I started this year vowing to read more.
And I have to say I'm pleased with my progress on this.
It's mid April (tax day eve), and I have completed 12 books since January 1.
I read 24 books in 2012--so in a three and a half months I've read half of what I read last year. I would say I'm well on pace to surpass last year's total.
Where have I carved out the time? I'm not exercising less or ignoring my work for teaching or spending less time with my family. But I'm definitely watching less on Netflix--way less. And I'm Facebooking less. And I made a rule that once I got in my bed at night I could only use my iPad to read and not check Facebook or play Words With Friends or read anything posted on the internet. Hence, I'm reading every evening right before I fall asleep. Some nights I can only make it about 10 minutes before my eyes can't stay open any longer. But now that I'm reading more frequently I'm finding myself wanting to read and thus getting myself in bed earlier to carve out more time for it before I fall asleep.
I guess that we block out time in our day for the things that we value, right? I've sought to make reading more of a value in my day, and it's working. I've had to trade off things that do not bring me as much joy as reading. Rather than picking another TV show and watching all of its episodes, I'm reading. Rather than spending a lot of time doing that random internetting that we all do (you know, you just decide to check your Facebook news feed and then you click on a link to something someone has posted and before you know it you've spent two hours watching videos on YouTube?), I'm taking back that time and doing something constructive with it.
I do not miss the things I've given up to have more time to read. I'm thrilled to be able to see the 12 books I've read and to go back to them again and again in my thinking because of all the ways the books have challenged me as a human being. I can't say the same for a series of cat videos on the internet.
So here's to all the books that are yet ahead for me in 2013!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Billy Ray Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
why: a colleague brought this to me this week but warned me not to start reading it until I have three days to dedicate to it, meaning I won't be able to stop reading it once I start it
when: start 5/4/13 end 5/28/13
how: as an ebook on my iPad (from the local bookseller of course!) Even though I have a copy of this sitting on my desk at school to read, I much prefer ebooks so I downloaded it for myself.
thoughts: When another colleague saw this book on my desk, he told me that this is the book everyone should have been reading about the Iraq war. And I agree. Wow. The juxtaposition of war vs. the American pro football insanity is powerful here. The Dallas Cowboys' equipment room as described in this novel has more gear in it for a single game than our soldiers have for battle. I've always had issues with the hype surrounding professional sports in our world (and by "hype" I mean all the money spent on this when there are people starving in our country). And I think that ultimately this novel makes a burning commentary about US and what WE pay attention to. In the novel, this group of soldiers are only on the mind of the Americans back at home because a Fox News team caught a few minutes of a firefight where the soldiers killed a bunch of bad guys. So now the soldiers are all heroes and on tour for two weeks in the states so everyone can admire them. The two week tour culminates with a Thanksgiving day Cowboys game with the soliders as the special guests (though not more special than the halftime entertainment, Destiny's Child--see again how this novel comments on our priorities?). The novel tells the story of that five or so hour period at the football game--brilliant. Heart wrenching. Powerful. I could keep going here, but you should really read it on your own and tell me what you think.
Click on the book image to see a review from the NYTimes for the book.
review haiku:
football versus war
where are our priorities?
never mind. Kickoff.
Book manuscript of a friend's novel
why: my friend who is completing a novel has asked our book group to read her nearly completed manuscript
when: start 4/6/13, end (for the pages I have currently) 4/12/13
how: this one is printed pages of the manuscript hole punched and in a three-ring binder
thoughts: I'm excited to have the opportunity to read this manuscript, especially since for the seven years I have known the author, she has been writing it. It is set in Boulder, which is always fun since that's where I live and I know it well. It's an interesting experience to read something written by someone I know well--I can't help but hear her voice all over the story and wonder how much of it is autobiographical and who the characters are based upon from her life.
review haiku:
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
when: start 4/1/13 finish 5/4/13
how: as an ebook on my iPad (from the local bookseller of course!)
Click on the book image to see the Wikipedia entry for the book.
thoughts: I loved this book. The moment I finished it I immediately went back to page one and started reading again! (Didn't read the whole thing again, just the first few chapters). There's a bit of mystery to it, and there are several different characters on seemingly different paths who eventually come together (I always love that). And yes, it is essentially about love and what it means in our lives. Loved it.
review haiku:
The history of us
history of all of us is
The history of love
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
when: start 4/1/13 end 4/9/13
how: as an ebook on my ipad (purchased through the Boulder Bookstore of course--must support the local independent bookseller!)
thoughts: This is another post-apocalyptic story akin to The Road, but set in Erie, Colorado. The main character lives at the Erie airport, flies a plane to patrol the area looking for intruders, and shares the airport with another survivor of the flu that took almost everyone. It was fun to be able to visualize all the places mentioned in the book since most of it takes place in Boulder County. In the center of the text is not a father/child relationship like in The Road, but a man and his dog and also a friendship with the other man who is also living at the Erie airport. Hence, the story is a bit less painful and heartbreaking than The Road (though The Dog Stars definitely has its moments), and I was pleased in the end that the final image of the characters is a hopeful one. There is hope for this world.
Click on the image to get to some information about the book on NPR.
review haiku:
most dead by the flu
the few who remain build a
new reality
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