This weekend I have been enjoying my spare time after finishing my very first work week. The getting up early, the talking to former teachers, the meeting of colleagues, and the start of my project all went a lot easier than I expected beforehand (but then we all know I like to expect the worst and worry about it endlessly). Overall, I am a happy Iris now that I am finally able to start working on the project I have wanted to work on for so long.
However, this first work week also taught me that when you spend 40 hours a week reading about theoretical models, you really don’t feel like doing much reading once you’ve come home, prepared a meal, and did some small domestic stuff. So I have a feeling that from now on the weekends will see me luxuriate in reading, while my evenings might be spent on the couch hopefully spending some time with the boyfriend.
It’s not that I am not reading though, it’s just that there seem to be a max of 20-50 pages at night (depending on how easily sleep will come, which depends on how many serious meetings that I am nervous about will occur on the following day).
This week finds me -surprisingly- finishing 4 books, most of which have been read between Friday evening and Sunday morning, though I had already been reading two of them for quite a while. Reviews of all books will follow, but they might take a while to appear (I have to0 many books read and too little days in a week to publish posts, or, you know, write them):
- Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson was a book I was both excited and hesitant about, and that estimation seems about right to summarise how I felt about it in general;
- Blackwood by Gwenda Bond (for RIPVII) was unfortunately a disappointment;
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman (for RIPVII) was both wonderful and surprisingly scary for a children’d book;
- Maybe This Time by Alois Hotschnig (for RIPVII) was a short story collection I have mixed feelings about.
I spent most of Saturday catching up on Cloud Atlas for the buddy read I’m undertaking with Jessica, Amy, and Heather. (Discussion to follow tomorrow). Sitting down and reading 4 sections in a row worked out surprisingly well. After being behind for some weeks, I’m having trouble not reading ahead now, actually.
Last, I wanted to point out two events that are coming up and that I’m excited about.
First, starting on Monday there’s another year of Book Blogger Appreciation Week. This year, Amy has organised it a little more small-scale, without the awards, and I think that might just be perfect for where the book blogging world is at right now. Unfortunately, I am not sure if I will get any posts typed up, and I might not be able to comment on blogs during my work days, but I do urge you to check out the event.
Second, Aarti is hosting A More Diverse Universe Blogtour from 23 to 29 September. As Aarti explains:
“For one week in September (the week of the 23rd), we want ALL OF YOU fantasy/sci fi/magical realism readers (with blogs and without) to read a fantasy/sci fi/magical realism novel written by a person of color. And to write a review of that book. You know as well as I do that books succeed based on word of mouth and mentions and conversation, and this is where bloggers can help the MOST. Just read one book. And share your thoughts on that one book.”
I hope to join in by reading my first Salman Rushdie book “Haroun and the Sea of Stories”. Unfortunately, I had a very limited choice of books as almost all of the suggested books were unfindable in my local library. Really, Rushdie’s collection is the only available option I have found up to date. I guess this in itself illustrates how important Aarti’s initiative is. Want to find out more? Or join Aarti and over 50 other bloggers? Check out more details on her blog.
What was your first week of September like? Did you read any good books? And will you be participating in BBAW and/or AMDU?
I still think you are getting quite some reading done in the evenings (as 50 pages is my average on a weeknight…) and besides, you’ve already read a lot “up front”, meaning that you have > 100 books filed as read on GR? So for the remainder of you the year, you could take it a little easier?
I’ve seen BBAW and Aarti’s diverse universe challenges in the blogosphere, among many many others. I think I’m going to skip BBAW (sorry fellow bloggers, you know I appreciate y’all!) and Bloggiesta and focus on the ones I’ve committed myself to. I’ve finished Never Let Me Go for Aarti’s event and am going to relax and watch the movie this afternoon. It’s way too hot to do anything else anyway!
As for R.I.P. VII, thanks for warning me off Blackwood. I just finished listening to Don Roff’s Zombie audiobook and it was CREEPY. It’s recorded Blair Witch style and less than 2 hours long. It came with a good recommendation by The Guilded Earlobe and I can see why. I NEED today to be sunny and without any more zombies
Hope you have a wonderful week of academic goodness and leisurely reading ahead!
I didn’t realise that Never Let Me Go might count for the More Diverse Universe blogtour. I read it a few months ago (of course, I have yet to review it). Perhaps I´ll post on it during the week.. I´ll definitely visit your review as I´m curious what your thoughts are.
