Friday, June 15, 2007

Searching for the 25th Hour in the Day...

I love to read.

Not exactly shocking, right? After all, I'm a writer. Most writers love to read. Case closed.

But here's the problem: I almost never find time to read.

Oh, sure, I pick up the newspaper in the morning and plod through local, state, national, and international garbage that makes me angry, resentful, delighted, worried, or just plain sad. I also search online for job postings, so I guess that counts as "reading". Occasionally, I even allow myself the freedom to surf my favorite blogs for insights and/or laughs (check out CraigslistCurmudgeon for some funny tidbits.) And I can't forget to mention that my son and I love to share some of his youth-oriented books during our days and evenings.

But I don't read for fun anymore.

I'm almost ashamed to say that. But it's true.

Case in Point: I have a wonderful book sitting beside me at our dining room table (my writing desk most days), The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier. I want to read it with every fiber of my being. I want to get lost in its pages. I want to know Poitier the man, the actor, the husband, the father, the writer. I want inspiration.

Dammit, I just want to read a couple of sentences before passing out from exhaustion at the end of a long day!

(Phew. That was a lot to unload in a small space.)

Anyway, I'm wondering if any other authors share this dilemma? I find that I write copiously, but read little... and, ideally, I believe there should be a 50-50 balance to help me continue with my literary evolution.

For now, though, I'm hopelessly salivating at the very mention of the Pointier book that was a Mother's Day present and remains untouched. Maybe I'll read it for Father's Day...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also love to write and love to read... when I have a good book. But I wonder if maybe because I write I have a hard time finding good books. If I am reading something and don't like the style, I can't finish it. I'd rather sit down and work on a novel that I have more control over (I have to say "more" to qualify, because I never have total control over a story, even when I'm writing). And after a long day of writing and chasing after a toddler and cooking, I sometimes prefer knitting... it still feels constructive, but helps set my brain up for sleep. Try it ;)

And if all else fails, tell yourself that one day you'll have time to read!

The Quoibler said...

Saskia:

You bring up an interesting point.

I've been involved in theatre (mainly stage) for 25+ years, and I loathe going to plays and movies because I can no longer enjoy them. It's so rare to find one that "wows" me that I no longer seek out performances to attend.

(I'm not trying to sound like a snob here... it's just something that I've noticed about myself!)

Maybe my problem is finding great stuff to read, not finding time after all.

In any case, knitting sounds like a lovely hobby! : )

Angelique