I promised I was going to ponder and think about my reading life and I have. First of all, I'm going to share a few pictures that show aspects of reading that are important to me, along with some quotes about reading that I love. After that, I'm going to quickly share a bit about what I've been doing and planning for upcoming days. Settle in - get a cup of coffee or tea. Let's talk about reading...
"Reading is dreaming with open eyes."
"Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people – people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.” – E.B. White
“Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.” – David Quammen
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” – C.S. Lewis
(in my case, substitute coffee)
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I've had a good time lately doing some 'free range' book hunting. My husband was out of town and I had some extra time to spend just wandering a couple of local libraries and bookstores. Looking at the books, remembering ones I'd read before, picking up and putting down, checking out scads from the library to consider. I went to a 'Friends of the Library' book sale and chose several older books, some that I had read in years past. It's been quite relaxing.
Next year, I'm planning to focus less on the 'shiny, new' and more on some series that I've wanted to try or wanted to catch up on. I'm planning on reading several from my 'Classics' list. I think I'll bring back my 'kay's favorites from the keeper shelf' posts. 'Bookish Nostalgia' will continue and I'll have the 'Guppy Book of the Month' through the first half of the year. And I have a request of everyone here - I'd like some suggestions or recommendations of books that have really spoken to you in the past. More about that on Monday, but be thinking about it. As always, I look forward to talking books and reading and life with all of you.
My favourite of the quotes is the David Quammen one... that's so me. I find such comfort in my shelves of books.
ReplyDeleteI love that you're doing some serious thinking about your reading, Kay. I did something similar at the start of this year and decided to read slower and think more about what I'm reading. Sometimes I gallop through a book at breakneck speed and then two weeks later can't remember a thing about it. Silly and counter-productive. I will try to think about which books have spoken to me and look forward to your post next week.
I appreciate your time thinking about books to suggest and I'm glad to hear that slowing down a bit in your reading has been helpful. :-)
DeleteI've paid less attention to the latest and greatest this year and it's liberating. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLiberating - that's a great word, Kathy!
DeleteKay, great plan. I need to get there and maybe 2019 will be the year. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how it goes, Mary. I'm kind of excited about it really. Ha!
DeleteYour photos and quotes all speak to me, too!
ReplyDeleteI recently got the email about voting for goodreads choice awards, looked at all the books in all the categories, and realized I'd only read a couple of them! Guess I haven't missed reading the new and shiniest books this year...
That's funny, JoAnn. So the idea of taking a step back from the newest is not a bad thing, right?
DeleteI've read far fewer new releases this year and had a lot more fun with classics, vintage crime and some re-reads. I'll be sticking with that next year - most of the books I've abandoned or disliked this year have been new ones. I think I'm just out of synch with what's happening in contemporary fiction and crime writing. Hope you enjoy your classics reading as much as I'm enjoying mine!
ReplyDeleteI love that, Yvonne. Out of synch with the contemporary - I hear you. I think I've mainly gotten a bit weary of some of the more overused themes. And I've certainly enjoyed your 'fun with classics, etc.' and what you've shared this year. :-)
DeleteThat's a lovely post and I love those quotes!
ReplyDeleteI used to collect quotes like these. Maybe I'll do a quote post once a month or something.
DeleteI know what you mean. I have gotten away from reading every book in a series, waiting anxiously for the next book, driving up to Barnes and Noble and buying it. (how old fashioned) We have to be careful that we don't loose what we love about reading.
ReplyDeleteThat's really good advice for me, Gayle. Being careful to not lose what we love about reading. I think it can get a bit frantic and then that's not fun at all.
DeleteI love the David Quammen quote! It makes me feel a *little* bit better about my out-of-control book buying and hoarding :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a great quote? I loved it.
DeleteOh! You have quotes from two of my favorites, E.B. White and C.S. Lewis! I need to post more about my favorite books! Hope you are doing well these days, dear Kay. With love from another Kay! x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay! I love it when you stop by for a bit. :-)
DeleteI rarely do free-range reading but I really need to do more of it.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us do, Ti. We get a little overly involved with the newest and forget about why we started out loving an author or genre.
