When I flipped the calendar page to November this morning, it struck me what a very busy month I have in store. Unfortunately I was right at the point in my Sunday morning where I realize I’ve had too much coffee, and I go straight from feeling energized to feeling panicked.
For one thing, I opened my 2009 Books page to record what books I’d read in October, and realized I only read three. Three. Just to get through the 9 for ’09 challenge, I still have five more books to read. (This is probably where I should mention that I sort of cheated. I replaced two books on the list–“Used” Adventures of Kavalier and Clay with “Used” The Poisonwood Bible; “Cover” Summer at Tiffany with “Cover” A Reliable Wife. They fit the categories and I just read them, so it’s not like I replaced them with something I read, say, last year, right?) For the books I’ve finished, I still have to write three reviews.
Then I have five Library Thing books to read and review, because I have the feeling they won’t send me anything else until I get on the ball. Not that I really need them to send me anything else, when I clearly have plenty of other reading to do, and at the rate I’m going, well…And yes, that one on the bottom of the stack, The Women’s Home Workout Bible, isn’t exactly a book I have to read and leave quotes from, but still, one wants to do a thorough job, no? (And no, it’s not a religious approach to working out or anything like that–no Bible verses to recite to make yourself thinner. It’s actually a quite handy little reference and workout book that discusses different levels of equipment and exercises, all illustrated helpfully with pictures. Wait–do you think this can count as my review?) I’ve tried to read both A Short History of Women and The Well and The Mine, but neither one of them has grabbed me. Usually it’s just a mood thing when that happens, but I must admit, Kate Walbert has left me cold before, so there you go.
I would have enough on my plate to deal with if I only had those books to consider, but this past week I got this nifty little stack of books from the people at Harper Collins (in the interest of full disclosure). I’m especially interested to read…oh, hell, I’m interested to read all of them. That’s always the trouble, isn’t it? I only wish I could figure out a way to wedge the Anne Frank book and Power Trip into the World Citizen challenge, because then I’d only have three more books to read, and might be able to finish before the end of the…oh, who am I kidding?
To top off everything, today is the beginning of NaNoWriMo. In case you missed it, I lost my mind and signed up. FIFTY THOUSAND words (I almost wrote “pages” instead of “words”–gulp) in THIRTY days. That’s about 1700 words a day. I have characters, a place, a time period, and a vague idea of what happens. Now all I need are FIFTY THOUSAND words that are somewhat coherent and shape a story. Oh, I feel a bit dizzy. I’m just going to lie down for a bit…
Happy Sunday, everyone!
The Evening Reader 
I read A Brief History of Women earlier this year and while it was a good, strong novel, it also wasn’t my favorite. It’s got a very discursive narrative, so unless you’re in the zone and really focusing, it would probably be confusing more than anything else. Put it aside until you’re feeling ready for it.
And I saw Hummingbirds when I was at work and thought it looked like a fun read. I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on it when you do read it!
Finally, don’t stress yourself out! There’s no point panicking about these challenges and meeting goals and the like, especially if adhering to them is making you feel so anxious about your reading! If you only read 3 books for the ’09 challenge, oh well! Not the end of the world! I certainly won’t judge you, and really think you should read what you like, and blog about the things you wish to (and in whatever format you like!).
I agree with Steph. Don’t stress about reading and blogging. It should all be fun! Good luck with NaNoWrMo!
I’ve got a Library Thing book myself that needs a review – at lesat I’ve read it. Plus I’ve got book club book to read. Plus there are several other piles š
Steph, with A History of Women, it’s not the discursive style so much for me. I wasn’t having trouble focusing–I just notice that Walbert seems to write more about types than about characters, if that makes sense. I had the same issue with “Our Kind,” where I felt like her characters were more like intellectual abstractions or types than real people. I think she writes well, generally. I hope Hummingbirds will be a fun read–it seems light.
Gavin, thanks! Its a lot of writing, but I actually think it will be a fun challenge.
Melanie, I hear you! Book piles everywhere!
I know how you feel! It’s strange how overwhelmed you can get by reading, right? It’s funny, too, how reviewing takes priority so you can get MORE to review, when that’s what causes the stress in the first place š We’re all so committed and guilt-conscious!
Aarti, the guilt indeed! Mostly I just feel so…like I want to read everything! When I am reading one thing, I think about how great it would be to be reading something else, and I cannot stop making lists. It’s fun though. Every day, a little something new. š