tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post7589391515845459584..comments2024-03-26T08:06:19.661-04:00Comments on The Road Less Travelled: #MicroblogMondays: A reader's lament loribethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-24356636228908595972018-02-26T21:37:40.009-05:002018-02-26T21:37:40.009-05:00I mentioned one thing that helps me read more book...I mentioned one thing that helps me read more books is to keep a book or my e-reader in my purse for when I'm on transit... on the flip side, another reason why I'm not reading as much is because I'm not working anymore: I used to read the morning newspapers on the commute into work, then finish the papers &/or read a book or magazine on the way home in the evening. loribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-12528389989036612092018-01-31T12:14:32.279-05:002018-01-31T12:14:32.279-05:00I tried to comment on this a couple of days ago bu...I tried to comment on this a couple of days ago but my phone wouldn't cooperate. I love your shelves! We have the same number of Billys with our "regular books" and then another three massive shelves in the study with the work books Q. has at home. We purged a full Billy (or possibly more) when we moved things around close to when P. was born, and we're pretty much at maximum capacity for bookcases unless we want to overwhelm our main floor.<br /><br />All that to say that I am ruthless about refusing to buy books these days, instead relying on my library's excellent hold system. I know you love buying books, but I find it helps me keep my TBR pile to a reasonable size, because I can control how many of my holds are active at any one time.<br /><br />I'm also a serial monogamist and the only time I will have more than one book on the go is if one book is too huge to cart around with me in my day-to-day. I still only read books as real books, nothing electronic, although I have often thought I should look into audiobooks for when I'm cleaning/cooking (that or podcasts). I do read a lot and I am setting strict rules about when I can use my phone (never when commuting, not when eating lunch on a workday, not after 9 p.m.) which leaves more space for reading. Refusing to read electronically helps too- makes for a cleaner distinction.<br /><br />January was a great month for me- I read 13 books (I think- might have hit 14), a combination of dedicating more time to reading and having some really great books to get me excited about it. But there are trade offs- we subscribe to the online Globe and Mail and Q. reads it every day. I haven't downloaded it once the entire month. And my blogging is pretty sparse at the moment too.<br /><br />We can't do it all, but for me reading almost always outweighs anything else I could be doing with my leisure time. It's part of my mental health management, so it is relatively easy for me to prioritize it, even when I don't really "have time".Turiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11694077473805539161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-69696732217910621302018-01-29T20:59:54.249-05:002018-01-29T20:59:54.249-05:00Ah, I hear you on this! I read a lot, but I defini...Ah, I hear you on this! I read a lot, but I definitely have seen a splitting of my attention in the past few years, where I find myself disappearing into my phone when I could be reading, and sometimes wehn I have projects (like this bullet journal thing) that takes up time I could be reading. <br /><br />I'm with you on vacations -- my favorite vacation is Vermont, where you can just curl up with a book after hiking outside and quiet reading time is the expectation. I also bring a book or my kindle to appointments, since I'd rather read than stare into my phone (and was sad once when at the hair salon someone said, "WOW! You have a REAL BOOK!" like it was an antiquity...). The world is VERY distracting. I am a serial monogamist for reading and hate reading multiple books at the same time, but I do have a few that I started and just haven't finished, abandoned for something more engaging. I don't think it's a bad thing to abandon a book, there are too many to get stuck slogging through one that's not right. Book clubs are great, I have a "live" one that I've been part of for several years now, and it's fun to read things I might not have chosen myself. <br /><br />I hope you find things that work for you! I LOVE your bookcases...Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868505568965284742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-81967492037454083642018-01-29T19:00:49.520-05:002018-01-29T19:00:49.520-05:00My most recent strategy for reading more books is ...My most recent strategy for reading more books is listening to audiobooks when I walk, as walking has now become my main form of exercise, or when I'm editing photos. I've only listened to a few so far.<br /><br />Going to bed earlier would definitely help me. I read my books on my phone and iPad, and they sync between them, so I always have my books with me. (You'd be able to get a Kobo app on your phone, wouldn't you?)<br /><br />Popping out on my own to do shopping or run errands, and going to a coffee shop for 30 minutes reading. It is bliss!<br /><br />I have more barriers to reading than I have solutions, and my barriers are very similar to yours. Stupid internet! <br />Malihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03928262526502319303noreply@blogger.com