Over the my years of reading, most specifically since becoming a lit major in college, I've developed some bad bookish habits. Some were more or less benign (piling books on the floor), others were stupid (being a book snob), but one in particular stood in the way of me and my reading--the affliction of flitting from book to book. I've complained about it numerous times before, most often over at my personal blog.
Basically, the issue was that I'd pick up Book A and spend all day reading away, often reading over 100 pages of the volume. Somewhere along the way, I'd begin thinking about Book B...to the point where I just couldn't stand it anymore and I HAD to pick up Book B, even though I was perfectly happy with Book A. So I'd spend some time with Book B, maybe a day, maybe three days, or maybe a couple of chapters, before Book C came to my attention. Occasionally, I'd be able to juggle a couple of books at once, but until one of them grabbed me hook, line, and sinker, I really didn't finish anything. Which was such a shame because during this period of utter promiscuity, which has lasted a good five years, I kept buying books (my other bad bookish habit). Not a couple here and there. But a few each month. Sometimes more.
And what's the point of owning all of these amazing books if I never finish any of them? I don't want to be one of those people who ultimately uses books purely as decoration and hasn't actually read anything. I'm not Jay Gatsby!
After one particularly frustrating afternoon in which I yet again abandoned a book I was enjoying just fine, I finally decided I needed help. I think it was seeing so many people write all of these amazing reviews for the Classics Club, to which I belong, but haven't made many contributions in the review department because I haven't actually finished more than one of the books on my extremely long list...
I went to my normal avenues of help--a reader/book blogger that I admire and my boyfriend, who is quite well-read. Their advice was to pick a book that I would finish. The reader/book blogger recommended trying one of the shorter classics on my list. Zach--knowing my appreciation for straight-forwardness--said to just pick a book and freaking stick with it regardless of how much I wanted to pick up something else. But how to do that? Wouldn't that make reading a chore?
Then it hit me--re-read a favorite novel. So I chose The Grapes of Wrath. I had been jonesing for a re-read because this was around the time that Oklahoma got hit by all of the tornadoes and I began thinking about the other time our state became a bit of a disaster area, but the people were strong and resilient. So I began reading.
And I kept reading that book. Maybe not every day. I mean, if you feel obligated to read, are you really getting the most out of it? My track record with assigned reading in high school and college says no. And maybe there were a couple of books that I dallied with for a day or so. But I always made sure to remind myself to come back to Grapes. Until I really didn't have to remind myself--I knew I would come back and finish it. I craved the book, but sometimes needs a little break.
Tonight I plan to finally finish the novel. I have absolutely loved my re-reading experience (but you'll have to go to my blog for the review). Yes, it's taken me a month to read this novel. The first time I read it in a few days, but I think I missed a lot. And, let's remember, I'm trying to rehabilitate myself to being a monogamous reader.
I wouldn't say that I'm cured yet. But if I can make it through a 450 page novel, I feel like I can make it through another novel that is probably shorter, but maybe longer, and another, and another, and another, until I really am just reading one book at a time.
Maybe two. I am only human after all.
Do you have any bookish bad habits that you've broken? What about advice for how to break bookish bad habits?
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Basically, the issue was that I'd pick up Book A and spend all day reading away, often reading over 100 pages of the volume. Somewhere along the way, I'd begin thinking about Book B...to the point where I just couldn't stand it anymore and I HAD to pick up Book B, even though I was perfectly happy with Book A. So I'd spend some time with Book B, maybe a day, maybe three days, or maybe a couple of chapters, before Book C came to my attention. Occasionally, I'd be able to juggle a couple of books at once, but until one of them grabbed me hook, line, and sinker, I really didn't finish anything. Which was such a shame because during this period of utter promiscuity, which has lasted a good five years, I kept buying books (my other bad bookish habit). Not a couple here and there. But a few each month. Sometimes more.
And what's the point of owning all of these amazing books if I never finish any of them? I don't want to be one of those people who ultimately uses books purely as decoration and hasn't actually read anything. I'm not Jay Gatsby!
After one particularly frustrating afternoon in which I yet again abandoned a book I was enjoying just fine, I finally decided I needed help. I think it was seeing so many people write all of these amazing reviews for the Classics Club, to which I belong, but haven't made many contributions in the review department because I haven't actually finished more than one of the books on my extremely long list...
I went to my normal avenues of help--a reader/book blogger that I admire and my boyfriend, who is quite well-read. Their advice was to pick a book that I would finish. The reader/book blogger recommended trying one of the shorter classics on my list. Zach--knowing my appreciation for straight-forwardness--said to just pick a book and freaking stick with it regardless of how much I wanted to pick up something else. But how to do that? Wouldn't that make reading a chore?
Then it hit me--re-read a favorite novel. So I chose The Grapes of Wrath. I had been jonesing for a re-read because this was around the time that Oklahoma got hit by all of the tornadoes and I began thinking about the other time our state became a bit of a disaster area, but the people were strong and resilient. So I began reading.
And I kept reading that book. Maybe not every day. I mean, if you feel obligated to read, are you really getting the most out of it? My track record with assigned reading in high school and college says no. And maybe there were a couple of books that I dallied with for a day or so. But I always made sure to remind myself to come back to Grapes. Until I really didn't have to remind myself--I knew I would come back and finish it. I craved the book, but sometimes needs a little break.
Tonight I plan to finally finish the novel. I have absolutely loved my re-reading experience (but you'll have to go to my blog for the review). Yes, it's taken me a month to read this novel. The first time I read it in a few days, but I think I missed a lot. And, let's remember, I'm trying to rehabilitate myself to being a monogamous reader.
I wouldn't say that I'm cured yet. But if I can make it through a 450 page novel, I feel like I can make it through another novel that is probably shorter, but maybe longer, and another, and another, and another, until I really am just reading one book at a time.
Maybe two. I am only human after all.
Do you have any bookish bad habits that you've broken? What about advice for how to break bookish bad habits?
($4.97) The Goose Girl: 
