Even though I’ve had my reviews posted as scheduled, I haven’t done any blogging at all this week. Worse, I haven’t even done any reading. I managed to complete Twilight on Tuesday (I’ll have a lot to say about that one), but I haven’t picked up a book since then. To be honest, I needed a break. I pressured myself to read constantly the first week and a half of the year in order to get a lot in before I got back to York. I think I burned out on it as a result and I haven’t even missed reading very much. I know, it’s horrible!
This morning, however, I finally felt like I wanted to pick up a book again. That’s lucky, because I stopped halfway through A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro on my flight last Saturday and I should probably pick it up again before I forget it all. Unfortunately, it’s very obvious that this is his first book and he so clearly hasn’t honed the craft that he excels in with The Remains of the Day. I’ve vowed to read all of his works, though, and this is the second-to-last.
Even more unfortunately, my term officially starts tomorrow and I have a load of art history reading to do, plus all the rest of my work for the week. That’s not to mention that I really need to start my PhD application if I want to have any hope of funding next year – I can’t afford it without funding – and I haven’t written a review in a week. There isn’t much reading time ahead for me!
Back to the grind I go, and I hope you all have a lovely week. I am now officially back and must go read the 700 posts waiting in my google reader! If you posted something fantastic in the past week, please let me know here and I’ll get there much sooner.
What?? No reading??? Well, it’s understandable, I guess. I’ve been busy, too–working, trying to get my applications together for grad school (finally–I’ve been meaning to do this fo years). Good luck with the PhD applications!
Good luck with your PhD applications!
I hope you have a great semester!
Hmmm. . . I just picked up A Pale View of Hills the other night. I want to read all his novels, too, so Id decided to start at the beginning. Now I’m extra curious to see what I’ll think!
Good luck with your applications!
Lezlie
I have had bouts with needing a break from reading too, especially after an reading frenzy. Sometimes you need a break–getting beyond the guilt is the key.
Good luck with the upcoming school term!
I can sympathize with the lack of reading…I go through phases that I call ‘readers block’ and I just seem to lose the desire to read for a bit for nothing i pick up interests me. fortunately those times don’t last long!
Good luck with the applications! I know it’s hard to keep up reading during the semester.
I have had a couple of posts in the last wek about Ellis Peters that may interest you
http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/01/forgotten-book-morbid-taste-for-bones.html
http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/01/cadfael-reprise.html
http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/2009/01/authors-and-their-characters-face-to.html
Good luck with your PHD applications. Sometimes reading just has to take a back seat. You come back much more refreshed.
Sometimes you just gotta take a break. I’ve been there!