I have become a bit of a restless blogger. Literally, as well. I can’t seem to get to sleep at night and if I do, I am always wide awake between 2 and 6 am. Last night I couldn’t stay in bed waiting for sleep and so I started changing my layout around. Lately, every time I visited my blog I felt like something had to change. And so I did. I am not sure if I like it better. And I still need to change a lot of things. The thing is, I like the sidebar, but I think maybe the area that shows the actual posts is a little small? And I don’t like the font too much, it feels a bit too square to my taste. But I think I will keep it like this for a while.
I’m also a restless reader. Last week, no book seemed to hold my attention for long, until I decided to go ahead and read another Gaskell. Mary Barton started out slow, but I’m starting to be captivated by the story. I’d like to read more classics from now on, focus on them more. But who knows, maybe that’s also a fleeting thought? (However, I don’t think so, I really would like to read more classics and I have felt like this for weeks).
In relation to wanting to read more classics, I have a ton of ideas for reading projects, and I would like to do them all, although of course even completing one of them is quite impossible. Sasha had this fun idea of reading 25 Oxford World’s Classics and 50 New York Review Books Classics before December 2011. That is way too much for me, but I’d like to do my own spin on it, because I do like both publishers. But then I would also love to read all the Bloomsbury Group Books. You know, the ones with the wonderful covers? That shouldn’t be too impossible? And I’d like to read more Persephone’s next year, maybe concentrate on the Persephone Classics first. And let’s not forget about the Orange Prize winners or shortlist. And last but not least, I would like to keep up with the titles published by Peirene Press.
I have a feeling next year will be a year of projects instead of challenges. I like challenges, I like thinking up the lists, but I think I enjoy thinking up my own projects/lists more, or having a smaller group of people who work on the same kind of project. I’m not sure, is it wrong to feel that way? I will probably still do challenges, but I don’t think I will sign up for that many.
As for all of those impossible projects, what makes them even more impossible is that they involve paper books. And I am stuck in Sweden on a semi-book buying ban, because I have no clue how to get any books I buy here home. I can only take 20 kilo with me on my flight back and I probably need it for all the basic stuff (clothes, study books, etcetera) I have here at the moment. But I welcome any ideas as to how to get around this problem, because frankly, it is starting to get to me that I can’t buy any paper books.
Reading Persephone books will be a problem if you cant keep paper books which is a real shame.
I have a personal project or two which I am starting shortly also involving classics, Im hoping to put more details on the blog soon. Its not a huge bloggers challenge but just my own personal goals.
Oh, I loved your post on American classics and I will definitely look at your list for ideas for my own reading!
I will be able to buy paper books once I’m back home in January. I guess my impatience simply shows how addicted I am to acquiring books
I like your new design, but I agree, maybe the text area is a bit small. On the other hand, short lines are often easier to read than long lines that take the whole width of the screen, so reading-wise it’s actually quite nice.
I like your “current thoughts”. I hope they’re new otherwise I’ve now been found out for not paying enough attention to your blog!
With your book-buying problem: it depends, if you’re reading classics, you can download them for free. And you have an e-reader (if I’m correct) so that’s easy enough. Also with other books books you can buy e-versions.
Otherwise, buy just the cheapest version of a book (e.g., via bookdepository) and consider it recycling material. You read it then dispose of it (or give away). Not ideal, but if you can get yourself to do this, then at least you have some more options to buy books.
I hope your insomnia is temporary! It doesn’t help your mood if you’re feeling tired all the time.
Haha, yes, the “Current Thoughts” are new and I’m glad you like them!
The thing is, with these personal projects I would like to focus more on not buying the cheapest versions, but the versions I like and want to keep. I guess I will wait to start on my projects in January!
Lovely post Iris. Re books, you could perhaps mail them to someone at home as you finish them – or is that too expensive?
As one who doesn’t do challenges I don’t think it’s wrong to not do them but I’m probably biases. Every now and then I think I’d like to join one but I’d only join one that would fit what I’m going to read anyhow!!
