The Woes of Being a Reader

The Woes of Being a Reader

September 11, 2013

I haven’t written in awhile and there is a perfectly good reason why: all of my free time has been spent reading.  And it’s got me thinking (by the way, this better  NOT get passed along to my students), there really are some downsides to being an avid reader.  Humor me for a moment while I ruminate a bit.

First of all, being an avid reader probably means being a quick reader (since reading is one of those things that continually gets better as one does it), and being a quick reader means finishing books way too fast.  I live my literary life on a tormented sea of waiting and wondering what next.  On my bulletin board at home I keep a calendar list of when books come out that I want to read.  I anxiously await those days.  But then, when those days come, and I finally get to devour the next book in a series, within a couple of hours the book is done and then it’s back to waiting again. Hmph!  Yesterday, for instance, a book came out that I’ve been waiting a year to read (Blackmoore, by the same author who wrote Edenbrooke--it was soooo good).  I shirked the dishes and let the kids watch a little more TV than usual so I could read it.  But by 10:00 the book was done.  I’ve already re-read the mushy parts and am left with the same awful question: what the heck do I read now?  I have another book coming out next week, but that leaves 6 days of near despair, because it is impossible not to have a book in progress.  What a torturous existence!  

Also, being a book lover can be really expensive.  Just ask my husband.   It’s not good enough for me to wait behind 50 other people to share a library book, so that means getting my own copy. Most of my books are on kindle, which isn’t too bad, unless you’re reading a book every couple of days, then it really adds up.  Plus, I have this other problem.  When I really, really like a book or a series then I want to have a hard copy in addition to the digital version.  That means buying the book twice.  I’m not saying it’s not worth it, it is.  I work hard and reading is about the only thing I do for myself.  And I honestly get pleasure out of looking at my favorite books every day on the shelves.  But, even I can see my finances would be a lot better if I kept to a stricter book budget.  I think I once figured out that the cost of all the books in my house would be enough to buy a brand new car.  Yikes!

Finally, being a good reader means having to decide every day whether or not to be social or holed up with a book.  I love being with friends and family, I really do.  And I spend my whole day with 40 other people always around me, so I can’t possible be accused of being anti-social, but I can’t even tell you how many times I am thinking to myself “I wish I could be reading my book right now.”  I don’t keep up with the news or with popular shows, because I choose to read instead.  Plus, I have to seriously discipline myself, like not taking my Kindle to school, and setting a timer at home.  Sometimes though I give way to my addiction and effectively block out everything out for a few hours.  I love those hours and I also hate them because they expose a weakness in me.  And yet, it’s a weakness I wouldn’t change even if I wanted to (and I don’t want to change, not really), so I’m stuck with it.  I guess I’ll forever just be a book addict.

In case you’re a book addict too, here’s a couple of lists you might be interested in:

Laura’s Top 5 All-Time Favorite Books (at least as it stands right now)

1 - Harry Potter - all of them together -- for the storytelling, the accessibility to generations of people, the perfect hero story, and the sure joy of reading

2 - Edenbrooke - For the romance, the humor, and the way I can read it multiple times without getting tired of it

3 - Ender’s Game - For the genius kids, asking the hard questions in a creative way, and creating a universe I could never have imagined myself

4 - My Name is Asher Lev - Because it changed my life at a time when I needed some change

5 - Pride and Prejudice - For the chance encounters in the woods,  and providing a story that can and has be told over and over again by women for the last two years

The Books Laura is waiting to come out over the next few months

Sept 17 - The last Gallagher Girls book - WAHOO!!!

Sept 17 - The Dream Thieves (second in the Raven Boys series)

Oct 1 - Enchanted Heir ( I JUST found out she’s writing more Heir books. Yea!)

Oct 8 - Emerald Green in the Ruby Red series.  These books are so good!

Oct 22 - Allegiant the last in the Divergent books.  Please let the ending be good!

Nov 5 - Champion the last in the Legend books.  Same comment as Allegiant.

Feb 4th - Cress  in the Cinder series, which are totally fun.  

Feb 25th - The last one in the False Prince series.  Will there finally be a love story?

 Also the third Selection book should be here by spring.  I’m really nervous it won’t end the way I want it to.  

Happy Reading!