Thursday 15 May 2014

Discussion: Do you read what you WANT to read?

Very difficult question, but lately, I am asking this question again and again to myself.  Before I started blogging, I used to browse through recommendations, read some reviews from my favorite bloggers and buy a book.  Very important point is back then, I read those bought books.  Now, it's more buying and shelving and sighing now and then, telling the book that 'I will read you one day'.  That's the whole point of this post.  Now, all I am feeling is like I am abandoning those books.


Previously, I don't have access to ARCs.  I didn't get to speak with my favorite authors.  They were always more of a deity locked somewhere above clouds, invisible to commoners like me.  Now, I have authors as my friends.  And that's one of THE BEST part of being a blogger.

Now, I have lots and lots of books (both ARCs and published ones).  I am not even kidding.  No, I am not exaggerating at all.  I really have books more than I am willing to admit.. and as you think, yes, they are almost all unread ones.  I hate to do that to my books.  Especially my favorite ones.  And nowadays, I never never never re-read the books.  And you guessed the reason right..it's time and pressure.


There is always the pressure of reading the review copies that I received, and the current month's releases takes priority.  This means I am pushing down my TBR list still lower to occupy newly released books.  My reading time is very much reduced nowadays.  So, obviously, I can read only very few books in a month (maybe 5-6 if I'm lucky).  Those books are majorly ARCs and blog tour copies.  Yeah, I request only those which I am curious to read.

But, did I forget my old books?  I seriously want to re-read Harry Potter (like for 2 years now), which I was doing every 4 months, before I started blogging.

Blogging definitely has its perks.  But, I also miss my pre-blogging life, where books felt more close, more exciting and less, well, no pressure.  I still love reading debuts and finding new favorites.  But, I stopped reading old old books.  My TBR list on that end of the lane has never been re-visited.  And I hate it!  You can say that there is only 24 hours a day and you are right.  I still feel like I am failing my old favorite authors, who primarily brought me the pleasure of reading and who taught me that books are more than what you just see with your eyes.

Recently, in addition to reading my review copies in Kindle, I started buying audio books and got to start reading in mobile.  With these two, I am quite happy now.  I squeeze in at least two not-recently-released books in a month with audio books and mobile Kindle apps.  I am not reviewing it though, and that's a topic for another time.

Do you have time to re-read your old books?  Do you continue to stalk your old authors?  Have you ever bought books because you love that author and he/she is your auto-buy, but never got around to read it?  What do you do during those times?  Am I abandoning my books?

6 comments:

  1. I can totally relate. Sometimes, because of the pressure, I feel that reading is a chore but that only happens when I have a lot of TBR. So I learned my lesson and only accepted book requests that I am absolutely interested in. I had a year hiatus in blogging so I was able to reread all of my favorite books, including the Harry P 1 and 2. :) You are not the only one feeling the pressure. Audio books definitely helped me cause I can squeeze in some book time when I am commuting or doing some thing else.

    Vanessa of Bluest Ribbon

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    1. Now, I know that I shouldn't request every book that I am curious about. But, that's the lesson I learnt slow. :) And audio books are a blessing.

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  2. I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. Before the blog I used to read whatever took my fancy, there was no rush to get a book finished and I enjoyed reading immensely. Now the pressure is on to read books quickly and to a deadline in some cases, they are all new books and the older books have been pushed aside and I feel so bad about that as I have some books I have been so excited to read that I just can't get to. I've stopped taking requests now and am only requesting books that I simply must read, the backlog is dying down slowly and then I plan on being much selective so I can get back to reading what I want. The pressure to keep up with other blogs by reviewing new titles is killer!


    Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf

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    1. Yeah, deadlines! :( I hate it..but, I don't care about it anymore. I just read what I can and yes, being selective also helps. :)

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  3. I am not a blogger but I went from a 30 hour a week job to a 50 hour a week job. Now did that ever cut my reading time. I listen audio book daily while in the car, at work or cleaning the house. I've got a great pair of bluetooth headphones just for my books. I am reading less but listening more. I am very pick about the narrators. I have favorites tend to stick to the books they are narrating. I do find myself listening to books over and over if I just want something playing in the background. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Nalini Sighn's Play of Passion just love that book. My ever growing TBR list is still growing and I have better then a hundred books on there now, lol.

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    1. That's great, Lucy! Audio books are surely a boon!

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