Ok, I am sitting here at my desk, once again with my fingers poised on the keyboard and . . . once again . . . at a loss for words (thoughts?). So, I will just move my fingers and see what comes out.
As some of you know, I was in Seattle this past weekend. My husband was at a conference Friday and Saturday, so I had a lot of time to entertain myself. We were near the airport this time and, not wanting to drive downtown or even to the nearby mall (I am not much of a shopper - - I know, I know - - how can that be??! - - I'm a girl! - - but it's true), I stayed at the hotel. And I read. I had downloaded a couple of books to my Kindle. I read "Obsession" and "Impulse," both by Debra Webb, and both FBI/police/serial killer/catch-em thrillers. They were like a Part 2 and 3 (I didn't read part 1) and I liked them both, and the time flew by. But when I was done, and as I sit here this morning, I wondered what better use of my time I could have made. Or what better choices in reading material I could have made. The books, although entertaining, were obviously not very uplifting - - serial killers? torture? They didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. And there was an occasional f-word, which I cannot stand. The use of that word makes me cringe and feel just . . . icky. I tried to gloss over it everytime I came upon it, but you know . . . that's hard, if not impossible, to do.
So, I guess my point is - - the books didn't make me feel good, they didn't uplift and inspire me to be a better person, they used language with which I am not comfortable. It was just "entertainment". And really, how entertaining is it to read about human beings being kidnapped and tortured and killed? And so I sit here thinking, WHAT A WASTE OF TIME! I know that some people think that occasionally using time in that way - - purely to entertain - - is okay . And I agree. It's just the source of entertainment that I personally need to be more aware of. I am sure that there was something better I could have done with all that time I had, and I regret that.
Time is precious, and to use it in a way that doesn't make you feel good, or improve life, is a shame.
I beg to differ .. to me any time spent reading is good .. regardless of how uplifting it might or might not be ... however .. you had a choice, you could have gone out and wandered ... maybe you should have gone to the mall, not to shop but to people watch or to find a better book to read!
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree once again - - as far as the "any reading is good reading" part :) The "choice" part - -totally agree!
DeleteHey, Judy
ReplyDeletenext time, download the following book "Appointment in Milano", written by my son..( a debut novel) hence my continuous effort to encourage people to read it.
you can download it here :https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=11268066
From people who read it and are not as biased, I hear that the first chapters are hard going but that the reward is great if you keep plugging ..
read Michelle Fabio's review here :
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1QVXKFCH8ZW4B
Hope you will try it!
Anni, how exciting! I just looked it up on Amazon - sounds great! As soon as it comes out in Kindle, I will definitely download it! How proud you must be to have an author son :)
ReplyDeletethank you so much Judy !
DeleteI can so relate to this! Wondering why I wasted so much time. But I think we're one step closer from achieving better choices on how we spend our time, we've at least realized that we were wasting it, right?
ReplyDeleteLarissa, this is such a smart way of looking at it--in this view, "wasted time" isn't really wasted at all. It's a learning opportunity.
DeleteMaybe next time you can think up a better way of spending your time. You learned what you don't want so you'll pick another choice next time.
ReplyDeleteYou have just received the versatile blogger award. Come on over and pick it up.
http://ruth-welcometome.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-just-received-this-fabulous-award.html
Ruth, thank you so much for thinking of me! Quite an honor :)
DeleteSounds like a case of reader's remorse. :) I have given up on a few books that just weren't working for me at the time, so I am familiar with reader's remorse, too.
ReplyDeleteI love it when a book surprises me by staying in my mind, teaching me something, or lifting me up some way (not that every book I read does these things for me).
One book I've read recently that was like that was Bad Luck Cadet by another blogging pal, "Suzie Ivy." She's a woman who went to police academy in her 40s (true story) and it really inspired me. I doubt I'd last a day in police academy, but Suzie stuck it out is now a police detective. It's on Kindle.
Well, thanks, I think I will check it out! As far as readers remorse . . . that's probably true, although I DID enjoy them . .. and maybe that's what I'm most remorseful about :) I thought I had better taste - haha!
DeleteI loved the idea of "readers remorse" from Melanie. I don't read enough (shh don't tell... I am a slow, sporadic, reader). I have had quilters remorse. I made a bunch of quilt blocks and disliked them so much I cut them into pieces... they look much better that way- but I still have not made a quilt out of them yet. I suppose we are all remorseful at one time or another for spending and enjoying time in ways we think/know are somewhat wasteful. I think it serves to remind us to be patient with those in our lives who seem to be wasting their God given abilities. Easier said than done.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate. I went through a killer/kidnap/death book phase. I really enjoyed the last one I read but I just feel done. I realized that I am consciously bringing negativity into my life by reading these books. I just finished Richard Russo's "That Old Cape Magic" - it was wonderful. He's a beautiful writer and he makes me appreciate the complexities of life. Maybe you were meant to have that weekend with your entertaining books so you could reflect on where you really want to be? Good luck to you.
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty eclectic in my reading, from thrillers to biographies to romance to what I'm reading right now, "Emily's Quest" by L.M. Montgomery. I find that what I read does stick with me, the good and the bad and the creepy....and even though I know that, I enjoy a good shiver too much to give up entirely thrills and chills novels. I just try to space them out!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, if I started a book, I forced myself to finish it whether it was really enjoyable or worthwhile or not. It was like some sort of gauntlet I'd thrown down for myself. No longer. Of course, I "waste" time a bazillion other ways (primarily with mediocre TV shows)--just not as much on books as I once did. :)
ReplyDelete