Is anyone else feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment, or is it just me? I've been busy pretty much all day and decided to take a break and read a few blogs. Here's what happened:
1. Read review of Nineteen by AJ Mars on Book Utopia's blog and thought 'ooh that looks good, I'll have to read that' before remembering my huge TBR pile.
2. Read review of the new ZA Maxfield book at Wave's and thought 'ooh that looks good I'll have to read that' and remembered the pesky TBR pile again.
3. Remembered that the book I'm reviewing for Wave next week is quite long at nearly 400 pages, so I ought to start reading it now. ETA: I was mistaken, the book I'm reviewing for Wave next week is 571 pages so I DEFINITELY need to start reading it now - EEK!
4. Read Josephine Myles blog and remembered that I still have to read and review Boats in the Night.
5. Read Charlie Cochrane's blog where she talks about the recent print release of her 8th Cambridge Fellows book. Remembered how much I loved the first book in that series and that I'd intended buying and reading the rest of the series.
6. Noticed that Pants Off Reviews had reviewed Second Chances by Jeff Erno which is another book on my review list.
7. Noticed that Jay had an interview with LA Witt and remembered that I really wanted to read the sequel to The Distance Between Us, but hadn't had time to buy or read it yet.
8. Started feeling guilty that I hadn't been able to read anything all week except a couple of short stories.
9. Started feeling even more guilty that my review pile isn't getting any shorter and that quite a few people are waiting for reviews.
10. Started to panic about my a) lack of reading motivation & b) lack of time for reading.
11. Closed down Google reader.
You're going to have to bear with me for a few days folks, because other than my shorts at Brief Encounters and the review I'm doing for Wave tomorrow, there's a whole lot of nothing happening for me, unless you count endless rounds of Jumblines on my ipad. You know it's bad when you'd rather run for the hills, or crack open a mindless word puzzle, than open a book so just give me a few days to recoup. Those of you waiting for reviews will just have to be a little more patient, sorry.
It's okay, Jen. Don't feel guilty. :) We're all overwhelmed with our TBR piles. There is just so much out there these days. And I tell you what -- a 400 page novel is just intimidating to me these days. Gone are the days when I used to read those big ones by Stephen King and George RR Martin.
ReplyDeleteHi Val
ReplyDeleteI remember being so excited when I read The Stand by Stephen King because of the sheer length of the story. Now, if a story is over two hundred pages I have to factor in what I won't get time to read because I'm reading a 'long' book!
It's not just you. There's a reason I only do reviewettes. :) And I've been playing an awful lot of Reversi on my android tablet over the past couple weeks myself...
ReplyDeleteOh I'm with you. The TBR is growing which I think is overwhelming, and our response is to run and hide rather than buckle down and tackle it. That sounds far too much like the laundry which is NOT fun. Reading is supposed to be fun damn it. I read I think the first 3 Cambridge Fellows, bought three or four more last year and have not read them yet. That's only one example of my poor behaviour. E-books really make it too easy.
ReplyDeleteMy goal was to read more long books this year and yes, 150 is a long book to me these days. 400? Ack! Did I read any over Christmas. No. I did didley squat. Why? No clue. Just not motivated. I hate having to force myself to do something fun. Whine whine whine.
So you are definitely not alone my dear. I am sometimes stunned looking at my GR feed and rarely have I read or even heard of any of the m/m books coming up. I feel a bit lost but ... Soldier on I suppose. Cold winter weather doesn't help, makes you want to curl up in bed and hide and read old favourites.
Chris: Please don't give me any ideas for more time wasting word games :).
ReplyDeleteTam: We can be overwhelmed together then :). I know what you mean about the Good Reads feed. I see so many m/m books recommended by people and I know that I will probably never have time to read them if I bought them.
I definitely had a bit of a retreat into my keeper shelf over Christmas with the Heaven Sent series. The trouble is that it just makes me feel even more guilty!
LOL! Reversi isn't a word game, if that helps. :)
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful retreat into the PsyCop books myself last week, and I don't even have the excuse of any promised formal reviews!
I hear ya!
ReplyDeleteAlthough my TBR (for reviewing) is at its highest, I promised last time that I wouldn't freak out because forcing myself to read means I don't enjoy it and then I write mediocre reviews for what could be great books if I was less annoyed with words in general.
I try to reward myself by when I finish a book I *need* to read, I read one that I want to. Sometimes it actually works, too :)
Good luck!
PS, ironically, we reviewers follow other reviewers who give us ideas about books to read and make our own TBR pile larger.. (:
*raises hand* So with you. Remember your Favourite M/M Romance Books of 2011 posts? I looked at how many I hadn't read and just about lost it. As for the Heaven Sent series - I've had the first on my iPhone for about a year. It's sitting there with Reverb looking at me and pouting! *heads desk*
ReplyDelete*deep breath* I think we should take a lot of deep breaths and just work on one book at a time :) I (luckily) don't have the reviewing pressure - just the guilt :) - so I like Alex's idea of rewarding yourself with a book you want to read once you've finished one you have to read :)
And at 571 pages that there book is Big!
Good luck! *hugs*
Yes, I am with you. Sometimes the TBR pile is just scary! I am sorry for my role in adding to your stress! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think rereading keepers is a great way to take a break, even if it makes your TBR pile grow. Something about those old favorites.
Chris: I want to re-read the Psycop books before I start GhosTV. Soon....
ReplyDeleteAlex:
I try to reward myself by when I finish a book I *need* to read, I read one that I want to. Sometimes it actually works, too :)
That's a really great idea. This is partly why I started doing the A-Z Challenge because it made me break out of my 'have to review' list and onto books I wanted to read.
And, yes, it's very ironic that I follow so many review blogs that just make me add to the towering TBR pile :).
Orannia: Oops! Sorry about that :).
ReplyDeleteThe Heaven Sent books are a really quick undemanding read and are perfect when you need some pure escapism.
Jay:
I am sorry for my role in adding to your stress! ;-)
Yeah, yeah, I believe you :).
I think sometimes you do have to retreat into your old favourites. At least with those books you know what to expect and that you are going to get a good read.
This post has been very cathartic for me! I picked up the 571 page book last night and could hardly put it down. I had to force myself to stop reading (hub gets grumpy if I read too long) and I'm already over a quarter of the way through it. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat's OK :) Is was more the realization that there were so many books that I wanted to read that were good...and yet I hadn't read them :) Looking at the silver lining...I'm gots lots of good books to look forward to *grin*
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to look for the positives, Orannia. I have lots of good books to read as well. Now, I just need to expand time so I can read them all!
ReplyDeleteDo I dare to say here that my TBR is non-existent *ponders*
ReplyDeleteI bought quite a few books over Christmas at the ARe sale and I read them all already. Of course I have some e-bucks left but I don't know what to buy yet.
I only buy books that I know I will read as my budget is not endless.
veri: psyco, I assure you I am not