Monday, June 8, 2009

Musing Mondays


MUSING MONDAYS are hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about reading time…

Do you have a set reading time (before bed, perhaps)? Do you read more at night or during the day? Is there a day of the week, perhaps, that you set aside to catch up on reading?

I don't have a large chunk of time that I set aside for reading. But I do read the newspaper every morning while I eat my breakfast and then at lunch time I read a few pages of whatever book I happen to be reading at the moment. Most days I also fit in a more extended period of time to read. Sometimes it's in the afternoon (though I tend to fall asleep if I get too comfy) or sometimes it will be in the evening. I also never leave my house without a book, so I usually read a few pages while waiting in my car to pick up my kids, waiting for appointments or killing time between appointments. And I always read a few pages before bed. Since I never remember what I've read at bedtime I usually have a separate non-fiction book that I read only at bed time. Something that doesn't have a story that you have to follow. Just a topic that interests me and isn't essential that I remember all the details. Right now my "bedtime book" is Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books by Paul Collins. It's the story of an author who moves his family from San Francisco to Hay-on-Wye in Wales - a small village with 41 book shops that hosts a huge book festival (with an international following) every year. The topic fascinates me, but it's not essential that I remember all the details from day to day. By the way, I must credit Tammy of Keepin' in Touch with Mommakin for inspiring me to go back and pick up this book by sending me an email about this intriguing town and festival. Thanks, Tammy. I've added a trip to Hay-on-Wye's book festival to my bucket list. Who wants to join me?


How about you? Do you have a set reading time? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with your opinion or link to your own Monday Musing post. Thanks.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't really have a set reading time. Like you I never leave the house without a book. I spend a LOT of time waiting for some type of sport practice to be done, and I read in my car, in a chair somewhere. If we travel I can read in the car with no problems. I also listen to books on audio because I don't want to waste the time.
Some days I just say, I'm reading, those are usually when the kids are in school and I have the house to myself.
I do read most nights at bedtime.

gautami tripathy said...

I can read any time. And any genre! And I love a cup of tea while reading!

Mondays: Start of another week

Ronnica said...

I definitely take a book everywhere, too. My set time, though, is an hour or two before bedtime (or sometime 3). It's when I'm most awake, and probably my favorite time of the day.

The Blonde Duck said...

Popped in from SITS to say hi! I read at lunch or right before bed.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

After years of work and having to live by other schedules, I really don't keep much of a schedule for ANYTHINGS these days!

I'm like you - I never remember what I read right before bedtime and usually I'm so tired by that time I don't get any further than a couple of pages anyway, so I rarely do it.

The blog world, and until recently television, have both taken up my book reading time mostly these days, but I pretty much just read when the desire hits me. Lately for some reason there haven't been many of those times - I pick up a book and have a hard time keeping interested and connected to it.

Wendy said...

I wish I could read more, but I fall asleep! It's busy mom syndrome, I guess!

Unknown said...

Awesome. Stopping by from SITS!

Terra said...

I read everynight before bed. that is my reading time. HOWEVER - If I really get into a book It becomes an appendage and I can be found sneaking pages while in the restroom etc...

CW5H2O said...

Now this is one reason I love traveling as much as I do...it has its downsides to be sure, but as I get older, and find myself busier and busier and with fewer and fewer moments to myself, it's that time on airplanes when I can't be reached by anyone, and can just get lost in a book again like I did when I was a kid (which I often got in trouble for!), that I value more and more. I turn on my iPod (yes, I have a 'reading' playlist) and loose myself in a good book for a few hours. And as an added bonus, if we hit turbulence, half the time I never even notice!

Alex the Girl said...

I have no set time for reading...if its a page turner, I find myself itching to read at all times until I've finished. Not that long ago, I pulled an all nighter due to not being able to put the book down. Boy, did I pay for it the following day.

Pam said...

Wendy - This has been a problem for me in the last couple of years as well. I thought it was just a sign of aging. I like the "busy mom syndrome" explanation so much more.

C- I agree. I love nothing more that a long plane ride (by myself, preferably) and a good book. No distractions. Pure heaven.

Pam said...

Alex - I'm tempted to do the same thing with a really great book, but I can not remember anything I read past 9:00 pm, so I always regret it. I have to force myself to put the book down and wait till the next day. Ugh!

Girl Tornado said...

Before I left Ohio last summer, I would always read in bed every night. It was my treat to myself since I had a very stressful job. I sooo looked forward to getting comfy in bed and reading! I had also set aside early Sunday afternoons to go to a local mexican restaurant -- in the spring/summer, I would sit on their patio with a margarita and some chips and read. Delightful!

I haven't settled into any reading routine at all since I moved to KS, maybe because I'm not working yet??!! In fact, except for some magazines and photography books, I really haven't read a single fiction book since my move here.

Gamma Sharon said...

Not really a set time... but I most always read before bed. If I am really enjoying the book, I have a hard time putting it down. I too, carry a book with me to read and I always have one going in my car when I'm doing errands.

Gamma Sharon said...

That is on my MP3 I listen to books in my car. Didn't make that real plain before. Didn't want you to think I am one of those people who think they can drive and read at the same time. Lol

Pam said...

Sharon - Phew! I was a little worried imagining you hurtling down the freeway reading a book at 70 mph. ;)

mommakin said...

I read whenever I can - no set schedule.

And you know I'm in for the field trip!!! Thanks for the linkage!

 

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