Tuesday, September 7, 2010

BACK TO BASICS

No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.
- Confucius

Right on, Confucius.
Lately, I haven't been reading enough.
Eh, let's be honest, I've barely been reading at all.
Like, two novels in one month. That's just pitiful.
Great writers read a lot--A LOT. Because of that theory, I worry any small level of greatness I might have achieved could be slowly slipping away.
"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."
~ Stephen King

I hear ya, Stevie.
I have a pile of unread books given to me from beloved friends like Sara McClung, Carolina Valdez-Miller, and Megan Rebekah. (Thanks girls!) It's not like I don't have plenty of accessible reading material. I have so many new novels I'm practically drowning in them. (Not a bad way to go if you ask me.)
"One must be drenched in words, literally soaked in them, to have the right ones form themselves into the proper pattern at the right moment." ~ Hart Crane
Amen, Hart.
So, I am pledging to do some serious reading in the next few weeks. All kinds of stuff: my beloved YA paranormals, some classics, a few contemporaries, maybe even a steamy romance or two. I will be a better writer because of it. Plus, I love to read, so why haven't I been doing it? No more excuses. Let the avalanche of story devouring begin.

What are you reading? What's your favorite story to reread? Have you been slacking like me, or have you been in devour mode?

36 comments:

  1. Well said Stevie, lol... you said it best Karen!!! Books are very important!!!

    I just finished Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt, and now I'm to You Wish by Mandy Hubbard!!! I love reading!!! It really helps you open your mind to possibilities!

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  2. I've been trying to keep reading, at least a novel a week. That was my New Year's Resolution. Still, I've got a TBR pile so big it could fill a small suitcase. As it turns out, there are always more books. Have fun, though. Happy reading. :)

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  3. Between writing during the day and running with the children in the evenings, my reading window is just before bed. Needless to say, it takes me a couple of weeks to finish a book.

    Since I'm in the throws of writing a horror/supernatural thriller (unsure which genre it will fall under), I have immersed myself in every Stephen King novel I can get my hands on. I read most of them when I was eighteen, but now I'm approaching the books from a writer's perspective. Currently, I'm reading The Shining. Next on my list is The Dark Tower. Then onto Wilbur Smith's The Seventh Scroll.

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  4. I'm with you--not reading nearly as much as I used to! It doesn't hurt that my budget for buying has seriously declined and our local library sucks...but still. I've got a decent TBR pile, but it's slow-going...

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  5. My favorite story to reread is Scarletti curse by Christine Feehan. I have paranormalicy here with me so that's my intended next victim beside literature books for college classes. :) Good luck with your reading adventures!

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  6. Mostly, I'm always in devour mode. :-) But I hate when life gets too busy to read. I need more than an hour a day of story, you know? :-) Love the quotes!
    Oh, I'm reading Lessman's A Hope Undaunted. I don't usually reread books.

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  7. I'm reading a memoir, Almost French, by Sarah Turnbull. Next on my list is Mockingjay. Or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Of course, I have stop making excuses and find the time.

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  8. I'm currently reading IF I STAY by Gayle Forman and totally loving it. Other than that, school pretty much has taken over, but I will squeeze in time for my beloved YA's. Pinky swear. :)

    Hope you get to read great books soon!

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  9. I listen to books on CD, does that count as reading. Actually I just finished Linger and am a few chapters into Mockingjay.

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  10. I haven't been reading like I should either. All of my spare time is spend editing. Must fix that.

    The last book that I read was Mockingjay. Loved it! I'm working on Paranormalcy now and The Prophecy of the Sisters is next.

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  11. I was on such a reading role for a while... But now that I'm revising I'm kinda consumed and writing til I have to fall asleep. And I can't share what my favorite book to reread is, I'd get egged ;-)

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  12. I've totally been slacking. I have a stack of books calling my name. I plan on cracking one open tonight. Just not sure which one.

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  13. I love the picture at the top, Karen. It's like there was a book explosion in that room. I also love the King and Crane quotes. Awesome, awesome. I read a lot, and I do like to reread books I met long ago. Recently, I revisited To Kill A Mockingbird. It's always so good. Great post today.

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  14. I've been slacking, big time. There are a couple reasons why though: 1. no money 2. I don't feel like taking my 4 year old and 2 year old to the library and shushing them the whole time because they are LOUD- very loud 3. I'm 4 weeks away from having a baby and I don't feel like running after said 4 year old and 2 year old in the library 5. I'm 4 week away from having a baby and I just can't get comfortable enough to read or write.

    however, if I have to pick a book i love to reread it would be Outlander. I'm rereading the series now because of my first answer. No money=rereading

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  15. I'm in the same boat - tons of good books to read, but I'm having a hard time balancing it with my schoolwork and writing. Something's gotta give. Lately, it's been homework. (Oops.) But I've got so many good books on my shelf that I've got to pick them up!!!!

    Good advice and great post :)

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  16. Great quotes!
    I'm in devour mode. I plan on reading a bunch of challenged/banned books this month. Solidarity sort of thing. Right now reading M.T. Anderson's FEED.

