Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Return of the Reader



I've had a unscheduled, unplanned and unintended blog absence lately...I'm not sure why. I've still been reading but haven't been reviewing or even book chatting! I have a large backlog of titles I want to talk about now.

But, the longer you don't do it, the harder it gets to return. Should I catch up on everything, return to where I left off, or just jump in and start again?

I have this same problem with my journaling practice. If I let it go, I feel overwhelmed by starting up again -- there's so much to process before I can begin again! But I'll tell myself the same thing I tell my journaling students -- you don't have to catch up. Just start where are you are. Or 'catch up' with a brief, point form overview so that you feel ready to go deep again. That works when I am thinking and working with journaling so I'm going to do the same with this blog.

I never usually pressure myself to read and review here; if I want to, I do, if not, I don't. However, I've never had such a long period of "don't", and I want to get back to it.

It's not even a real blogging slump -- I'm still interested, I'm still reading other blogs, and I'm certainly still reading novels! Perhaps it's simply because my life has been really busy lately with a reorganization at work (say hello to your new Public Service Librarian!) or because I have been obsessed with sewing! I should learn to embrace audiobooks....

Anyhow, I'm back and I hope that I still have some readers :) Stay tuned for some rapid updates coming soon...

24 comments:

  1. Well, I'm glad you're back because I've missed your posts. I know what you mean about falling behind in your writing...I always feel guilty, like I should try to catch up, but in reality, I never do. Sometimes it's best just to start again from where you are. Anyway, welcome back!!!

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    1. Thanks, nice to hear that someone noticed my absence, LOL! I have so many books to share, I'll have to get to it.

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  2. Welcome back :) Sometimes when I finish a book, it feels like I don't have much to say about it, but it sounds like you do, and I do know the feeling of wanting to get back to talking about books. So I'll look forward to hearing more about what you've been reading.

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    1. Thanks :) I'll have a few quick mentions of those reads that I don't have much to say about, but there are some really great ones to discuss too!

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  3. I can so relate to this - I haven't posted in ages: the effort to start after a break... Still, it's a hobby, and one's own hobby, so we can do whatever we like! Personally, I'm loving reading books and blogs (perhaps too much!).

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    1. It's the effort of a restart that provides its own special pressure...

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  4. Audiobooks are great when you have a lot of other stuff to do. I still feel like I'm reading. Welcome back!

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    1. I've never really been able to successfully use audiobooks -- I can't concentrate on them somehow -- hope to figure it out so I can 'read' more all the time ;)

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  5. Welcome, back! I am not much into audiobooks (or extreme multi-tasking) but others seem to enjoy them.

    The skirt is very cute--a great piece that goes with many tops! :)

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    1. Thanks Suko! I agree, I have difficulty with the multi-tasking effort. Thanks for checking out the skirt, too!

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  6. Hello, new Public Service Librarian! It sounds like great things have been happening for you during this absence from blogging. I take a similar approach to reading and blogging as you do: "if I want to, I do, if not, I don't." Welcome back!

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    1. Why thank you! Yes, some pretty good changes around here :) Now I need to get back into the blogging routine too

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  7. I say just jump back in, and catch up as you feel like it. Why pressure yourself for something that's supposed to be pleasurable? I'm still occasionally writing "past read" posts about books I read when I wasn't blogging. But only when I really want to.

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    1. Have to keep myself from feeling obliged to "catch up", for sure. I need to keep this blog purely enjoyable for myself :)

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  8. So glad you are still around! I'd say write about the books that you really liked a lot and want other people to know about and don;t worry about the ones that were just meh. And don't put pressure on yourself! :)

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    1. Great advice - isn't that why we all started blogging in the first place - to share the books we love!

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  9. I have been the same way, pretty much exactly. I think if blogging becomes something you absolutely have to do, even if other matters are really pressing -- it becomes a "chore" and not a pleasure. I, too, have not been blogging much, as of late -- thing is, I have not stopped reading, really. Just ---- there only seems to be so much time allotted in life -- and we are all busy. One must prioritize. As for losing readers, you have not lost me.

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    1. thanks for your kind words, Cipriano! Yes, there is only so much time, even for things we enjoy. Just have to keep doing as much of the good bits as possible!

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  10. My earlier comment got eaten! I've got the same problem of unreviewed books piling up and feeling like such a burden. But so many of the books were so good, I really want to review them! I just keep doing other things (like reading more books) instead. Glad you're back!

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    1. Thanks! I can always read faster than I can review so try not to pressure myself...but... sometimes that is easier said than done.

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  11. And here it is May, the season in which there are, at last, so many outdoor-nesses to pull one away from the keyboard too: I sympathize with the pulled-in-many-directions phenomenon. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to your bookchat once more!

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  12. So many outdoornesses! I find my blogging and sewing and such suffer sometimes!

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  13. Audiobooks are a wonderful companion to sewing! Your comments about journaling (which make a lot of sense) remind me of one of NH author Rebecca Rule's rules: start anywhere. Glad you're back.

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    1. Thanks Mary! I'm definitely going to try audiobooks :)

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Thanks for stopping by ~ I always enjoy hearing your comments so please feel free to leave some!