The Unplanned Read?
Do you ever have the problem of reading when you had not planned on it?
I guess it started when I brought home a batch of books from the library yesterday, early evening. I'd checked out a tall stack of little kid picture books cuz my 15 yr old and I have a tradition of reading them together. We snuggled up on the couch and read a wonderfully ridiculous picture book. And then another, and then another, and then, instead of rationing them over several days, like we normally do, we just pigged out and read through the entire stack.
THEN, even though we both found our little kid book feast satisfying, we stayed right where we were, snugged up on the couch, and each reached for a big people book - she chose The Hobbit and I got The Exile. We figured we'd just take a peek at our books before getting back to work. Ha!
She eventually got up (she really gets into what she reads in a kinesthetic way, so wanders and mumbles as she paces with her book). I stayed put. My present world vanished while I spent several hours in China, laughing and crying, with Pearl S. Buck's magnificent mother.
It was such a rich read, so I don't really regret it. But hadn't meant to read it at that time, had plenty of other stuff to do. Anyone else ever do unplanned reading like that?
I guess it started when I brought home a batch of books from the library yesterday, early evening. I'd checked out a tall stack of little kid picture books cuz my 15 yr old and I have a tradition of reading them together. We snuggled up on the couch and read a wonderfully ridiculous picture book. And then another, and then another, and then, instead of rationing them over several days, like we normally do, we just pigged out and read through the entire stack.
THEN, even though we both found our little kid book feast satisfying, we stayed right where we were, snugged up on the couch, and each reached for a big people book - she chose The Hobbit and I got The Exile. We figured we'd just take a peek at our books before getting back to work. Ha!
She eventually got up (she really gets into what she reads in a kinesthetic way, so wanders and mumbles as she paces with her book). I stayed put. My present world vanished while I spent several hours in China, laughing and crying, with Pearl S. Buck's magnificent mother.
It was such a rich read, so I don't really regret it. But hadn't meant to read it at that time, had plenty of other stuff to do. Anyone else ever do unplanned reading like that?
Tags: disciplined, planning, reading
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kristi on -
I have that happen often. Last night I had intentions of looking through my cook books and setting up the meal plan for the next 2 weeks, but while getting out the cookbooks I found a book I had in there by Anthony Bourdain that I had gotten before we moved and never got a chance to read. I ended up spending the evening on the couch with hubby reading instead of my original plan.
Kristi
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Permalink Reply by Ann Duncan on -
Ahh, the No Reservations guy! Great stuff for an Unplanned Read, yes? :)
Kristi said:I have that happen often. Last night I had intentions of looking through my cook books and setting up the meal plan for the next 2 weeks, but while getting out the cookbooks I found a book I had in there by Anthony Bourdain that I had gotten before we moved and never got a chance to read. I ended up spending the evening on the couch with hubby reading instead of my original plan.
Kristi
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Permalink Reply by Lynne Forrest on -
Oh, this sounds absolutely luxurious, Ann! I used to do this sort of thing all the time .... it's been awhile .... but Pearl S. Buck's books are some of the very ones I would get lost in. Don't you just love it?! I do...
And I love the image of you and your 15 year old cozied in together reading. What a mom to model to your daughter the joys of being an avid reader! I'm impressed.
My mom was a copy editor when I was a child and she turned me on to books... it may be the single most powerful thing she ever did for me. Reading and writing have become such a mainstay in my life and now I, too have passed that love on to my children who are passing it on to their children. May it go on perpetually ....
Think I'll curl up with Emmet Fox's "Diagrams for Living" right now! :)
Merry reading to all and to all a good night!
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Permalink Reply by Ann Duncan on
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Yes, Lynne, I love the image and the reality of it, too :) I inherited this from my mama. She was one busy lady, mother of 6 under the age of 7. But she taught me to read before 1st grade (I recall sitting on the laundry room step, reading aloud to her as she ironed) and to love reading.
And on the rare occasions she could slip away to rest, she and I would lie on her bed and read, usually our own books, but snuggled up. Luxurious? Ahh...yes...
I'm glad you've passed that on to your children and grandchildren, as well, Lynne. Long live this tradition!
Lynne Forrest said:Oh, this sounds absolutely luxurious, Ann! I used to do this sort of thing all the time .... it's been awhile .... but Pearl S. Buck's books are some of the very ones I would get lost in. Don't you just love it?! I do...
And I love the image of you and your 15 year old cozied in together reading. What a mom to model to your daughter the joys of being an avid reader! I'm impressed.
My mom was a copy editor when I was a child and she turned me on to books... it may be the single most powerful thing she ever did for me. Reading and writing have become such a mainstay in my life and now I, too have passed that love on to my children who are passing it on to their children. May it go on perpetually ....
Think I'll curl up with Emmet Fox's "Diagrams for Living" right now! :)
Merry reading to all and to all a good night!
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Permalink Reply by Heather Hyde-Herndon on -
I typically have 2 or 3 books going at one time, so there is almost always one in whichever room might be conducive to "a few pages". Much like the effect the internet can have on me, I'll get caught up in a book and forget something's in the oven, or I'm supposed to make a call or something.
It's hard for me to plan time to read, so I tend to grab a few pages whenever I can.
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Permalink Reply by Ann Duncan on
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Makes me think of when my firstborn was about a year and a half and I got caught up in a long book and read non-stop. I ignored my poor wee son, except for making sure he was safe by holding onto his suspenders a lot.
After that read, I deemed it unsafe for my children for me to read. I actually stopped reading anything that was not super easy to put down, because of my lack of self control. It was lots years and a few kids later before I started 'real' reading again. Maybe that's why I read so voraciously after that, felt like I had to make up for lost time!
Blessings...
Heather Hyde-Herndon said:I typically have 2 or 3 books going at one time, so there is almost always one in whichever room might be conducive to "a few pages". Much like the effect the internet can have on me, I'll get caught up in a book and forget something's in the oven, or I'm supposed to make a call or something.
It's hard for me to plan time to read, so I tend to grab a few pages whenever I can.
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Permalink Reply by Alicia, The Snowflake on -
I am so glad I am not the only one who has no self control when it comes to reading. I can read for hours on end. I can finish an entire book in a day if time will allow...or sometimes even if it won't.
I was sick with a sinus infection this weekend. I enjoyed every minute I could laying in my bed reading. I actually almost enjoyed being sick :o)
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