I’m often guilty of the-grass-is-greener-on-the-other-side kind of mentality. Probably you know this if you read my blog posts regularly. I spent a long time not knowing what I wanted to do in life career-wise; and at 35, I now feel a little rushed to get out there and make my mark. I know there will be a time when I don’t have to work full-time, which is an opportunity many writers will never get. So, I’m trying to appreciate that more.
Still, that 40-hour work week leaves me with this constant question: With my me-time, do I read or write? It’s like when I had little babies, and they’d finally go down for a nap. That time was so delicious, I would almost ruin it with panic. Do I read, nap, or do laundry????? I rarely picked laundry. But that’s how I get with my weekends now, too. (Except he kids do the laundry. Score.)
I’ve been writing recently, obviously, but also trying to read a lot. I almost always read YA novels, as it is a study of what’s out there, what’s working, and what can I do to contribute, etc. Still, my to-read list is piling up! There are so many books I want to read (not including the ones I’m saving for later) that I’ve never gotten around to. I’ve started Story Time by Edward Bloor twice. I still haven’t gotten to it. Same with Wuthering Heights and Catch-22. I SWEAR someday I’m going to read those books!
What about you? What have put off reading that you really want to?
Jody Sparks Mugele 
I’ve been contemplating this very thing lately, because I’ve been in read mode. I’m in fact not putting off anything. If I want to read it, it is on my nightstand, ie in the queue. I try to take breaks to start laundry loads, do errands, WORK, etc, but when I’m reading or writing, it’s difficult to break off. (Ironically, I just decided yesterday that it was time to kick my own butt to get back to writing. I say this, after having put in a large order to amazon a couple of days ago… er…)
Sometimes things on my to-read list fall off. If I see a novel consistently reviewed as “meh,” I tend to let it go. That’s not always the best thing to do (I love a few books that others are MEH about, and frankly I don’t care about those dissenting opinions!), but I confess that I do it, because yes, there are LOTS of books not enough time to read them.
THE BOOK THIEF has been in the queue for a while. I plan to get to that when you start it. š
I’m impressed you can let them go, Tammara. Book Thief is coming up in my queue. But still not quite ready for it!
Could it become part of your new job to read books aloud to the elderly residents with failing eyesight? Story time – seriously! š
Kristin, I would LOVE that, but I don’t think I could get away from the desk long enough, or do that with without interruptions. I’ve thought about it, believe me. I’m hoping I might be able to do so down the road, when I’m not working full-time.
My Goodreads list is full of books that I want to read but don’t get to. It seems like the older ones get ignored as I try to read all the new ones getting published.
Like Tammara, I need to get into writing more. But with my in-laws coming to visit for 10 days, it may have to wait a bit.
Natalie, my Goodreads list is VERY similar. The new stuff jumps in line!