I can't remember if you were pre- or post- recovered mojo when last we met! I marked down a couple of your recommendations then though. I hate slumps, as I know reading brings so much pleasure and structure to my day. I do almost all of my reading first thing, before anyone else is awake, when the minutes and hours really feel like mine and mine alone, and not time stolen from anyone else. On a good day I'll get an hour; on a weekend, I sometimes manage three before a first daughter appears downstairs!
I loved 'The Noise of Time', and '100 Years' however many years ago it was that I read that one! And I finished Keegan's book on a single weekend morning just a couple of weeks ago: such beautiful economy in the way she writes.
As for the towering to-be-read pile, remember Eco's words: 'read books are far less valuable than unread ones'! x
I am in and out of reading slumps recently: I fall in love with a book and read it cover to cover in a few days, carving out reading moments through the days. Then it takes me weeks to find the mojo again: I pick a book, I fall in love, and everything starts again. If I have the bad luck to stumble upon a book that doesn’t catch my attention, I drag it for weeks, sometime months. So I might try your tip and read as first thing in the morning.
If you are into food and like reading it’s great to combine the two. Try the book by Kate Young “The Little Library Cookbook” featuring over 100 recipes from favourite stories.
Who can resist recreating Leopold Bloom’s kidneys for breakfast after reading James Joyce’s “Ulysses”? That’s if you can manage to read Ulysses in the first place!
Maybe start wi The Sound & The Fury, his Nobel Prize winner then go to my own fave, Light in August. At the same time, dip in and out of Stephen Vincent Benet's Civil War epic, John Brown's Body. Fabulous stuff.
Ah so interesting. Thx so much for the book tips! My reading rut sometimes feels like a huge trough. Brought on often by a book I can't get into but try to plough on, OR because I mess about on social media before I pick up my book of an evening and am sure it frazzles my already whacked brain. Best tip to myself is to put my phone deliberately out of reach.Or brave it and ditch the boring book. Currently reading I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 1950. Scarily real AI thrill/threat thing. Hate sci-fi but loving this read!
I totally lost my reading mojo at the start of lockdown- funnily enough rereading was a real comfort. I've also discovered that quite often when I'm in a rut and can't get going with fiction, a jolt of non fiction (even quite big or serious books) can somehow be easier and get me out of the rut (and then I can resume fiction reading). I miss my former regular commute when I did all my reading - I find I need to make time such as at the weekend to sit down with my book and a cup of coffee (and leave the phone out of reach!). Loved mayflies, and the Mick Heron books are excellent. In a similar but more mainstream spy vein Gerald Seymour's series starting with the crocodile hunter was excellent!
I'm loving the word tsundoku, I'm assuming it applies to magazines too & I think I'll be referring to this in a post soon. The book I enjoyed the most in the last few years was Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson, I read it during the first lock down and it whisked me away to the island of Hydra in 1960's, it was bliss to read. Since then I have struggled to find time to just sit and read, audio books have become my go to when I walking the dog and I am devouring them, but I look forward to finding some space to sit again with a good book, maybe now the weather is picking up I will find that space.
I think the trick is not waiting for - or expecting - too much space. Look for 10-15 minutes a day and progress from there. At least that's what I found.
Reading is absolutely vital - great reminder, Fiona! If I really like a long book (currrently Peter Francopan's "Silk Roads"), I'll get half-way and then finish it on audio. I deliberately head outside food-related cos I need that for my work as a journalist. Mostly science-related (there's some really good, accessible writing out there - Merlin Sheldrake's "Entangled Life" took it to a new level). Latest joy is Lucy Cooke's ferociously funny rewriting of Darwin, "Bitch" (ram eading all the way thru, mostly in the bath...anyone else read in the bath?).
No I don't (read in the bath), mainly cos I don't like lying in tepid water) LIke the sound of your two recommendations which I will investigate (and maybe endeavour not to add to my tsundoku 🙄)
Well, to be honest I think that this is a great read in itself. So, I’m not alone. Goodness, do I struggle these days. Basically it’s down to social media and the fact that in the last 5 years I have been re-inventing myself as a social personality, (from age 60), with a lot of new friends. My reading has virtually collapsed.
