In which I get some guilt free free timeDecember 2nd, 2008 @ 7:01 am
ve had some free time as of late. I think the term “free time” sort of becomes a mythical being once you become an adult. No? But not only have I been experiencing some free time, but it’s also been guilt free!
Dude, guilt free free time is the best kind of free time.
Granted this guilt free free time is only really limited to about 45 minutes a day, but still, FREE!
So how did I get my hands on this glorious time? Um, I started taking the bus. Alone. And since I can’t cook dinner, play with Babboo, visit with The King, or work on work projects while on the bus the time is all mine. ALL MINE! And what have I been doing with my new found guilt free free time?
I’ve been reading.
And I love it.
In the past couple of months I’ve read more books then in the two and a half years since I gave birth. I’ve been doing Britt’s SuperDuperBloggerBookExchange (SDBBE) since its inception last year. In the past I’ve been hard pressed to read this ONE BOOK a month. But these last few months have found me finishing my SDBBE in a few short days and then desperately reading any other book I can get my hands on.
Right, so I’ve been having a hard time keeping myself in enough books. I can’t seem to find all my boxes of books since emptying out our storage unit when we moved into the new house. And I don’t frequent the library much since Babboo moved to his new school (which isn’t located near a library like his last school). Basically I’ve reread any book of mine that I’ve been able to find in the mess of unpacked boxes in our home office. While I’m not personally against rereading books I love, I don’t typically read and reread books. But dude, reading a book I’ve read before is better the not reading a book.
Last month I reread “She’s Come Undone” and “Tara Road” and “Riding in Cars with Boys”. I also sort of read “The Great Gatsby”. All this and I read the two of my SDBBE books (“The Birth House” and “Such a Pretty Fat”). I also read “Bitter is the New Black” and “Seeing Me Naked” (thanks to Carrisa who sent me some of her faves!)
Oh yeah, and I also listened to the audio book of “Twilight” (for the third time) and am almost done with the “New Moon” audio book (also for the third time). (I do this while at the office working. I’d rather read an actual book, but I have yet to figure out how to read and clock in my eight hours at the office. Until then, I’ll just listen to books on my iPod.)
And let’s not even talk about the million books I read while on the beach in Spain in September. (“Poisonwood Bible”, I love you!)
Before heading to Canada this last Thanksgiving weekend I stopped at the local book store to purchase a new Maeve Binchey book. (I love Maeve so much. Have you read her stuff? You should.) Her books are huge and less then $10, so I feel like I’m totally getting my moneys worth. Plus, they are just such good books. I was horrified when the book store didn’t have a single Maeve Binchey book I hadn’t read.
This meant I would have no book for our trip to Canada. Holy crap, what was I going to do while we waited to get over the border? What would I read while blow drying my hair? What book would I read in hour hotel room while I waited for my boys to wake up in the morning? NO BOOK.
Kill me now.
I quickly ran back up to my office and tried to check out a Maeve Binchey book on the library website. But because of the holiday there was no getting the book before we headed out on Friday morning.
No book!
I hastily grabbed a book on the way out of our house in Friday morning. It was a romantic historical fiction novel given to me from my mom years ago for my birthday. Not only was it a lame-o historical fiction novel set in Australia, it was a romance novel, written for Mormon readers.
No offense to those of you who love a good Mormon romance historical fiction book to curl up to, but it is not my cup of tea. And thus, I did not read it in Canada. (Not even being in a foreign county would make this book desirable to me.)
Yesterday I rode the bus in the morning sans a book to read. I rode home yesterday, again, sans book. Thankfully when I checked the mail I found that Mrs. CPA had sent me the latest (and final) SDBBE book for me to read.
Hallelujah!
(But now I’m so into “New Moon” that I kind of don’t want to stop listening to it to actually pick up a book to read.)
Whatever, I’m just thankful for my commute and these few short minutes to just relax and read.