Whatever you decide on all this, my advice is to focus on what YOU want out of life and answers will fall into place.
Thank you for your kind words! I will probably try to focus on doing what I want in life and on my blog. It is easy to forget about that at times, I guess.
I’ve ordered the Lydia Davis translation of Madame Bovary. Can’t wait for it to arrive.
I hope your insomnia goes away soon. You must be having a hard time being away from home and loved ones.
The weeks do slip by though, and you’ll be back there before you know it, so I hope you can make the most of your time away.
As for the books question, I can’t come up with any ideas, except to find out if sending a package by freight, rather than by mail, is affordable.
I’ve only done one challenge and I didn’t like reading to a schedule, so I have my own little reading projects, which tend to be put aside for others. So many books and so little time!!
I’m sure my reading projects will be put aside in time, but I am excited about them at the moment.
Yes, I think being away from home and loved ones is having an effect on me. I hope I get to shake it off soon though and start enjoying my stay here more! Not looking forward to three more months of sleepless nights.
And I’m looking forward to the Madame Bovary book to arrive as well!
I’m feeling a bit restless too re blogging – as you can probably see from my lack of updates. Reading has been slow and posting up new posts have been even slower. It’s all a bit ‘meh’ at the moment and it seems to be affecting many other bloggers.
Is it very expensive to post books home? Or get your boyfriend to come visit you and make him take the books home!
I will probably try to get my visiting parents and boyfriend to take a few books home with them, yes
And yes, restlessness and the feeling of “meh” seems to be going around in our particular part of the blogging world. I hope you will feel better about your blog soon. I do miss your updates!
Wow, you are restless. Still it’s good to focus and get your thoughts on paper. Well, it’s good for me to know that I’m not alone
The theme – I always preview my blog in a new WordPress theme as soon as it is released. And I did look at your current theme and felt, like you, that the column size for posts is small. But I like this new look, especially the inclusion of custom menus ( Current thoughts). Perhaps over time, the column size will not be an issue.
I’m also looking to compile lists (i like lists) to focus my reading for the coming year. I will also be adding special reading projects. I do like challenges as long as they work around my planned reading. I rarely deviate from my reading to fulfill the requirements of a challenge. Is it a challenge then? I’m not sure.
On Classics: this year, I’ve not included classics in my reading. At least not a lot. I’m also looking to remedy that.
I think a book buying ban is good but it must not bar you from enjoying nor refocusing your reading.
Have fun planning your reading and I’m looking forward to what you come up with.
Haha, well yes, I am restless. But you seem to say you are as well? I hope you’ll feel better soon!
As for the theme, yes, I actually tried it once before but decided to switch back within the hour. It is starting to grow on me though. However, that might also be because of the Madame Bovary and Mary Barton covers in the sidebar
Heh, I actually never consider challenges when I pick my next read, I always just look at what I have read and see if it will fit. I don’t think that is the way they’re meant to work, but I don’t think it will change for me. I’m curious to hear about your projects, they are bound to be interesting!
I think next year there are going to be more projects than challenges for me, too. I hope you’re able to settle into something comfortable for you soon, Iris!
Thank you Amanda. I’m curious to see what kind of projects you will come up with!
As other people have said, for the classics, hie thee to Project Gutenberg–they even have their texts in formats for any e-reader that you might have. (I have the Barnes & Noble eReader on my computer anyway for Plastic Jesus, so I like having .epub and .pdb files.)
I am in love with the Gutenberg Project. I always was, but now that I have an ereader it is so much easier to actually read the books!
great post ,not sure what you could do maybe post them ,or leave some and buy some more ,I like playing with my blog amazing what you can do with wordpress so flexiable ,all the best stu
I like playing with my blog at times, but I like stability as well. I’m a bit of a control freak and I’m afraid to lose what I have when I change things.
Let me enable you: Can’t you order from Book Depository and have them deliver the books to someone back home?
