I've been on a mission over the last few months to fall in love with reading again. I have never fallen out of love with it - but I've had so many obligations to the reading community for so many years now that I'm striving to get back to the purest form of reading what I want. I took the last couple of weeks off from the book community - social media, blogging, etc. - to be alone with what I was reading. It was a nice break! The only thing I missed was the blogging community.
I'm glad to be back, but also glad to be in a better head space.
Question! Do any of you keep a physical journal such as a bullet or reading journal? If you have any blog posts showing off your journal, I'd love for you to leave me a link so I can see it/them!
Finished Reading
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I finished my reread of The Way of Kings! I may do a reread review - we'll see, but I'm glad I read it again.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - This was a recent Book of the Month pick, but my book club also picked it for our September read.
Paper Girls, Volume 4 by Brian K. Vaughan ⭐⭐⭐★★ and Paper Girls, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan ⭐⭐⭐★★ - I'm still enjoying these, but these last two weren't as great as the first three.
Currently Reading
Babel by R.F. Kuang - I'm slowly making my way through Babel. I'm enjoying it - especially the language/translation stuff, but I'm hoping the story picks up more than it has so far.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King - I'm also slowly making my way through Fairy Tale. I've been in a bad head space so I've been proceeding with caution through this one. So far it has my whole heart. No matter what story Stephen King writes, I will always, always enjoy his writing.
Currently Watching
I'll probably miss a few things here since I've been on a little hiatus, but I've been watching some great things. Let me know if you're watching any of these!
I never felt the obligation stress (thank goodness). I think it was smart of you to draw some boundaries and identify the things you want to lose or keep. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was a compelling read, but it was sad. It felt like they never had any happiness.
ReplyDeleteI've taken on a lot between my own bookish stuff/Ladies of Horror Fiction/Horror Spotlight. I need more "me" time with reading.
DeleteI recently read Tomorrow and Tomorrow also and was surprised that I liked it as much as I did. Your current reads are two that I'm really looking forward to - a friend got the King book for her birthday and I'll be borrowing it as soon as she's done! Boundaries are HARD to set and even harder to keep sometimes. It's hard to figure it all out. Have a relaxing, quiet, enjoyable week.
ReplyDeleteTerrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-17
Thanks, Terrie! I hope you enjoy your books!
DeleteAs a newer book blogger I totally get what you are saying about the obligation stress. I took on a lot when I started blogging trying to get my blog noticed. It is easy to burn out at that pace and I have been cutting down on stuff. When I find myself rushing through a book just to get to the next, I know I have a problem.
ReplyDeleteYes - I have purposefully been SLOWING down my reading. I just want to take it easy and relaxed right now so I am!
DeleteIt is hard sometimes just enjoying reading with all the stuff we take on as bloggers- alll the posting ABOUT reading! :) I would miss the community though, definitely. Paper Girls I still haven't started although I did finish the show.
ReplyDeleteI do have a notebook where I keep track of things I want to remember - sometimes a plot summary or whatever. We read so many books as bloggers that after a few years I can often hardly remember what happened in a book!
I'm loving Rings of Power. Not necessarily all the plot lines, but the world building and visually it's stunning.
I haven't had a chance to watch episode 5 of Rings of Power yet, but I'm loving it, too!
DeleteI always try to check in with myself and ask, Am I still having fun? If not, I step back a bit. It sounds like you have done that, too, with good results.
ReplyDeleteI keep a paper-and-pencil notebook. I like to use it to make a few notes and to write lists and to draw.
I am eager to hear about Rings of Power.
I've always had the motto with my own blog - if you don't love it, don't do it. But I've taken on a lot with other people outside of this blog over the last few years.
DeleteIt's great to have time to read some things just because you enjoy it without a review or any other obligation. ARCs and even library books have due dates. So the books I own are the freest reads.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
I've bought so many books over the last few years to read for the Ladies of Horror Fiction Awards that even my own books became a big obligation. I loved it - and I'm super proud of the work we did - but I'm ready to get back to a much more relaxed pace where the books I own are freeing again. :)
DeleteI love King too. Sometimes we all need breaks. I have struggled myself.
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right.
DeleteI'm glad you had a nice break. I hear you about commitments. I'm ready to take a break myself! That's why I started reading Fairy Tale, because it's a purchase and not a review book😁
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Sunday Post!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
I really want to start a reading journal. I'm just not sure if I want a blank journal or a premade book journal.
ReplyDeleteI have a journal that goes back 20 years I think listing the books I've read each year. But no pics of it. That would be interesting to post about I suppose. :-) Happy reading! My update is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lyndonperrywriter.com/2022/09/book-date-monday-7.html
Welcome back to the blogging community! It is good to take a break every once in a while. I read lots of review books, but since I choose them, I useally enjoy reading them. Yesterday I DNFd a book for the first time in months. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteRecognising when you need a break is so hard to do though - glad it helped and you're feeling better for it
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to spend some time just getting back your love of reading. I totally get where you're coming from. Blogging is so much fun and it can take so much work, especially with reading books on time and posting about them. I don't participate in any book tours or request ARCs because I want to enjoy reading and blogging.
ReplyDeleteI do keep a physical journal. I used to have a bullet journal. I decided I wanted something more detailed about what was going on in my life. I've only been doing it for a few months, though, and I haven't shared anything on my blog yet.
I used to keep a journal that I wrote in pretty much everyday; I'd pick out a new journal or pretty notebook at the beginning of every year. But I don't do that any more. I think I ran out of things to say. ;D
ReplyDeleteI don't have time to keep any kind of journal. I've seen people who do on Instagram and they can draw which I cannot do. lol
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear Fairy Tale is working for you. He's a great writer, but some of his recent stories have been hit or miss for me, so it's good to hear this one is a winner because I have an audio copy. I'll have to start it soon.
ReplyDeleteI've taken a much need breather as well. It all gets to be too much. I'm hoping to get back to my blog now and actually something other than the random review once a month *cries*
ReplyDelete*actually post something other than* One day I'll learn to proofread but it's not today.
DeleteNice post thank you Theresa
ReplyDelete