So tell me, what book should I read next? (Besides “Eclipse” and then “Breaking Dawn” and then maybe “Twilight” again. And then maybe “Robert Pattinson: The Unauthorized Biography”. Are you sensing a theme here?)
Addictions
Janssen
said,
December 2, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’m a total one-note record over here, but The Hunger Games is GREAT. Like, really really great. Stephenie Meyer even recommended it on her website, so you could totally keep the Twilight-ish theme going. Everyone I know who has read it has loved it, including RA and OPH.
Casey
said,
December 2, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Ya know, I have always considered myself a skilled multi-tasker. After reading this post, I am ashamed to admit I might not be as adept as I thought. How the heck do you read whilst blow drying your hair? Granted, I have a LOT of hair and it needs to be tamed, no styled, but still. Even with average, normal hair this seems like a feat. So, tell me, is this extended level of multi-tasking something one can only accomplish once becoming a mother? I am in awe of you!!
Becky
said,
December 2, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I second the nomination above. (Janssen, I have Hunger Games on hold. I can’t wait to read it!) The Red Tent by Anita Diamont is really good. As is The Thirteenth Tale, White Oleander, Beloved by Toni Morrison (who has a new book out, btw), one called Those Who Save Us (a WWII book).
You know I could go on for days & days. I have to be good for something, I guess.
Stephanie
said,
December 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I love Jodi Piccoult and have recently read The Pact. I also just read an easy one called the Friday nite Knitting Club. Cute, girly (but not in a sexy romancy way) but not too girly girly either. Just a nice life lesson book.
keri
said,
December 2, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I just recently read No Time for Goodbye (Linwood Barclay) and Guilty by Karen Robards - both were really good. I’d highly recommend.
Kyleen
said,
December 2, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I *LOVE* the twilight series and heard about the HBO series True Blood based on the the series of books by Charlaine Harris (the books are the Southern Vampire Series or you can type in Sookie Stackhouse - shes the main character). Anyhow the series on HBO well is a little hard core but I was told give the books a try. SO I just started them…Bill is the vampire in these books set in Bon Temps, LA. He meets Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress anyhow try them out. Most libraries have them and even my po dunk county library offers them as e-books you can download to your iPod.
Kim
said,
December 2, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I loved “She’s Come Undone.” And! I had no idea Maeve had a new book! Yay! I love her.
I second the Jodi Piccoult books - Keeping Faith or Mercy, or 19 Minutes - I’ve read these all recently and liked them very much.
ie
said,
December 2, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I totally love all of the Maeve Binchy books as well. I heard she was retiring (I hope not!).
If I haven’t already put in a plug for the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon in these comments before, let me do so now. They are a great read.
If you are into fantasy stuff that’s not too far “out there” I would also recommend the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. He passed away before finishing the series, but there is talk someone may take over for him (??)
I would also recommend Jodi Picoult, Wally Lamb, Dick Francis. There are so many wonderful books to read…thank goodness!
Tootie
said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I love Maeve Binchy! Her books always have the best characters.
Have you read “The Friday Night Knitting Club” by Kate Jacobs? I got it from the library recently, and I loved it! (Best of all, I just saw that there is a sequel…yay!)
HollowSquirrel
said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Did you know Wally Lamb has a new book, to?! If you want quick and funny, try Janet Evanovich. My mom, dad and I have read everyone one of her Stephanie Plum series and all admit to laughing out loud in public while reading them. I also love John Irving. Have you read The Other Boleyn Girl or whatever it’s called?
FunnyGal KAT
said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I felt like I should comment because you and I seem to have very similar tastes in books (except for the Twilight books because I can’t bring myself to even crack one… oh, and I don’t read Mormon romance novels either).
I highly recommend anything by Jodi Picoult. Her book, “My Sister’s Keeper” was a big hit a few years ago, but she has many great ones. I don’t know how she finds the time to write so many books, but there always seems to be a new one at the library. Other ones I especially enjoyed are “Nineteen Minutes” and “Keeping Faith” (about a young girl with stigmata, the media frenzy that follows and how her mother handles it all).