Of course I still devour magazines, about cars, music, and food, and use my vast collection of books as research tools and interesting quick reads of certain passages/chapters.
I have deadlines also, and my main reason for living is music. Contributing to the Facebook page of a popular local music jam night involves playing, taking (and editing) photos and writing a weekly review. I love it but now know that I have more books than I’ll ever have time to read.
This, for me, has been a lovely ‘off piste’ moment from a food and drink website. It doesn’t make me feel any easier but certainly I feel a little less unique in this matter. Will I ever get around to reading ‘Catch 22’?
Maybe it IS an age thing. I used to read voraciously when I was 16 but then there were far fewer distractions (being cooped up in a boarding school). And no social media which gives you the attention span of a gnat.
Oh and MUSIC! Totally. That's a whole other story. What kind?
Fiona, for my listening at home it is nearly always jazz. Vintage, modern Be-Bop, free jazz, swing bands etc. But as a semi pro drummer I play everything from rock/pop, blues, country, Rock ‘n’ Roll and soul, all in various bands and at Jam sessions. Perhaps this is why I haven’t got time to read. Which is frustrating. Reading, with no background noise, is something special. Your article has made me think. I need to make the time.
Very hard to do both at the same time!. Or at least with vocals which you always want to listen to. Bit of Mozart or Haydn in the background is generally OK. Impressed that you’re a drummer.
PS Tsundoko came from Shona Maclean (alistairs neice) She has written some fabulous books . The Bookseller Of inverness being a recent goodie, i have her Winter List nearby too.
Yes on the same basis as novellas. Bit of poetry doesn’t go amiss either …
I can't remember if you were pre- or post- recovered mojo when last we met! I marked down a couple of your recommendations then though. I hate slumps, as I know reading brings so much pleasure and structure to my day. I do almost all of my reading first thing, before anyone else is awake, when the minutes and hours really feel like mine and mine alone, and not time stolen from anyone else. On a good day I'll get an hour; on a weekend, I sometimes manage three before a first daughter appears downstairs!
I loved 'The Noise of Time', and '100 Years' however many years ago it was that I read that one! And I finished Keegan's book on a single weekend morning just a couple of weeks ago: such beautiful economy in the way she writes.
As for the towering to-be-read pile, remember Eco's words: 'read books are far less valuable than unread ones'! x
Beautifully put Matt and great last quote x
I get books out the library - the return date makes me speed up the reading!
Good point Ange!
I am in and out of reading slumps recently: I fall in love with a book and read it cover to cover in a few days, carving out reading moments through the days. Then it takes me weeks to find the mojo again: I pick a book, I fall in love, and everything starts again. If I have the bad luck to stumble upon a book that doesn’t catch my attention, I drag it for weeks, sometime months. So I might try your tip and read as first thing in the morning.
It can help to get you through a book you're not totally grabbed by but if it's really a struggle I give up. So many other great books to read!
If you are into food and like reading it’s great to combine the two. Try the book by Kate Young “The Little Library Cookbook” featuring over 100 recipes from favourite stories.
Who can resist recreating Leopold Bloom’s kidneys for breakfast after reading James Joyce’s “Ulysses”? That’s if you can manage to read Ulysses in the first place!
Chris
Can't do Joyce. Never could. And I can happily read William Faulkner (no mean feat!).
Never attempted him (Faulkner). Perhaps I should? Where would you start?
Maybe start wi The Sound & The Fury, his Nobel Prize winner then go to my own fave, Light in August. At the same time, dip in and out of Stephen Vincent Benet's Civil War epic, John Brown's Body. Fabulous stuff.
Thanks, E. Will add to the book list I have in Notes on my iphone then investigate next time I'm in a bookshop.
Have the Little Library cookbook but in general I try and focus on books that have nothing to do with food (Edible Economics excepted)
Ah so interesting. Thx so much for the book tips! My reading rut sometimes feels like a huge trough. Brought on often by a book I can't get into but try to plough on, OR because I mess about on social media before I pick up my book of an evening and am sure it frazzles my already whacked brain. Best tip to myself is to put my phone deliberately out of reach.Or brave it and ditch the boring book. Currently reading I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 1950. Scarily real AI thrill/threat thing. Hate sci-fi but loving this read!
