I realized something this morning. But I have no idea what prompted the thought. From the day I first learned to read, there’s never been a day when I haven’t had 
my nose buried in a book.
Until recently.
Honestly, I don’t remember when the last time was, I curled up with a good book. And got so involved in the story, I lost track of time. Not wanting to put the book down, even for a minute, to go to the bathroom.
Or talk on the phone. Or make a cup of tea. Or have a snack. Or eat dinner. Or go to sleep.
My life has been filled with books I loved so much, I’d have to read them, cover to cover, in a day. And all night, if necessary. There have been hundreds of all-nighters, during my lifetime.
Always, dreading the end, actually. Wanting them never to end. The books, not the nights.
Until recently.
Then there were all the books I could barely stand the thought of finishing. With those, I’d ration myself. Only allow myself to read a certain amount of pages each time, hoping to prolong arriving at the end for as long as possible. Have you ever heard of anything so silly?
But you know, I miss those days.
It’s not like I have nothing to read. I have stacks of books, just sitting there, waiting for me. Same on my iPad. And every time I read another intriguing book review on Claire’s blog, Word by Word, I add new books to the list I already have, of books I want to read, after I’ve finished all the others laying around my apartment. It is so unlike me, to ignore them. And yet, some of them have been there for months.
So unusual.
But I think I’ve figured it out. Writing a daily blog, coupled with working on client assignments, and trying to put in some time on my book, doesn’t leave much time for reading other authors’ books. Especially as I’m already reading other writers’ blogs.
No, I don’t want to stop. I love it all. But one of my favourite pastimes has taken a hit. It’s suffered. And, to be honest, so am I. Suffering, that is. I miss my books.
Because I love reading. I really love reading. So I have to figure out how to make time for it, again.
It won’t be easy, I know. First of all, I’m out of the habit. It’s like exercise. The minute you miss one class, you start to lose momentum. One is all it really takes. Then it gets progressively easier to miss more. Until you’ve stopped entirely. It’s the same with books, I’m afraid. So now I’m out of the groove.
The other problem is, reading takes concentration. And I’m distracted by the work I have. And also by the ‘idea’ I need before I can start to write my blog; and then the actual writing of it.
No sooner is one published, I have to start on the next. In some ways it’s like a vicious circle. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I love it. Just making an observation, is all.
It seems I need several more brains. And maybe two more hands. And some audio books.
365 And Counting 
I definitely sympathize! It’s so hard to find time to read while we’re busy doing everything under the sun… More brains and an extra set of hands would help immensely.
Too bad Amazon doesn’t carry them. Or they’re just downloadable.
I wish we didn’t need to sleep, or that someone could invent a “sleep condenser” so that we would be able to zip eight hours of sleep into two. Imagine how much more we could read then. Like you, I’ve been reading all my life. I learnt to read at a very young age, and was always lost in books. I used to make a tent in my bed and read with a flashlight long after lights out. But life does rudely interrupt my recreational reading. You almost have to make a date with your book and stick to it. Date night for reading—there’s an idea!
I love the date night idea! I’m going to do that! I also read by flashlight, btw.
Never enough time but like you said your time is filled. And it’s how we operate anyway.I too have fond memories of being “kidnapped” and taken away between the covers. But I too read all day. Never “paper” books anymore although they’re 3 feet away from me at the moment and stare and call at me daily. And still they wait. 🙂
Yeah, exactly. Mine stare at me, too. I love the idea of being “kidnapped” by a book. That’s exactly what happens. And that’s what I really miss. Just disappearing into a book. It is the greatest escape ever. And you come out of there relaxed, refreshed, replete and buzzed, all at the same time. Full of where it’s taken you. I need to feel like that again.
I know the feeling. I rarely read new books any more, other than ones relating to my course. I miss sitting down with an amazing story. It’s been a long time since I found one that captured my interest enough to sit down and read it cover to cover. Hopefully I will again soon…
There are good books out there. Maybe, like me, you are just too pre-occupied.
Me too! Blogging, working, baking and kids! It doesn’t leave much time for reading. I read 4 books on holiday last summer and l loved it. I’m still reading the same book that I came home with. That’s 7 months and I’ve read 112 pages! I even put it on a kindle app so I could read in bed when Mr MT is asleep! Nope still not working. I think I’ll go for the long slow burn as you described and not put any pressure on! ha ha
Glad to know it’s not just me. But when I see folks on the subway, or at Starbucks, buried in a book I am really envious.
My friends too are lined up on the bookshelf screaming to be read, I think you have opened a hornets nest here Fransi it would appear there are more unread than read books out there awaiting the reader – but look, you are now on day 221 is there that much more time to go before you are “free”
144 more day. Not that I will give up blogging. Maybe just not every day. But I have time to figure that out. But by some muracle I find myself with a couple of hours to spare. So I am going to read. Right now! Ain’t life grand??
I can’t survive without reading and even though I always have a book on the go I still have piles of them waiting to be read. My latest problem is discovering all the great blogs out there – I spend most of my time reading posts now!
I Know. It’s hard to keep up.