Reading jag

[pegkerr]

I have been a bit quiet lately, because I've been deep in the grip of a reading jag. I get into these periods where my reading, which is always a constant in my life, spirals into obsession. I'm not the least bit unhappy, since I'm enjoying the reading so much, but I do feel increasingly guilty. I don't want to cook, or clean, or write, or interact with the members of my family or work or do anything productive. I just want the world to leave me alone, so I can read. It's gotten pretty strong this week, to the point that I don't want to sleep or eat, either. These periods can last for weeks, months even, sometimes. This one's been going on for awhile, with no signs of ebbing soon. It's a little worrisome.

It hasn't helped that Delia has been sick for much of the week, and Rob's work schedule has not been synchronized with mine. This means that we've been getting out even less than usual: we didn't go to Delia's karate class this weekend, for example, and I've been with the kids alone a lot.

I've been thinking a lot about Mr. Frodo lately, and especially the state he got into after the Quest was over, when he holed up in his study, gradually keeping to himself more and more, fading away from life. I need a Rose Gamgee to fix delicacies to tempt me to eat at elevenses and tea, and a Sam Gamgee to insist that I leave my study and come down to the Ivy Bush tavern with him for a pint or two. Alas, I am not that fortunate. So I lurk in my study alone.

And spam LiveJournal with inane entries like this one, as I try to figure this all out. Sorry, everyone.

Comments

[shellefly.livejournal.com]

Crumb cake?
It's still piping hot.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

It's your journal, after all. You needn't apologize for using it in a journal-y way, to try to figure things out. The only people who get it have chosen to do so, so it isn't spam, either!

Re:

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Ha. True.

[lizardek.livejournal.com]

I can SO relate to this post! You are not alone in this feeling...I think it hits many of us at times. Enjoy the reading jag!

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I've been reading quite a lot since the beginning of the year, too. Much more than has been normal for me for the last several years. I think it's partly the 50 Book Challenge and partly that it's winter, which I hatehatehate.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

We'll feed you on Friday night.

B

Re:

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

You're on.

[ionas.livejournal.com]

It's winter, and there is a tendency to hole up in one's snug and read.

[charlietudor.livejournal.com]

...or do anything productive. I just want the world to leave me alone, so I can read.

Yeah, me, too, but even though I feel guilty about it, I try to remind myself that reading is productive. Brain fully engaged, storing up knowledge and style, learning how to write from reading how it's done....

I actually felt guilty when I started to write again, because I wasn't reading enough. Before that, I was reading 2 to 3 books a week (still not enough, but hey, only so many hours in the day), and that # plunged dramatically when I started writing. Still bugs me to think of all the books I want to read and don't have time for because I'm writing one. Nope, never satisfied. ;D

[charlietudor.livejournal.com]

...or do anything productive. I just want the world to leave me alone, so I can read.

Yeah, me, too, but even though I feel guilty about it, I try to remind myself that reading is productive. Brain fully engaged, storing up knowledge and style, learning how to write from reading how it's done....

I actually felt guilty when I started to write again, because I wasn't reading enough. Before that, I was reading 2 to 3 books a week (still not enough, but hey, only so many hours in the day), and that # plunged dramatically when I started writing. Still bugs me to think of all the books I want to read and don't have time for because I'm writing one. Nope, never satisfied. ;D

Re:

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I think I'd actually feel less guilty if I were writing rather than reading. An awful lot of people want to read this ice palace novel I'm supposedly working on . . .

[carol-j.livejournal.com]

:: offers you scrumptious imaginary treats ::

:: sends you best thoughts and wishes ::

[cheshyre]

I get on reading jags too.
On the one hand, it feels intellectually challenging (I'm not wasting my time watching mindless TV), it's inexpensive entertainment (mostly from libraries), and it feels productive (adding titles to my Books Read list.

On the other hand, it sometimes feels like almost pathological escapism, using books as a means of avoiding unpleasant RW issues I should be dealing with.

ADD on the job (a book I've found impressively useful) says anything can be addictive, depending upon how one uses it: "If you are unable to stop a behavior because you are using it to distract yourself from some feeling or need, you may be facing a problem with addiction." And that's one of the ways I try to determine whether my reading is a problem or not. [I think right now, it may be becoming one.]

Don't know if this relieves you or gives you more cause for concern, but there you go.

[red-queen.livejournal.com]

What cheshyre said,with knobs on. (And love the icon!) I've spent the past two weekends on a reading jag, not getting anything productive done (like taking out trash and recycling, sigh, or cleaning the kitty litter. One of the cats registered a protest in the bathtub this AM. Served me right.). I know I'm ADD, and I've been using reading to hide from the world since I was 6 1/2 years old. Stupid world. Wanna live in books.

Sigh. Nice to know there are others like me out there...