You know I’ve been going through this same restlessness. And I try to get past it, I try to not examine it really, for fear that it might lead to a hiatus. Because I’ve always held on to the belief that what I do, it’s a reading journal. I mean, most days, it’s really just a matter of typing out the notes I took in my notebook/on the margins — It’s an electronic copy of something I’ve been doing for years. Augh, I don’t know. We’ve groused about this before, haven’t we? Haha, I’m like a broken record!
Re the project: I’m glad you’re with me, regardless of the number. I mean, I want to reach 50 & 25, but they can be arbitrary, given that, well, books are so expensive, haha. And adding 75 books to my overflowing bookshelf? Good God. And Persephone Classics, they’re so hard to get here in my country, so I haven’t read any one book from them. But, hopefully, BD will help me with that. And Peirene. Ah, Peirene holds a special place in my heart.
That said, arbitrary number or otherwise: As much classics as we can read, right? An education, of sorts. But, well, you know, just broadening my horizons.
Hi-five!
That high-five made me smile! And yes, as much as we can read..
So I guess I will dream of my TBR list for the challenge and move my starting date to January. That seems the best solution: save up my money to go crazy on book ordering by December? And can I say again how much I love your project, which I so thoughtlessly stole from you!
And I guess not overexamining restlessness is a good way to go, but I could not not post on it. I’m hoping to move past it soon, however. Once I get through the endless amounts of posts I have yet to write on books I have read but never reviewed because I am restless? Sorry, I guess I’m a broken record as well.
I get that restlessness sometimes. If it’s with the blog, I end up moving things around, messing with categories and tags, rewriting pages, and so forth. If it’s with books, I usually pick up something like a fast-moving YA book, just to finish something. After that, I’m usually ok.
I’ve never really set projects for myself or joined challenges. I kind of think once I start, I won’t be able to control myself! It must be hard to have your reading limited because of the upcoming move. How frustrating!
It is hard to control yourself once you start on challenges! Or project, as my infinite list in this post shows..
I read a lot of YA this month, which is why I am now turning to classics, I think.
I like the difference in layout. I reckon the font size is ok.
Reading-wise, these are my thoughts exactly. Lately what I’ve been reading hasn’t caught me quite in the way it “needs” to for me to keep it up and now I’m looking to the classics again. And having signed up for reading challenges this year I think I’ll stick to my own next year, it’s more fun working towards something tailored to your personal interests.
I read what you said about book buying in Sweden and your boyfriend’s reaction. You have a great boyfriend!
You’re right, my boyfriend is perfect. Well, for me at least
I often look towards either faster reads like YA, or classics for comfort. I have a feeling that that is going to show in the upcoming months.
Can you mail books from Sweden? It’s pricey but one can mail books to Sweden, I know. I usually ship books back home media mail, which is not available for international mail. Sometimes there is a flat rate box for international mail that will hold quite a few books.
I think your blog looks very good btw.
I think I will be able to mail books, once I figure out where I could do so and how to try and ask about it in Swedish
However, I have a feeling I might as well reorder them from the book depository instead of sending them by mail.
I like the new layout. I don’t think the post area is too small either. Maybe it just takes getting used to.
I would maybe try to read used copies of books or see if the university or city library has a good selection of English language novels you are interested in. I would maybe not limit myself from buying books, but maybe only buy those books that you wouldn’t mind setting free in the wild or selling at a used bookstore.
Since you do have an e-book reader you should download stuff too. I know it’s not the same as paper, but I think that a few months worth of books on your reader isn’t too big of a deal and if you get attached to a particular book, you can always buy a nice, fresh, paper copy as well! Just make sure your time in Sweden is “no regrets”. If you need books to have a more complete life there, then you should buy books. If you can’t bring them home then you can’t, but there is no sense in being miserable because you don’t want to buy books for 3 months. I hope that helps. Life is too short not to try to enjoy it so you should live life to the fullest whether it’s studying, going out and having fun, or staying in and having fun.
