Comments on: Reading in the Midst of a Global Pandemic | Musings

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 16:56:50 +0000

In reply to hillary. My reading has improved a lot since the beginning of all this. I'd say from March into the first half of April my reading was a mess, but then it changed. For the last couple of months my reading has really picked up and become more of an escape for me. That being said, I still can't stay focused for long periods of time. I take more reading breaks than normal. I hope your reading gets back on track soon.

By: hillary

hillary — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:52:19 +0000

I am glad I am not the only one who hasn’t been able to read. This has NEVER happened to me in my life, and it scares me a little because everyone that I know knows me as a huge bookworm. The library staff knows me personally, and the UPS dude is om friendly terms since he brings all my book mail. I keep thinking if I can’t read then WHO AM I?! The last couple days have been better reading-wise, and I hope this is the turn around point. Even when I was growing up in Central Appalachia, I felt calm and safe in the library, and if it had a book, then all was well. Here is to hoping we all can get rea more in the coming months.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 11 May 2020 22:05:28 +0000

You are preaching to the choir, dear! I’m feeling everything you are except…my reading rebounded for awhile. All I wanted to do was read and I was enjoying what I read. Now I’m wavering again and wondering if I’m being too tough on the books I want to discard. The writing is painful. I feel as if my brain is filled with mud so my mind if spinning and spinning, but getting nowhere.

I don’t think it helps that what we do involves sitting at a computer. It’s even worse for you, because of teaching from home. If I’m at my computer I am clicking on CNN, NYT, or a world virus tracker. It’s obsessive. When/if I walk away and do things like knit, puzzles, even watch TV I feel so much better. Yet, I can’t stop. We’re supposed to “live in the moment” but this moment is horrible! And looking ahead is just as bad. Is it any wonder all of our psyches are struggling?

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:57:11 +0000

In reply to Angela. Working from home has been so much more time (and brain) consuming than I ever imagined it would be. I realized this weekend while forcing myself to do a couple posts, that part of the problem is that I'm on the computer ALL day 5-days a week for work. I don't want to be on the computer in my free time. I think that's part of why writing reviews is so hard right now. I have the same struggles with library holds. Mine also has a lot, but even longer waits than usual right now. Thanks for your thoughts on this crazy time and books.

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:53:38 +0000

In reply to Jade @ Reading with Jade. Thanks, Jade. I know many of us are experiencing the same sort of reactions to this crazy time and am glad to start a conversation about it. Happy reading and may you find something that works.

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 11 May 2020 13:51:44 +0000

In reply to susan. I read Heft years ago and remember loving it.

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 09 May 2020 23:05:29 +0000

I can relate a lot to this. When our stay-at-home order came down, I was actually between jobs, and I was reading a ton, like a book a day. But I feel like I’m not retaining much. I’ve gone down to mini-reviews for most things because I just can’t focus enough to write a full review. Now I’m working from home, so I have less time to read. My library has a really good e-book and audiobook selection, but the wait times are really long for most things, so it’s been a challenge getting new material.

By: susan

susan — Sat, 09 May 2020 22:06:01 +0000

In reply to Susie.

I guess 2020 might come thru eventually for us on Quality reads. I’ve done quite a bit of backlist reading this year so haven’t read a lot of 2020 novels yet … but I hope to in the months ahead. So far Long Bright River (which I just reviewed) was a 5 star-er for me. I think you liked it too. Now I’m listening to Liz Moore’s novel Heft since her storytelling is enjoyable.

By: Jade @ Reading with Jade

Jade @ Reading with Jade — Thu, 07 May 2020 08:16:09 +0000

Interesting collection of thoughts, Susie – and many I can relate to myself. I have definitely found this uncertain time to be a very ‘meh’ reading time, although I have had snatches of time where I’m enjoying reading, and then follow that up with two whole weeks of not picking up a book. It is odd… As a reader who escapes through books, I’m finding that hard currently. I, like you, am turning to things in my spare time that require much less brain capacity. I also find your remark of – is it right to expect a book to uplift you an interesting thought.

I think what is very important right now is to make sure you are honouring your feelings – even with regards to reading.

This was a really interesting & thoughtful post.

By: Susie

Susie — Thu, 07 May 2020 03:15:40 +0000

In reply to susan.

You are so right, Susan. Work is actually my biggest stressor right now and I too often turn to my work computer when I could be reading. I need to stop doing that!

It’s interesting what you say about not having a good reading year. I think my numbers will actually be okay. I’m ahead on my GR goal right now. For me it’s more the quality of what I’ve read. That leads to the question, “Is it because of the pandemic OR is 2020 just not a very strong year for books?” What do you think?