I think, therefore I read books (though I do not complete books right now)
Sometime in October my Goodreads account informed me that I had read 45 books since the beginning of 2020 and in fact had reached my goal of reading 40 books for the year. This is a self-induced deadline/goal/challenge for all those wondering.
So, what did I do after this? I just opened as many books as possible and haven’t completed a one since then (aside from middle school-level books I am reading to keep up on some of the books my daughter reads).
I am not proud. I am kinda confounded. On the one hand, finishing a book gives me such satisfaction. I mean, duh.
And on the other hand, my concertration levels and focus are just at such low levels, it’s a wonder to finish a chapter, a few pages, a paragraph. Yet, I feel unorganized with all the tales I haven’t completed. How many stories can I keep up with.
What is actually humanly, readerly possible?!
Right now I can truly tell you I am reading the following:
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (strong, moving, deeply felt, upsetting, and important so this one I will finish though it will take some time)
Grand by Sara Schaefer (enjoyable, moving yet also light, autobiography about a comedian in her 30s)
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo (truthfully only through two chapters, though I can tell by the time I get over the hump of this one – perhaps only 2 more chapters to go, I will want to savor it and in only the 2 chapters I can feel that it will linger when I am done. Is this odd I am thinking about time AFTER I have completed this one? It’s not because I don’t like it. I like it very much. I am just excited about it. So even thinking about analyzing it later with friends sounds yummy and cozy and thought provoking)
And in an update to cool books stories:
A neighbor posted on our neighborhood listserv that she was looking for The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright. I have had the paperback on my shelf since 2018 and it even moved with me from NY to VT but have I read it?
No I have not. A friend passed it along to me and so I felt I should keep it for when the time came.
Anyway, I decided it was a sign to pass it along since it has been on my shelf so long just gathering dust, so to speak (though it’s really not dusty at all)
I put it on my outdoors steps, the neighbor and I arrange a pick up and wouldn’t you know it?! — > I see on my steps a little paper bag with a note and a book.
We had a pop-up book exchange between strangers! No longer strangers, I tell ya.
The book I received (presents!!!!) is We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. It’s never come across my radar until now and with all the books I am in the middle of I plan to add it to the – I am in the middle of this – list!
Also to add to the list soon – once I get my hands on them are:
Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld and
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin.
I am planning on supporting my local bookstore with the purchase of Steve Martin’s
Jerry Seinfeld’s I’ll wait until I see it at the library. Which means I have to wait for the library to reopen (sad face) or just put it on hold which would mean I would have to return a bunch of books that are overdue. Tee hee.
I am trying my best to be respectful of due dates, I really am. But I have not been lately. #confessionsofalibrarycardholder
That’s all for now – thank you for reading this and happy book reading!