“When do you find time to read?”
It’s 10:45 pm on Sunday. Peter is sprawled across our bed and has so entangled himself in the blankets that I’m lucky to have the edge on which to lay down. He’s snoring. I escape to the living room, turn on the light and open up The Icarus Girl. I guess I’ll be able to finish this book without needing to renew it at the library.
It’s 3:30 am on Wednesday morning. Philip has awakened and turned on his TV. I’m laying on the floor of his room hoping he will fall back asleep soon. To encourage this, I keep the light off and read Fahrenheit 451 in the glow of Curious George.
It’s 5:15 pm on Thursday. I’m driving home from work and listening to The Poisoner’s Handbook. I’m just now learning that the federal government intentionally poisoned industrial alcohol to discourage its use in the making of moonshine. This policy has deadly consequences that get me a bit riled up. I ease off the gas pedal when I realize I’ve been speeding.
It’s noon on Saturday. I don’t know what I’ll be doing. Maybe playing outside with Philip. Maybe I’ll be sorting the laundry. Maybe I’ll be making lunch. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll be stealing a few minutes to read a book. That’s because this Saturday, January 24, is National Readathon Day.
Swept up in the excitement of the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge, I immediately pledged my participation in the readathon. It was only after I made the commitment that I realized I had promised to spend the four hours beginning at noon to read a book. Ha! I’d love the luxury of a solid stretch of reading, but that’s not realistic. I steal time to read from those moments in the day when I don’t have to work, cook, clean or watch Philip.
When I announced my participation in the Read Harder Challenge, two different people asked me, “When do you find time to read?” This put me on the defensive. Were they implying that I must be sloughing off if I have time to read?
But I don’t have time to worry about what others think. There are books to be read.
that cynking feeling 
I spend so much time reading online, my books are adrift at sea. Thanks for reminding me to make the time!
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I hope you find a book you can’t put down.
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I read when I eat. When the weather is bad, I take my kiddo to indoor play places and READ! Books are life 😉
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Lately my son has been getting into EVERYTHING, so I haven’t been allowing him much unsupervised play time. That’s been cutting into my reading time.
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I hadn’t heard about this challenge but it sounds like a fun one. I try to read on the weekends but that doesn’t always work so I’m always hoping for a snowstorm and the chance to stay in and read.
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That’s one good thing about cold, winter weather – it inspires us to stay inside, keep warm and read.
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Yes and now it’s snowing here – just a tiny bit but it’s enough to read by
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I’m in. I have a book I’m halfway through. I intend to read the rest of it on Saturday.
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What are you reading?
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Tigerman by Nick Harkaway. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to read for four hours nor did I finish the book, but I managed to read for an hour or so. Better than nothing. 🙂
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Oh I love this. I haven’t read anything — really read anything — in far too long. It’s made me a lazy and poor writer. I need to stop being such a dork and just get to it.
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Yes! I hope you find a great book that will make you happy you took the time.
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When it’s something that matters to us, we will find a way. If not, we will find excuses. Reading is important enough to you that you find a way to fit it in. Great post. I’m reading (blogs first, then a novel) this morning too. ☺
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If I treated exercise the same way, squeezing in activity when I have a moment to spare, I’d be in much better shape.
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Reading is one of my favorite things in the world. Increasing my online activity over the years has really dug into my reading, I’m sorry to say. I do carry a book everywhere and try to occasionally put a chunk of time into it.
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I’ve been trying to keep a book in my purse to squeeze in extra reading.
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i had no idea there was a readathon day.. how cool! i don’t think i’ve done a readathon since elementary school.
except one time when i waited for my mom getting surgery and i read a 500 page novel in one day. that was pretty sweet.
happy reading!
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When my husband had surgery last fall, I was too anxious to read. That was at least six hours of reading time wasted.
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Woo hoo! You can do it, Cyn!
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I ended up doing a nap-athon instead. But I did finish Fahrenheit 451.
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I never understand people who say they don’t have time to read. How can you not read and remain somewhat sane? I need to read like I need to breathe.
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