really, really try – maybe I can squeeze in 36-40 a year. But, there are at least 1000 books I want to read right now!! What about all the new ones that will surely be published? Not to mention, I am a re-reader. Can I really go the rest of my life without reading Les Miserables again? Of course not! When I read a series, I usually go back and re-read the last one or two when a new one comes out, to whet my appetite for the new one. It really isn’t fair.

So – now that I am single again, I am going to redouble my efforts. That being said, I refuse to only read classics, or to not read The Sun Also Rises at least once every other year.

So – I’ll share with you from time to time what I am reading, and what I think of it. So far, this year I have read: (Yes, I’m behind schedule – I’ve been reeling from the break-up, I’ll do better)

Eragon by Christopher Paolini ( I often read what my Sons are reading so we can talk about it)
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Lost by Gregory Maguire
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

As for reviews – a longer post will be needed. And it will come, bear with me. I have reading to do.

2 comments:

celticfeminist said...

But, there are at least 1000 books I want to read right now!! What about all the new ones that will surely be published? Not to mention, I am a re-reader.

I know *exactly* what you mean right there. I've been complaining lately that I have to work, because there's too much for me to read and work takes up too much time. I think I currently have about 752 books in my "next thing to read stack" ... and that doesn't include the recs I get. Then there are the books I inevitably discover because I have to wander into bookstores and libraries to get my fix. *sigh* There's too, too much to learn and not nearly enough time to do it! AGH!

Brave Sir Robin said...

Being a grown-up sucks. I miss the days when I was a kid and I could go into my room, shut the door, and read until my Mom called me for dinner.

sigh