Monday, October 26, 2009

Gratitude Monday – The Reading Tower

I started reading again last week and I’m stupidexcited about it.
I’m reading books again. Holding novels in my hand, turning pages, losing myself in their worlds. I can’t understand what happened the last few years. I’d read something here and there, but mostly I'd start, set the book down, and ignore it.
That’s a cruel, wrong thing to do.
I used to read fast and had a book or three going all the time. A few years ago something happened. Perhaps it was the heart problem -–I’ll blame as much as possible on it, just you wait—mayhap it was some Guidance to take a break, maybe I got too lazy to read. The last one takes some doing. If that’s what happened, then I probably deserve official recognition for it.
I wondered on occasion what was happening. Then I’d get distracted.
I am pleased, happy, and grateful to say whatever had come over me is gone. It left one day last week and since then I haven’t been able to get enough reading. It’s all I want to do.
I’d started A Tale of Two Cities in July, got to page 82 and set it down. It was the first one I picked up and I finished it yesterday.
Shortly after I finished it I picked up Zane Grey’s Valley of Wild Horses. I’d gotten to page 18 back in the summer.
I’ve got close to five dozen books on the To Be Read tower. I am so grateful to be demolishing that tower.

12 comments:

Hilary said...

I'm happy for you, Leah. :)

I understand that feeling. I've only been reading in dribs and drabs the past few years.. on the bus, train or when otherwise away from home. It's been a long time since I've been lost inside the pages though, and I can set them aside all too easily. Send a bit of what you've recaptured my way, willya?

messymimi said...

I have also gone through this dry spell where I read very little for a while, and then gone back to reading with a vengeance.

Good for you for getting your groove back!

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks so much, Hilary. I'm glad I wasn't the only one, but I'm sorry to hear you've got it, too. I've got plenty to spare so see what I can do about sending some to you.

Leah J. Utas said...

Messymimi, we posted at the same time. It's good to hear your experience with the dry spell.
Thanks. I'm so happy to be reading again.

the Bag Lady said...

That same thing happened to me, but I'm happy to say it was many, many years ago, and it passed. I now read voraciously again.
Glad to have you back among the ranks, cousin!

Leah J. Utas said...

Why, thank you, df Bag Lady. It's good to be back.

Barbara Martin said...

Sometimes I'm too busy to read, though now with doing book reviews I read regularly, often in the evening. There have been times when I haven't wanted to read due to no desire, but those are few and far between.

I'm glad the reading bug has captured you again.

Miz said...

I totally get this.
After we had our daughter the one thing that made me the most...sad?lost?panicked? was the fact Id lost the Carla reads EVERYTHING! piece of my self definition.

I used to walk into a bookstore and struggle to find anything I hadnt already read.

It is only the past 6 months or so Ive reclaimed that part of myself & Im worlds happier as a result.

here's to reading not blogging :)

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

I'm glad you're reading again, but I'm also glad to see I'm not the only one who has been through a dry spell. The one after grad school was understandable, but sometimes there has been no obvious reason.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Barbara. It's such a foreign feeling to not want to read. I'm glad I'm shed of it.

Miz, yes. I understand. I am waaaay happier now that I'm reading and wanting to read. Glad you got yours back. I used to read everything, too. I expect I will again.

Bunnygirl, it's so weird to not want to read and to not know why.

Everyone, I'm so glad you've told me about your dry spells. I feel so much better now.

Reb said...

I haven't had so much "dry" spells as I have had, "what did I just read" spells. I'll read the second or third book and have no memory of reading the first in the series. Some of that I can blame on chemo brain I think, so I will :)

Leah J. Utas said...

Reb, it's a good excuse. I've been pretty good about remembering what I've read as long as I get a little prompting. Probably temptng fate to say that.