Sunday Coffee

Fall Reading Update

We just had our fall break, and my biggest priority for the week was: sleep. Oh how glorious it is to sleep until you wake up. How glorious to wake up after the sun has risen, and feel the strange sensation of being....rested. Being on break gave me time to take care of some of life's necessities, like going to the DMV, but it also gave me time to work on my bookish lists, and take stock of my reading this year. I've read approximately 42 books this year (I'm awful at keeping track). Some of the best books I've read I never reviewed or posted about on the blog. And my blog productivity waned this year (but is waxing again, I hope).

 

I took on a few challenges this year. Here's how I'm faring with those:

The Mount TBR Challenge

I've read 21 books toward the Mount TBR Challenge (hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block). I'm working on a more detailed update post, so more on that later.

 

The Back to the Classics 2012 Challenge

This one is hosted by Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much. I've completed four of the books for the challenge, but I've only published posts about two of them. I'm sadly behind on this one, but actually hopeful that I will complete the challenge.

 

The Classics Club

So, this week was all about working on my list for The Classics Club. I don't know what could be more satisfying for an avid reader than sitting down and making lists of books. Lists of books you've read, lists of books you own and want to read, the ultimate, idealized, grand list of future reading, the lifetime reading plan list....My list for The Classics Club was one I tinkered with for weeks. It is mostly composed of books I already own, and there are 85 books on the list. I know, I know, I have a book-buying problem. Think how much this will do to assuage my book-buying guilt!

 

My post for The Classics Club should go up in a few days. I'm looking forward to connecting with other readers, and hope I haven't been too ambitious (I can read 85 classics in the next five years, right?)....

 

And then some other stuff.....

I have mixed feelings about my book blog. When I started this blog a little more than three years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. I was just noodling around on the internet, with no notion that anyone might be reading my blog. My first reader was my former crush creative writing professor from my freshman year in college (a looonngg time ago). He left the first comments I ever received. When total strangers started leaving comments, I was actually surprised. And I will never forget how excited I was when I reached twelve followers.

 

Now I feel, not exactly jaded, but just less intense and energized about getting to the blog and posting. And I have been horrible about reading blogs, and commenting, in the past few months. There has been a lot going on in my life, and I didn't seem to have the energy to keep up with it all. But the connections and conversations are really the most rewarding part of blogging in many ways, so I'm sad that I've let that slide. And I realized recently that I am totally out of the loop as far as challenges, and people dropping off the face of the book blogging map. 'Cuz I just realized this week that Jillian isn't blogging at A Room of One's Own any more, and I missed all that.

 

But I keep going. Writing this blog (even when only three people are reading it) has made me much more deliberate, conscious, and productive as a reader. I love thinking about my reading, and writing this blog has cultivated and nurtured that thinking.

 

This is probably a rambling and meandering way of just saying I'm back now, and I've really missed the daily tending of my book blog. Thanks to those of you who have continued to read my posts and leave comments--you are a blessing to me, and I mean that.