Oh my gosh, I just read some of the other comments and realized I’m not the first to recommend Jodi Picoult. It’s official– you need to read some of her books!
May
said,
December 2, 2008 at 8:41 pm
This is perfect, I love all these comments! And your list of books too. Since I can’t actually browse the stacks at the library (about all we can handle is Story Time), I put all my requests on hold. I’m always looking for good books to request.
I also LOVED the Hunger Games. Love. I also picked up “A Fraction Of The Whole” by Steve Toltz. (I’m only 52 pages in, but it’s so awesome & random & wacky.) I also love Shannon Hale (she retells fairy tales as YA novels. You know I’m not above the YA novels..) That should get you through a week….
xo
Chiada
said,
December 2, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hola, Isabel! I just got the package in the mail on Saturday and yes, I do love it! Thank you soooo much! It was so neat to get something in the mail that wasn’t a bill or junk mail, and the piece is very different from what I have. I’ll be posting a picture soon of me wearing it and I’ll let you know when I do. Thanks again!
Elisette
said,
December 2, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hannah’s Dream(4/5), Empress Orchid(4.5/5), Friday Night Knitting Club(3.5/5) are my recent reads…
Kathleen
said,
December 2, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Oh, dude, I have scads of books that I should bring for you next time we do lunch. I don’t have any time to read these days (*sob*) so I’d be happy to pass along some of my favorites to you!
carrisa
said,
December 3, 2008 at 12:08 am
We are totally going to read the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. I have bought the first one and as soon as I read it I will send it your way. I think there are 7 of them so far. I don’t know if there will be more or not. And they are affordable. I’m even going to read them SDBBE style with notes in the margins. I’m halfway through Such A Pretty Fat already so it shouldn’t be long. I also bought two other vampire books by a local author here so we can read those as well. I will keep you hooked up my dear. Never you fret!
xo
sandra
said,
December 3, 2008 at 3:26 am
when i lived in seattle i went through a similar phase of zipping through books and then being disappointed that i didn’t have a new book to start. i solved the problem after discovering the book section at the ballard goodwill hosted many bestsellers for only a few dollars each. every couple of months i would peruse the section and come home with about 10 books. perhaps that routine would help you too?
Viviane
said,
December 3, 2008 at 12:22 pm
“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood is a great read. And “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Both books I couldn’t put down.
SJ
said,
December 4, 2008 at 4:56 am
I’m on the second book of the Twilight series right now and I’m loving every bit of it! Reading wasn’t something I was interested in but now? I read whenever I can.
Christar
said,
December 4, 2008 at 5:38 am
That is awesome you’ve read them three times! Same as me! Except I’ve only read Breaking Dawn twice.
I would love to give other books a try. Every time I go to Barnes & Noble or Borders, I am constantly browsing books. But, I just can’t get over wanting to constantly read the Twilight saga over and over again! Seriously, I can’t stop. Who knows when I’ll be ready to move on to another book.
I’m kinda browsed through the Robert Pattinson unofficial Biography and almost bought it. Almost. But I felt too much like a fan girl to do it at that moment, but I know I’ll eventually cave. I’m just too big of a Rob fan to let that one pass me up.
How was Canada, by the way? Dude, I had to work Thanksgiving day and you’d think we’d be slow like we always are on Thanksgiving but NO! I had so many friggin’ Canadian customers calling me.
Mrs. CPA
said,
December 5, 2008 at 3:42 am
Tell me what kind of books you like and I’ll start sending them to you. I’ve been sending all my books to CPAMom, but she can’t take anymore. I’ll start sending them to you! I fill up the box and it gets shipped. I never read books more than once anyway.
Durga
said,
December 8, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Yay Books! Yay free time! Yay Isabel!
How are u?