The zombie audio sounds scary. I think I had better stay away from that. Good thing we had a sunny Sunday last week
Yes, thinking about it I actually did quite a lot of reading. I think I just miss the chunk of time I usually get to dedicate to reading each day instead of just a whole weekend, because it allows me to clear my head a bit and relax.
My first week of September was really busy too. There’s just not enough time to do everything!
I was curious about Alif the Unseen and Blackwood. I think I’ll just pass for now. Coraline is such a great creepy read. Will you watch the movie version now? I hope you have another good week.
Both Blackwood and Alif had a feel of great potential that wasn’t fully realised. I think I may have liked Alif a little more than Blackwood in the end.
I’m planning to watch the Coraline movie soon (perhaps this evening?) I just got it from the library.
That feelings where you don’t want to read because you’ve read so much for non-leisure, I reckon I’ll be joining you there soon. Four books over a weekend is brilliant, though – maybe that’ll just be the new schedule you have. I’m taking part in BBAW for at least one day but other than that I’m not sure, it depends on time.
Ah, the life of academics. It often gets in the way of fun reading. I hope you’ll be able to find some fun in your required reading!
Aw, I know what you mean about how easily sleep will come based on how nervous you are. Glad you are finally getting to work on what you want though!
With a few weeks full of introductory activities (which means presenting yourself and your work project to a group of people over and over again) I find it really difficult to go to sleep comfortably. I am comforting myself with the feeling that things will get better once these first few weeks are over. And I remind myself that I am lucky to be doing what I want to do.
I definitely have weeks where my work life is so intense (and heavy on the reading) that I end up not reading more than a few pages in the evening (if that), so I know where you’re coming from. This past week was one of those. I’m reading a terrific book, but my brain is too drained to spend much time on it after work right now. I tend to do more reading on weekends.
I’m hoping to do at least a couple of posts for BBAW, but we’ll see. The drained brain is also a problem for getting blog posts written.
*nods* Yes, the blog post writing with a drained brain is a bit of a problem for me, which is why I didn’t manage to participate in BBAW.
I guess I just need to accept that some reading weeks will be better than others. Reading and blogging is about having fun, right? so I shouldn’t give myself any more stress.
It’s funny how reading comes and goes, isn’t it? I really enjoyed Maybe This Time, although it was very unsettling – will look forward to hearing your thoughts on it when you get to the review. AMDU sounds interesting – hadn’t heard about it before. Will check it out!
I noticed that most people really enjoyed Maybe This Time. I have a feeling it might the unsettling aspects of the stories that made me hesitant to like it more than I did. I don’t know, they just confused me. Which was exactly their point, but I couldn’t look past that for some of the stories.
I know what you mean. I’m a newspaper editor so all I do at work is read, read, read. Sometimes, I don’t know how my eyes can go over one more word, but it seems better once it’s reading for “fun” instead of for work.
Ah, yes, I’m sure you know exactly what I mean! Perhaps even more so as you have to pay close attention to style and spelling when you are an editor as well.
My library system is pretty good about having a diverse selection for literary fiction, but not for speculative fiction authors of color unless the book has won a major award. I’ll be doing Asrti’s challenge & a day or 2 of book blogger appreciation.
I think the limited library availability really portrays how necessary an event like this is. I ended up not being able to participate in BBAW. I still feel sad about that :/
Congrats on getting through your first week of work!! I’m excited about Aarti’s event too. I was able to get a couple of different books for it from the library and have already read one. Yay!
Aarti’s event is going to be so wonderful, I’m sure! I’m very curious to see which books you’ve decided to read for it.
The first week of work, like school, is always the most difficult, and since you breezed through yours, you’ve got nothing to fear now! Honestly, I’m lucky to read 30 to 50 pages a night during the work week. I read during my lunch breaks and while the kids are at practice, if I am the one to take them there, otherwise, I honestly do not read much during the week. That is what the weekends are for, IMO. You’ll find a good balance in time. Good luck!
I’m sure I’ll find a balance in time. These first few weeks just feel a little crazy. And I’m never the best at new experiences. So yes, I’ll probably figure something out. Reading during your lunch break.. Hmm.. Now, that sounds like an option too
good luck with this Iris ,sure over time you’ll be able to get more of your own reading done ,all the best stu
I think over time I’ll settle into a routine a little more easily. These first weeks all feel like a whirlwind of new things to adjust to.
Coraline is really scary for a kids’ book! I’m glad you read it though. You’re finding that intersection of scary but totally worth reading anyway.
Yay for scary but totally worth reading. I know my level of scary is still pretty low compared to most adults, but as long as I’m enjoying it right?