DeleteThanks for sharing the affirming quotes and your book plans. I'll be cheering for you from the sidelines, and possibly implementing one or two of your ideas, provided I can keep my eyes away from all the shiny new objects.
ReplyDeleteWell, Catherine, it's a little tough for you. Seeing all the new that comes in to the library. You are in 'temptation central'. LOL
DeleteLove the quotes and think you have an interesting plan for 2019!
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Jenclair. I think it will be fun and maybe a really good thing.
DeleteLOVE those quotes! And happy free-range reading. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lark! I'm already having a good time.
DeleteI love that C.S. Lewis quote! So true. I love the new direction you're heading in. Sometimes it seems like every blog is talking about the same new releases, so it's nice when I can get some different recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Angela. Part of my aim is to make sure that some older authors aren't forgotten and also to recommend and read some older books. It seems to me that we forget at times where our lists of 'classics' are derived - from books that have stood the test of time.
DeleteLove all those quotes! Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteDuring this distressing times with my dad's illness, I'm finding great comfort in nonfiction, particularly collections of essays and columns. I'm re-reading an old favorite called Birdbaths and Paper Cranes and it's nice to read an essay or two while my dad naps, not worrying about a plot or solving a mystery. I think the remainder of the year will be more of the same. Lots of re-reads. The rest can wait.
*these distressing times
ReplyDeleteBirdbaths and Paper Cranes - I'm going to look for that one. Yes, distraction and comfort - perfect things when life is handing one difficult situations. Take care, dear Les, and know that I am thinking of all of you and keeping you in my prayers. Big hugs.
DeleteKay, work has been bad lately and I have have been too busy or stressed to do much outside of work and trying to relax in the evening, but I wanted to stop by and tell you that I just got a copy of I'd Rather be Reading by Anne Bogel and have been reading it slowly, enjoying a chapter or two a day. And this is a perfect post for that. I am glad I discovered that book here, I probably would not have tried it otherwise.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I'm delighted! Yes, I think that little book is a gem for 'serious' readers. Nothing she says is new or earth-shattering, but I think most things included are thoughts we've all had. Glad it's working for you. Hope your work situation improves or slows or whatever. Take good care of yourself.
DeleteWhat a lovely post Kay; I especially love the quotes you chose and the pics.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane! I really enjoy finding special quotes regarding reading or books. :-)
DeleteHi Kay, it's been awhile. I've been away from my blog for a bit, but mostly for a good reason-- my son is visiting us here for 2 weeks between work projects. We're delighted to see him again, and celebrated his birthday and mine too. We're having an early Thanksgiving dinner with him and my daughter next weekend before he leaves for DC.
ReplyDeleteI love this post and agree 100%.We've talked about this before, reexamining our reason for blogging and talking about books. I've already started choosing older titles purposely, but I did throw in a couple of new titles, since I treat myself to a new e-book a month. If I hadn't decided on focusing on the non-shiny, new requested ones, I wouldn't be posting anymore. I needed to get back to my "roots", what I did about 6 years ago when I first started this little hobby of mine. Talk soon!
Rita - good to see you here. So glad you're getting to spend special time with your kids. Have a wonderful visit! And, yes, we have talked about what I shared. You and I are on the same wavelength regarding this issue. :-)
DeleteSo glad you got to enjoy some bookstores/libraries. Did you discover a new one by chance? I feel like I've fallen behind on so many series I love because of course there are always new books distracting me! I can't wait to hear what else you have planned for next year!
ReplyDeleteNo, not any new bookstores though there is a new one planned for Georgetown in upcoming days. We'll see how it fares when it opens.
DeleteDuring my last book culling, I made a commitment to myself to read off my shelves -- not just new and shiny!
ReplyDeleteI think that's a good commitment for all of us to try, Candace.
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