Oh I used to LOVE Asimov but haven't read him for years. Going back to books you've already read is a whole other subject!
And ditch the boring book. Life is too short, etc....
You Tsundoko! (japanese for a person who buys too many books to read. join the club.
Totally!
I totally lost my reading mojo at the start of lockdown- funnily enough rereading was a real comfort. I've also discovered that quite often when I'm in a rut and can't get going with fiction, a jolt of non fiction (even quite big or serious books) can somehow be easier and get me out of the rut (and then I can resume fiction reading). I miss my former regular commute when I did all my reading - I find I need to make time such as at the weekend to sit down with my book and a cup of coffee (and leave the phone out of reach!). Loved mayflies, and the Mick Heron books are excellent. In a similar but more mainstream spy vein Gerald Seymour's series starting with the crocodile hunter was excellent!
Oh thanks for the tip! It’s not my usual genre but as you say good to mix it up
I'm loving the word tsundoku, I'm assuming it applies to magazines too & I think I'll be referring to this in a post soon. The book I enjoyed the most in the last few years was Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson, I read it during the first lock down and it whisked me away to the island of Hydra in 1960's, it was bliss to read. Since then I have struggled to find time to just sit and read, audio books have become my go to when I walking the dog and I am devouring them, but I look forward to finding some space to sit again with a good book, maybe now the weather is picking up I will find that space.
I think the trick is not waiting for - or expecting - too much space. Look for 10-15 minutes a day and progress from there. At least that's what I found.
Reading is absolutely vital - great reminder, Fiona! If I really like a long book (currrently Peter Francopan's "Silk Roads"), I'll get half-way and then finish it on audio. I deliberately head outside food-related cos I need that for my work as a journalist. Mostly science-related (there's some really good, accessible writing out there - Merlin Sheldrake's "Entangled Life" took it to a new level). Latest joy is Lucy Cooke's ferociously funny rewriting of Darwin, "Bitch" (ram eading all the way thru, mostly in the bath...anyone else read in the bath?).
No I don't (read in the bath), mainly cos I don't like lying in tepid water) LIke the sound of your two recommendations which I will investigate (and maybe endeavour not to add to my tsundoku 🙄)
This is me!
Recovered or in recovery?
Well, to be honest I think that this is a great read in itself. So, I’m not alone. Goodness, do I struggle these days. Basically it’s down to social media and the fact that in the last 5 years I have been re-inventing myself as a social personality, (from age 60), with a lot of new friends. My reading has virtually collapsed.
Of course I still devour magazines, about cars, music, and food, and use my vast collection of books as research tools and interesting quick reads of certain passages/chapters.
I have deadlines also, and my main reason for living is music. Contributing to the Facebook page of a popular local music jam night involves playing, taking (and editing) photos and writing a weekly review. I love it but now know that I have more books than I’ll ever have time to read.
This, for me, has been a lovely ‘off piste’ moment from a food and drink website. It doesn’t make me feel any easier but certainly I feel a little less unique in this matter. Will I ever get around to reading ‘Catch 22’?
Well I think you will if you want to!
Maybe it IS an age thing. I used to read voraciously when I was 16 but then there were far fewer distractions (being cooped up in a boarding school). And no social media which gives you the attention span of a gnat.
Oh and MUSIC! Totally. That's a whole other story. What kind?
Fiona, for my listening at home it is nearly always jazz. Vintage, modern Be-Bop, free jazz, swing bands etc. But as a semi pro drummer I play everything from rock/pop, blues, country, Rock ‘n’ Roll and soul, all in various bands and at Jam sessions. Perhaps this is why I haven’t got time to read. Which is frustrating. Reading, with no background noise, is something special. Your article has made me think. I need to make the time.
Very hard to do both at the same time!. Or at least with vocals which you always want to listen to. Bit of Mozart or Haydn in the background is generally OK. Impressed that you’re a drummer.
Short stories get me through that lost reading mojo phase.... or Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series
PS Tsundoko came from Shona Maclean (alistairs neice) She has written some fabulous books . The Bookseller Of inverness being a recent goodie, i have her Winter List nearby too.
You Tsundoko! (japanese for a person who buys too many books to read. join the club.
sorry duped it.