Sometimes we forget in the busyness of life to take time for ourselves and do something we enjoy. I love getting out and spending time in my garden, creating patchwork (not that I've done a lot of that lately) and curling up with a good book.
There are times I get so busy I don't read for weeks. It's only when the stress levels get to unmanageable that I realise I've ignored my need for down-time. I've become to tangled up in "everything else". That's when I make an effort to pick up a book from my To Be Read pile and spend a few hours escaping.
So, have you been taking time out to read for pleasure? And if not, why not?
And continuing in the spirit of my October Blog Anniversary month, a free give-away* will go to one commenter (local or international) who can tell me about a book you've recently read and why you enjoyed it.
Just a couple of sentences, it doesn't have to be an essay. Was it the character/s you identified with, the excitement of the plot, the interesting setting, a favourite theme running through the book? Leave a comment along these lines by midnight (Aussie EST) 16th October, and you'll go into the draw!
*Give-away prize is an autographed copy of COLTER'S WOMAN by Maya Banks.
!!! Don't forget to leave a contact email address or check back in on the day I announce the winner! If you haven't claimed the prize in 48hrs I'll draw another name from my coffee cup.
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Just finished Insatiable by Meg Cabot (it was free from Nationals) Oh my gosh--loved it! The richness of the characters, the subtle humor, the sheer brilliance of the writing.
ReplyDeleteGillian, I love the goodie bags from conference - there were so many wonderful things inside, it was like Christmas morning!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had the chance to read Meg Cabot yet but I've been assured by a voracious reading teen that she's "awesome".
I'm reading THE BID by Jax, an erotic sf book from the Aphrodisia imprint. It's hot, hot, hot!
I've been reading the books in the Harlequin Vintage Collection we were so generously given at the RWA conference and been having a ball. They're an absolute hoot. I love the political incorrectness (loads of smoking and drinking)and the way they bring that age (they're mostly set in the 50's) alive. But the thing that strikes me the most are the writers' voices. They're wonderful. So strong and more than a bit quirky.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend this series. It's enormous fun.
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andews. Fell in lust with Andrews at the start of the year with her Kate Daniels series and can't get enough of her. Sat up 'til four in the morning with Bayou Moon, which I haven't done in long time - seriously what's not to love? A swamp rat, butt-kicking heroine living in the 'Edge' between the real world and the Weird (magic realm), feuding families, a changeling hero who collects comic figurines and an evil assassin.
ReplyDeleteCath - I had a quick skim of the Vintage Collection (can't honestly say I read one from cover to cover) but the bits I did read were a hoot! And I was astounded to discover they were written by men!!! And aren't the titles/tag lines a scream?
ReplyDeleteBec, I haven't read any Iona Andrews yet but she's one author I've been eying off. So many authors, so little time...etc. LOL
Thanks, ladies, for commenting! :-)
Well I'm way out there saying that I am reading non-fiction at the moment. Just some research! :)
ReplyDeleteThose Vintage titles sound really interesting, are they available to buy yet?
Carole :)
Hi Carole, thanks for dropping in! And there's nothing wrong with a good non-fiction book, especially if you're researching for your latest story!
ReplyDeleteThe Vintage Collection were handed out at the RWA and RWNZ conferences. I'm not sure if they're on sale - does anyone know?
Oh I forgot all about those vintage books - I had a quick skim of a few pages at the conference and thought they were brilliant - no voices polished out of these babies =)
ReplyDeleteI try to read something daily and I vary what I read - yes it's how my brain works, even if I love a story, sometimes I savour it and spread out the reading. I never ever thought I could have done that years ago. :D
ReplyDeleteI've actually just read a couple of picture books- The Rabbits by John Marsden & Shaun Tan, and The Red Tree by Shaun Tan. Both wonderfully illustrated and a story to make you think. It is a lovely change of pace.
Started chapter one of Christina Phillips Forbidden - sizzling! And am reading Keri Arthur's Memory Zero just to name a couple. I love reading different settings. And no, I don't get confused with story-lines. Or rarely :)
Eleni, I believe THE RABBITS by S.Tan & J. Marsden won an Australian book Council Award a few years back because of its illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI remember it was one of the most borrowed booked that term by the kids at school - everyone thought the monochrome illustrations would turn them off but it's amazing what appealed to them about the book once you read it through with them and discussed the illustrations in depth.
The Vintage Collection is available online from Mills and Boon Australia. Just search "Vintage Collection" and it'll come up. $24-75. Bargain!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, they're just the greatest fun. I'm reading Virgin With Butterflies at the moment. The title alone cracks me up!
I'm the same in getting so busy I don't leave time to "just" read, for reading pleasure.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I'm trying to make it a priority to at least read something everyday.
Finished Tanya Huff's Blood Trail. It was interesting as I've watched the Blood Ties series & the entire book I could hear the lead character voices as the tv casting. Still can't decide if it helped or hindered the reading.
Hi Nicky, great to see you here! :-)
ReplyDeleteAs writers, we can get into such a habit of not reading - refilling the creative well, switching off and distancing ourselves from our own work and enjoying another author's book can be vital to our own process.
Thanks for leaving us with insight into what you're reading ATM.