So I've finished reading my book club book, the next meeting isn't until mid-month, and I have yet to pick up another book.
I walk by my book shelf, full of books I've yet to read, but can't settle on something. I've got the non-fiction section, full of books I've heard are really good or bought on a whim after reading the very-compelling back cover and flipping through the pages. I have books I've borrowed from friends after hearing that this was a "must read". I also have a considerably sizable section I will just call the "Mom section", full of books from, you guessed it, my mom.
And then there is the stack of books I started reading, got distracted by something shiny, and put down, never to be picked up again. I look at them and think, I'll just have to start all over anyway because I don't remember what I have already read.
It's a lot of pressure, a lot of commitment. I have to choose one book over the others, annointing it as the chosen one. That just makes me feel bad for the other books. Then I have to commit myself to sitting in one place for hours at a time, reading, absorbing knowledge, trying not to get distracted by whatever teen bop show I know is on tv or by the multitude of more exciting things I know my friends are doing.
Perhaps I need to make a commitment to myself that I will not buy any more new books until I have read all the books on my shelf. That will give me the incentive I need to keep going.
Who am I kidding? I'm sure the next time I take a stroll through the book store, I will find some book I have to have. Perhaps I'll read it, perhaps not, but discovering the book is half the fun. Plus, someone in America has to support books besides Oprah, might as well be me.
5 comments:
I admit it I read too! Geeks of the world unite. Thanks Allykh for supporting writers everywhere. I know how hard it is to choose and commit to one book.
You really should read Love in the Time of Cholera if you haven't already. It is one of the best amazing love stories ever.
Wow, allykh, our book shelves should meet; maybe they won't be so bored with our lack of attention if they can have each other ... I keep saying that winter is coming - I guess that means that I am annointing my winter nights with the love of a good book. Should we get together and have a book reading night? Then we won't feel compelled to do whatever our friends are doing because we'll be doing what our friends are doing ...
So I went and bought another book this weekend....Still Life with Woodpecker....but in my defense, I've been wanting to read it forever!
Try moving. It makes you reassess the book ownership issue. Also, there is an episode of Sex in the City when Carrie realizes her down payment for a house has been spent on shoes. AHA moment! My downpayment is on my bookshelf. Didn't stop me from buying a book this weekend - but I also got 5 from the Library.
Post a Comment