Well, I almost nearly bombed my August nightstand list by not finishing any of the books I claimed I would read... nearly because I did finish one. I keep telling myself that this lack of reading and blogging is just a passing funk; or perhaps I need a reality check and it's the time of life I am in and thus I should just put an end to it. In reality I don't think it helps that since the spring I have been: juggling: a 15-20 hour a week job, running a house and keeping my family fed, raising a 4 year old, trying to spend time with the love of my life and husband of 9 years, trying to maintain a regular exercise routine... oh and growing our next child (next week marks the 8 month mark).
Whatever the reason my blogging has taken a nose dive. I just can't keep up. Reading is just as bad. I struggle to keep my attention to any book I pick up. I've lost count on the number books (both classic and modern, tough and simple) I've started to read and then lost interest and returned to the library. As noted above, since last month's nightstand post I only finished ONE book, Entwined by Heather Dixon. It's a retelling of a fairytale. It was simple. It was entertaining. It was a light read and I hope to review it some time this fall.
As to the other two books listed in that post... I have nearly finished First Family: Abigail and John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis. I have really enjoyed the book, but find it difficult to slip in time for audio books (e.g. the format this book is in). On the other hand I didn't particularly like The Man of Property by John Galsworthy and I gave up on it around page 80 or 90. I just couldn't care enough about the Forsyte family to persevere. Maybe one day I'll return and finish the book.... We'll see.
As for the coming month...
It's the end of September and by now I should have re-read Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, portions of Plutarch's Lives, and the second chapter of The Passion of the Western Mind for this week's book club. As things stand I believe I'll get the second chapter of TPWM read, but will lose out on the other two.
If I could be so bold as to list what books await me on my nightstand I would make the claim that by this time in October I will have read:
- The Golden Wedge by Maud & Delos Lovelace
- What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace
- They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie
- Tramp for the Lord by Corrie TenBoom
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
- Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls by Jonathan Bean
But since I will be heading into my 9th month of pregnancy, wrapping up work before going on maternity leave, AND hosting the 3rd annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge on top of everything else I am doing... Yeah I am not going to make any serious claims.
I do hope to at least succeed in another great year for the MHLRC. If you haven't already checked it out, be sure to come back on Saturday when I post the sign-up. It's going to be a fun time -- ready or not!
What about you? Have you had a successful month of reading? What have you read and loved? Or read and tossed aside? Leave me a comment or head over to 5 Minutes for Books to link up your own September Nightstand posting.
13 comments:
I so enjoyed Entwined. I listened on an audio book. Thought her descriptions were lovely.
I read and loved The Thirteenth Tale - not necessarily a light read, but a very good one. Good luck tackling your list this month!
do to the whirlwind pace that we are going at I will be changing the format of my WOYN post. so that I don't feel like an under achiever, I will not post what I plan to read but will instead post what I have read with reviews... no pressure that way. I feel like there are so many good books and so little time! Hopefully I will live to a ripe old age and will have plenty of time to read in retirement.
Don't worry if you don't get everything completed! I think you have good reason not to. :) Just enjoy whatever reading you can do.
I'm definitely joining your challenge. I look forward to the start of it!
Don't lose hope! By the eighth month, pretty much everything felt like too great a task to me, but it all comes back to you once you get the new little one settled into the family's life. Looking forward to starting the challenge!
The Beauty of Eclecticism
Don't beat yourself up. Pregnancy is a time when the best-laid plans... Just be proud of what you have accomplished! That said, you have great books on your nightstand! Who cares if you read them in Oct, Nov, or next year? Enjoy!
(BTW, I loved The 13th Tale, most of it anyway. And Agatha Christie is, in general, a light read. Although I found with newborns, I wanted to read happy books, not murder mysteries. See how it goes with you.)
elizabeth from 5MFB
Laughing--I've been stuck in the Forsythe Saga for years now. The Adams book is right up my alley--I'll be looking for it.
I actually have been reading a lot more lately, probably because my son's school year has started with a lot less drama than usual and I haven't been as stressed out.
I can totally understand why you only finished one book, though!!
I don't believe I could have blogged at all when I had little ones. And the books I read then were kids' books. I loved them dearly and met new authors.
Good luck with the month of October and best wishes heading into the end of pregnant-time and into mom-time!
Yeah, sometimes life just demands time AWAY from the books and I think that's quite ok. Still learning how to juggle this one myself. It's a learning process. I'm not working a part time job though which is the ONLY reason I'm still reading anything at all. If I were working, in addition to everything else, there's no possible way.
I'm looking forward to the MHL challenge and I'm glad you are hosting it again!
you give me so many ideas- thanks a million. I found DE Stevens because of you. I'm Elizabeth at the Elizabethian tea blog.
Thank you for all you read. I've found D E Stevenson because of you. Around Dec 10th I'll have a 3 day series on Betsy Tatsy. Sure do love your blog. Elizabeth
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