I love downloading classics on my ereader, it is perfect! However, for the projects I talked about, I’d like to buy the actual books, hence, my problem
But thank you so much for your kind words! It made me realise, as I have started to realise this week, that I am not in Sweden to only stay in my room and read and that I need to get out more
I was just thinking to myself that I am going to severely limit my reading challenges next year. They are fun, but I do not want to add to any more feelings of obligation when it comes to books I choose. I’m not certain I want to add projects instead, but I do like the idea of that. Good luck!
I’m glad I am not the only one who feels that way. I guess projects are really just another word for challenges, maybe? But somehow they make me feel like it will work better, for now.
That window between 2 and 6 Am is one of my favorites to get blogging work done, which is so ridiculous, because then my sleep is all messed up.
Hope things settle down for you!
I think I won’t try working on my blog regularly between 2 and 6 am. But maybe I should just turn my work schedule around if things keep up like this and start working at night? But then, that just doesn’t sound very healthy.
Earlier this month I had one of those restless reading stages where nothing I picked up to read really grabbed me. I’d start books and think, oh this has a decent beginning but then after a few pages, I started thinking that I wasn’t even caring about what was going on. So frustrating!
I like the layout. I think my blog has a similar amount of space for the post’s text, so I guess it’s something that works for me and looks like it’ll work for you too!
Hope things get a little more restful for you soon, on all fronts.
Thank you, Megan!
Your comment was very comforting, since your words implied that you are past that restless stage now. So I guess there is hope for me yet
Definitely not wrong to feel you want to take part in smaller group projects or your own projects rather than challenges! I’ve seen a big drop in challenge participation the past couple of years and I have a feeling they’re on their way out as readalongs and other small group projects continue to become more popular. Just natural evolution of blogging I guess.
I’m sorry you’re feeling so restless–the move to Sweden is pretty recent, right? I’ve been going through the same restlessness–sometimes this come to me with change and I just push through. Hope you’re able to get some sleep, though!!
Thank you for your kind words
I think my move to Sweden is a big part of it. The first few weeks I hid in books, books I don’t normally read that many of, and just recently it hid me that I am going to be here for another 3 months and that hiding in my books won’t help in doing what I came here to do. So I’m still trying to come to terms with that..
As for the challenges, they are very new to me, since I haven’t been around that long. But I think with bigger groups it is hard to stay as motivated.. It is easier when there is a more compact group involved, or at least a group of people that regularly visits each others blogs. I do still love the idea of challenges though. *sigh* Guess it will never be perfect, ah?
I have been feeling exceptionally restless myself. I keep starting reading books, or starting writing reviews, and then abandoning them five minutes later because my brain won’t focus. It’s very frustrating!
I’m sorry that you’re feeling restless as well! Maybe we should start a support group? I agree, it is very frustrating. I hope you manage to feel better about blogging and reading again soon.
I love the little changes that you’ve made Iris, as well as the idea of reading projects instead of challenges. I’m not good at lists or challenges or projects, but I think it will be fun to follow along on yours, and do a few of my own.
I know what you mean about being restless, I’m restless about my blog look, restless about what to read next, and about what to focus on challenge wise! I keep thinking it will all fall in to place eventually
I think your way of thinking is the best way. I guess my restlessness in general is just starting to seep through in my blogging as well? I like this layout better than the one I had before, for now, though it still needs a few changes.
As for projects, you know I’m always open to do a few buddy reads or even buddy projects with you
(And I’ll even write my posts up sooner!)
Heh, well I am up for anything at any time as well! And might do the write-up soon, hard to know for sure
I increasingly finding that I keep making lists (because I like lists too) but never sticking to them for challenges and reading other books that I find later. But don’t let that keep you from making lists because I like reading other people’s lists;P It’s hard not being able to buy books (especially since a 20kg baggage limit is very small) but then January will be here in no time and then you can go crazy!
Hope you conquer the insomnia soon, sounds awful! I like this layout although I liked the other one, too. I’ve been think of changing mine as well, but I don’t want to miss out on the three column thing and there are not enough themes like that on wp. Anyway, I love the current thoughts corner
Your projects sound really interesting, too.
I can imagine that not buying books is hard, maybe you could just use the libraries there and pretend for the time you’ve got the books checked out that they’re yours?
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