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  17. I was slacking for a while, letting my To Be Read pile grow until it became suspiciously person-sized. Then, I picked up The Hunger Games series, which put a swift end to my slacking. I'm currently in the midst of Mockingjay, and loving it.

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  18. A friend just handed me my first Cormac McCarthy book last night, and also a young adult trilogy I'd never heard of but which she swears by. Between those books, Twilight (which has been on my shelf for months), Dracula, and Mrs. Dalloway, I'm set for a while. :)

    Happy reading, good lady!

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  19. A good reminder that I must read in order to write well! I SHALL do better!

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  20. I hear you. I've been so damn busy I haven't been reading my normal volume. I used to read a book/day...I'm reading about a book/week right now. Maybe 2/week. (while waiting for the kid to get out of dance etc.)

    I just read Fragile by Lisa Unger. Pretty good.

    My TBR stack is toppling.

    Happy Humpday!
    Love,
    Lola

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  21. You're welcome, luvie. I hope you enjoy. And I hope I get some more time to read, too!!! Love all the quotes!

    P.S. Mega love, sweetie. <3 xoxo

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  22. I've actually just been getting back in to reading A LOT lately - it was hard during school. On my vacation (two weeks) in between all the park hopping, I read five books (and one was a two in one 700 page monster). I have three books to read because they were shipped to my house while I was on vacay - Clockwork Angel, Mockingjay and Paranormalcy. SO EXCITED! I also have a ton more to read and I really want to keep it to at least one book a week now that I'm back in school. It's good for my writerly soul after all.

    Good luck devouring!

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  23. I had SUCH a blast Karen. We actually didn't really have any internet when we were down there but DON'T worry I'll definitely be back and hopefully we'll be able to arrange a meet up then. I'm also seriously considering doing an internship at either Disney World or Harry Potter world for a school semester in the next two-three years so who knows... I may be moving to your area for a little in a couple of years!

    I'm doing the highlights of my trip on my blog. I ADORED Disney. There was way more that I couldn't write on my blog but I realy doubt bloggers want the 300 pictures from disneyworld and the THOUSANDS of words it would take for me to fully express the amazingness. Disney is so magical. I miss it already.

    You're so lucky to have gone so many times!

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  24. I am on full speed devour mode. Catch up quick, love, you're missing out. I've been reading heaps of great children's books, and as such, I've been writing more and with greater zeal than I usually do. Yayyy. Have fun on your reading adventures. x

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  25. recently finished the last of Stieg Larsson's books, Under the Dome (Steven King), and We hear the Dead (Dianne Salerni). Currently reading Idoru by William Gibson. The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder is next.

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  26. I've been slacking, and what I have been reading is rather embarrassing to admit to. I am reading dooce's bio because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I can only handle so much of her hyperbolic sarcasm before it just starts to sound ridiculous. Her over-the-top metaphors as punchlines at the end of each paragraph can get a tad tedious. I am also reading Justin Halpern's "Sh*t My Dad Says" because I am interested in the humorous memoir genre. - G

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  27. Well I just started the Hunger Games series. So, you know I'm devouring them!!

    Oh, if you're looking for a great read, The Haunted by Jessica Verday just came out and it was awesome!

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  28. Dude, for the first time ever, I feel good about myself! I've read a lot this year. Just about 70 books. Of course, I've written nothing, so there's that. I can't read and write at the same time, so I cycle. And this year, there's been very little writing, but a whole lotta reading.

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  29. Does requeired reading from school count, because apparently in my AP english class we'll be reading two books at the same time all year long. Ouch! I'd rather read books from the genre I write in instead--but I guess I can still get something out of reading books like Silas Marner and the Tale of Two Cities...right?

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  30. I've bought a bunch of blog friends' books in the past 45 days...as soon as I get back from SCBWI-KC I plan to start reading and putting posts up on good reads and amazon....Thanks for the reminder, Karen!

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  31. I do some, but need to do more. I really do enjoy it but usually put it at the bottom of my to do list. :O)

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  32. I've been slacking:0( Actually, I've become addicted to blogging, but I swear that I WILL NOT BLOG THIS WEEKEND, but will read, read, read!
    Cinette
    http://cinettesmusings.blogspot.com

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  33. it's amazing to me how many parallels between writing and music (dj/production) there are. I used to spend so much time on just trying to make music and put together radio shows that I barely left any time to JUST listen. The past few weeks I've purposefully taken a step back and just listened to music, he ideas and inspiration that comes rushing are amazing.. great post! as always

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  34. awesome post! And what an incredible photo! How cool would it be to have a room like that? Love it :)

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  35. I've been on a reading binge. Tends to happen in waves for me. Right now it's Elizabeth Berg, and next is the YA 'Shiver'. Happy reading!

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  36. I'm in partial devour mode. I did recently go through a drought though so I needed to start reading again.
    I'm reading two books currently, one adult and a YA book I've been waiting to read. you'll get back in the swing of things.

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