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...
Monday, May 10, 2010
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Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to read anything and can recognize that right away - and put the book down.
ReplyDeleteUnder normal circumstances, I usually give a book until the mid-point before I give up, so I've never gone back and started a book again.
I read ten percent of a book before I put it down. If you haven't grabbed my attention by that point, there are so many other books out there to read... I can't waste any more time on a book that bores me. Ya know?
ReplyDeleteInteresting... I wonder if I would've started TBL again, if it weren't assigned to me.
ReplyDelete