Friday, April 30, 2010

What's On My Nighstand - May


5 Minutes for Books
This post comes at a very interesting time, considering what's been on my mind the last few days. I am late in posting what I'll be reading next month but I wanted to post it anyways.



Lara, over at The Lazy Organizer, has been posting some interesting thoughts lately about choosing the best of the best. I'm still thinking and discussing with hubby what "best" means for me/us, if we always have to choose the best, and how to define "best."

I'm sure these discussions will eventually affect my reading and entertainment choices. In the mean time, I am giving myself permission to not finish anything I deem not worthwhile. There are millions of books available to read and I can't read them all. I have to be choosy!

Here's what I'm aiming to finish in May -

Nonfiction


Memoir
  • Two Lives - Vikram Seth. This book is for my South Asian Author Challenge and my first Chunkster. It's a really long book, I think the longest I will have ever tackled.

Fiction
I have other books as well but these are the ones I plan to read first. I promised myself that if I don't like any of them, I am allowed to return them to the library unread. When I start something, I feel obligated to finish. I am allowed to return books to the library unread. I am allowed to return books to the library unread...

5 comments:

Lynn said...

I really like your statement that you're giving yourself permission to NOT finish books you don't find worthwhile. I think, like you, most of us who are book lovers feel like we are somehow obligated, once a book enters our hands, to get all the way through it. But also, like you, I have come to realize my hours for reading are limited, and if something hasn't grabbed me by page 30, or 50, or chapter 3, etc., I have in the last few years decided it is ok to just ditch it. Sometimes they are even books someone has given me and said that they loved! But if they don't hold my interest, or I find them poorly written, sometimes I just can't get through them. Nice post :)

Anonymous said...

So nice to meet you!

Intimate Issues is a very good book. :~D

Why don't you consider joining us for "Marriage Monday" over at my blog, Chrysalis this week? I think you'll enjoy the community and our meme. I hope to see you on Monday.

Blessings, e-Mom @ Chrysalis

Dawn said...

Wow, that's a lot of books to read for one month.

I am trying to get through most of my fiction books first. I ususally can get through 2, maybe 3 per month depending on how thick they are.

Once I get my fiction over with, then I will delve into the non fiction...books that will actually make me think and study...unlike fiction. :)

Happy Sabbath Day! \0/

Veggiemomof2 said...

Thanks! I needed this post. I have a handful of books on my shelf that were handed down to me by Mom, thinking I'd like them. I keep pushing them aside to read other things, so I should just pass them on.

Anonymous said...

Cassandra,

I like this way of thinking - giving yourself permission to not finish books that aren't "worth your time." I NEED this type of self-control!

This is something that I have a very hard time doing because I buy ALOT of books because they all seem "so interesting," and I keep thinking that I "have to" finish them all.

However, this is impossible, since I am a SLOW reader and sometimes, certain books "loose their flair or interest" after a time. My husband has even told me that I am not under any obligation to have to "finish" every book that comes into my possession, but do I listen? I must shamefully say, no. :(

Anyway, thank you for giving me something to think about regarding book selection.

~Mrs. Lady Sofia~

P.S. I recently sent you an email, and was wondering if you received it.