Yesterday I resurrected my Goodreads account after being inspired by a new blogger friend. I dusted off my login (aka, clicked the Forgot Password link) and dove back into the lists of books I’d read, was currently into and ones on my list to read. With one of my goals for 2015 to make it a point to read more, I found and tweaked the code for the Goodreads widget and it now displays, for your reading pleasure, the books I’m currently into. I think it will keep me accountable, knowing that I can’t have the same four books up there come December.
My most recent find (thank you again to Lauren) are two new books by Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work. Short reads (maybe that’s what I need!) regarding breaking creativity barriers (definitely what I need).
Armed with a gift card, I headed to Barnes and Noble on Sunday and made it a point to find these books and leave. I knew I’d be tempted to spend way more money than I even have time to read. I call reading my guilty pleasure because I have a difficult time letting myself sit still long enough to do it. It always comes last, there is always something more important that needs my attention. But it IS important, which is what makes it necessary. To quote Stephen King from On Writing, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
I’m also finding it more common for people to read multiple books at once. Several people I know keep one in different rooms of their house, at work, etc., and read whenever they happen to be at that place. Although mine are in a stack next to my rocking chair, I find I do alternate based on what strikes me at the time.
Paper or Kindle?
For me, both. I love reading books on my tablet, especially when travelling and you can lug a huge selection of titles, PDF articles, whichever you choose. But having a home library to lose yourself in for a few hours on a rainy day is an indescribable sanctuary. As my collection grows, I kick around ideas for new bookshelves other than the boring woodgrain shelves that I have now.
Here are two Pinterest finds that I dream of daily.
(© Courtesy of Susan Jay Design)
(drooling) In my next house..
So. Better Call Saul will be on soon, and I think I’ll sneak in some pages during the commercials.
Fellow bookworms, what’s on your reading list? Look me up on Goodreads, I’ve love to see what book you’ve got your nose in.
I’M HELPING. 😀 I find that Stephen King quote comforting but for some reason my brain has this aversion to reading about writing. Not sure what that’s all about, other than maybe I still find it intimidating to give myself an official label like ‘writer’. Ah well. I’ll stick with the history of salt and get to On Writing eventually.
🙂 On Writing was great! One of my faves and it’s out of print, I think. It was actually a pretty interesting story of his life with writing tips added in.
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