I’m finding that summer is just not a good time for blogging for me. I’m reading a ton, but I’m certainly not feeling the blogging groove. I want to read and then move on to the next book. Writing about the awesome books I’ve read just feels like it will be painful. It probably won’t be, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.
Has this happened to you too?
As a result, my responses to the books I’ve read will be a bit brief in the next few weeks. I won’t say “goodbye” to blogging like I tried to do last July; I’m just going to take it easy and not post if I don’t feel like posting.
I have a post ready for tomorrow about two wonderful graphic novels I enjoyed. Here are the other wonderful books I’ve read in the past weeks but have yet to write about.
- The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I loved this! I keep staring at it and wondering how to respond to it. Definitely one to reread and savor next summer.
- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. A reread for me. I found it a fascinating read (I really hadn’t remembered it very well) and wish I could pull together thoughts on just why.
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stow. I read this for my book club, which meets tomorrow night. I still need to pull together discussion questions about it. I can see why it was a classic of it’s time, yet the book was very sentimental and left me feeling rather manipulated. An “eh” book for me.
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. A perfect summer break read about an aging retired British general who is lonely and looking for his place in the shockingly modern world.
Also reading or need to read:
- The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I was listening to the audiobook via library’s Overdrive, but it expired on me before I could finish it. Twice. So I really just need to read my hard copy. This is getting old. Good book, but surprisingly long when listening to it on audio.(OK, only 10 hours, but I really have a hard time remembering audiobooks, I guess.)
- Why Jane Austen? by Rachel Brownstein. Review copy via Netgally. It expires in 8 days and I’m not sure I can download it again. I really need to find time to finish reading it, as it gets me excited about Jane Austen. I read it on my netbook, which isn’t the most comfortable.
- My Business is to Create by Eric Wilson. Review copy via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. About William Blake. I’ve started it. I’m hoping this gets me in the mood to read some of Blake’s poetry — or other poetry. I have lots of poets awaiting my attention.
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. For the upcoming Classics Circuit. I haven’t started yet.
- The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. My hold just came in.
- Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. My hold just came in.
- Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch. My hold (placed first) just came in.
Why do holds all come in at the same time?!
I have a few other review copies to get to as well. I’m starting to remember why I never before accepted review copies. It’s hard to find time to read all I want to read.
What are you reading this summer? Is blogging harder for you too come the nice weather?
WILIAM BLAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jason Gignac » I am afraid I’m not smart enough to respond to William Blake! But I’ll keep reading him…
Alas, we have yet to arrive at the nice weather in this part of the country. But I will let you know if I find blogging harder once it arrives. (Pardon my tone of bitterness, haha.)
Seriously though, it sounds like you’ve been getting some great reading done.
Emily » I should clarify: it’s not NICE. It’s sweltering. We’re hibernating inside. I just don’t feel like blogging all the same. Yes, I’m enjoying the reading, just not sure how to write anymore.
I’m with you on this. Summer, for me, is a reading time and less of a writing time. And here i thought I was the only one…
Pam (@iwriteinbooks) » blogging has shown me that we are never alone.
Yes, you can download a NetGalley book again- so I’ve been told anyway. I tried reading Why Jane Austen? but I keep drifting off. It’s not holding my attention even though I like the topic.
Chrisbookarama » I’m liking it but I must be in the mood for it. I hope I can get through it all. It’s a bit academic–except when it’s not…. ok that doesn’t make any sense.
You can definitely download NetGalley titles again! I love Grapes of Wrath. One of my favorite books!
Lu » i’m really looking forward to Grapes of Wrath!
Even though the weather here is terrible, I know what you mean about wanting to just read one book after another and not necessarily write about them. I am grateful that I am in the habit of doing so otherwise I would probably hardly be blogging at all this summer!
You nailed my troubles here lately….read and move on. Write a review? What’s that? Heh
Oh yes, summer has been a terrible time for me to post regularly. It’s not because of the weather, but because of three kids at home (or driving them around to various activities). I need long, solid blocks of peace and quiet in order to write. At least you are reading — I think my reading time has gone downhill this summer!
As you already know, I’m facing the same blogging inertia. It actually has been less hot here this year than it was last year, however, the increased heat / humidity makes me sluggish all the same.
Yay for Achebe 🙂 Like you my blogging has slumped lately – it’s a good thing I’m scheduled so far in advance really. But my reading has also hugely slumped because I’ve just been too busy spending my non working hours outside and doing all kinds of fun summer things!
This summer has been absolute balls for me (pardon my french!) with respect to both reading and reviewing things on the blog. I’ve got a large backlog of books that I need to cover, but I’ve just been so swamped with schoolwork that I’ve hardly had the mental energy (or time) to write about the books I have read. And I think that I’ve maybe read two books this month… Not good.
Oh, but for the record, I’m pretty sure you can re-download that Jane Austen book, since I’ve certainly downloaded NetGalley titles more than once.
This summer has been an almost no-go on reading…work has been taking so much time, and then a couple of weeks with a horrid case of poison oak. Between the itching and lack of sleep, the last thing I wanted to do is read. I learned a long time ago not to ‘force’ myself in those situations. Fortunately the poison oak has calmed down…now if I can just do something about work! (fat chance)
Hope you enjoy The Grapes of Wrath. I read it in junior high school, then again for an AOL book group just after I moved to California and had just followed a similar route as the Joads. I ended up reading “Working Days”, his journal on writing the book, and probably enjoyed it more than TGoW. Turns out he wrote not far from where I was living at the time. If I get a chance, I’ll visit his grave and museum in Salinas and post pictures during the circuit.