Hungry

I began this blog to keep track of my writing life, to declare my goals, share my revelations and record the trials that I face, but sometimes-OK always-the personal stuff insists itself on my meditations.  This happens in my creative endeavors as well, even the fiction, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I notice this happens when I read lately, too, that my own personal experiences seep into my thoughts as I take in another author's creation.  I'll begin reading and thoughts of my car needing an oil change or the fact that I haven't seen a dentist in eight months will pop into my head and slowly the words, which I'm still reading, lose their meaning.  I think this is what attention deficit must feel like, and I want it to stop--which it most likely will.

Have you ever had this experience, when you try to read a book, even a damn-good book, and you just can't concentrate?

The fact that this has been happening to me makes me wonder how often I've put down fine literary works because I just wasn't in the right head space.  I mean, sure, a book can be poorly written and lose a reader's interest, but then there are times like these when the reader is just too scattered to become wholly engaged.

I bring this up because sometimes, it's difficult to tell the difference.  I've been working so much lately (thankfully) that I think I'm just not able to relax enough with most stories... and, so I've decided to take a little break and read only one book, slowly, and if I feel the addiction calling perhaps I'll consume a short story or two instead of another novel (I usually read three books at once because I know I'll be in the mood each night for at least one of them).

I remember a few years back, I cracked the spine of what is now one of my favorite books of all time The Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff.  I couldn't get beyond the first page.  Then, a year later, I cracked it again and consumed the thing in a matter of days, enjoying every minute of it.

Has this ever happened to you?  What's the cure?  I feel less fulfilled when I'm not reading... constantly...