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We also had our season-opening brunch with my golf league, and commencement of whacking little white balls with sticks starts next week.
I know pretty much everybody in the blogging world is aware of the RIP Reading Challenge hosted by Carl...where you read scary books in September and October. This is pretty much a no-brainer for me normally, because I LOVE scary stuff (I even have a list of books I'd read if I could). But I'm a little nervous to even sign up for this, because lately I've been feeling that my time is not my own. I can't seem to get traction in print, and I have all these books I MUST READ. I'm sure they are great books, but it isn't necessarily what I want to read right at this moment. It is starting to piss me off. In addition, I've noticed that blog traffic has dropped off into la-la land. Nobody seems very engaged these days. So I've been pondering, and have arrived at a decision. I think I'm turning off the blog starting November 1st. I'm not sure if it will be for a couple of months, or for forever. We will see how I feel once I remove myself from the fray. You all know that things are not what they used to be. So many old-school bloggers have quit and moved on. I have my online friends, and that will not change...I'm always in touch with these folks regardless. I'll talk about it a little more when the time comes, but it helps just getting my thoughts out on "paper" now.
On the reading front, I've been having fun on audio. I finished "The Boys in the Boat" about the working class group of boys who ended up winning the gold in crew in the 1936 Olympics...such an amazing story. Now I'm about halfway through the second book in recent weeks dealing with AIDS in the '80's called "Tell the Wolves I'm Home", and I'm really enjoying it. In print I'm STILL reading "The Girl You Left Behind", and have only recently, with a switch in plot and time period, have picked up the pace. THIS is the Jojo Moyes I love.
Hope you all have a relaxing Sunday, worthy of your best book. See you all during the week!
25 comments:
I just will not do challenges. It's hard enough to get reading done as it is, so that it's not a "chore"!
I love your blog and always look forward to reading it, so I am very disappointed to hear that you are thinking of leaving.
There's no way I could've blogged when my kids were the age yours are now. I barely had time to keep up with them as it was. You'll stay in my reader so whenever you decide to post I'll see it!
Happy FALL and football! Sounds like you've been reading fab books. You just may have convinced me to audiobook the Boys inthe Boat, so thank you. I already know it is high on my list.
As to blogging, I hear you. I have been waffling and I know I have slowed down a lot and traffic is slow - have we seemed to have slung the blog world thinly over all the soc meds? I have the twitter friends, FB, instagram etc and sometimes I wonder how I keep up what I already do. But I think I will slog on with the blog because it is mine. Back to the original reason why I love it and that is so I have a place, a tiny corner, that is all mine; a place to store my thoughts on my reading.
May you find the balance and the control over your reading that you seek. I know you are a well-respected blogger and cherished by many.
Ah, Sandy, my friend, that makes me sad. It doesn't surprise me, though, as I've been struggling with some of the same things. I do seem to have found a level of blogging that I enjoy - and Sundays are my favorite days - but I notice that as my blogging becomes more infrequent, the amount of interaction and comments goes down, too. Seems to just be the way it is - and there may be some point when I decide to give it up, too. You will be missed, though!
You and I have talked about this so I'm not surprised but I am sad. I love the conversational tone of your blog and will really miss it. I do understand where you're coming from though.
Like Mary, there is JUST NO WAY I could have blogged when my kids were the age yours are now - life was just too crazy, busy, and unpredictable. So I'm sad, but not surprised at your decision to step away for a while. I sure will miss you though :(
I'm not surprised by your decision at all, and I've thought of doing the same thing myself. I don't think I will right now ... but you see how infrequent my blogging has become. Oh well. I'm lucky enough that I can still see you in person from time to time. :) So I don't have to miss you too much!
I'm glad you loved The Boys in the Boat. That's going to be one of my favorite books from the year.
I hope you reconsider but understand if you don't.
I used to blog for a couple of years--had a bunch of fun--took 1.5 years off for health reasons and came back this spring. Some of the blogs I used to enjoy are gone, and as someone who doesn't read YA, I feel that my little blog won't ever get many readers. I am like the poor stepsister to the flashy, wildly popular blogs. I spoke to my husband about my discouragement and he told me to go with my gut: if I enjoy sitting down to type up a review, go for it. When it is like homework, take a break.
Don't know if my case relates to yours, but I do enjoy reading your posts and loved the photos of Poland. Thanks for sharing everything here.
I know what you mean about RIP. I want to join, but I have similar misgivings and I just suck at challenges.Good luck with whatever you decide around the blog. I will miss your posting, but I know what you mean. I am struggling to go on as well.
Whatever you decide to do in the end, Sandy, you have my full support and respect. But I have to say you'll be dearly missed. I know I've been an awful commenter the past few months, but I'm still here reading and your blog makes me smile so often. Will you still be on Twitter do you think?
Oh Sandy... I am one of those who fell off the face of the earth, but that did not mean that I did not read your blog on a regular basis and enjoyed every literary insight, funny quip, or golf/wine/travel story. I will be sad to see you leave... but I totally understand the season of life.
You are a treasure!
I'm still here. :( But of course, if blogging's not fun for you anymore, you shouldn't do it. Even though I can't imagine the blogosphere without you!
I know how very busy you are, when my girls were younger my time was crazy. Now with just nick and my own activities slower I fine time to read and blog as I wish. Not 5 days a week, but it's still fine by me.
Ill miss your thoughts, but I do understand.
Sob! I'm sure I'll be the last man standing. I'll really miss your posts and your voice. On the other hand, you have to do what makes you happy and you need to reduce your stress.
You know I'm feeling the same way.... Do what's best for you and your family!
RIP is the only challenge I do because it's a no brainer challenge and like you , I end up reading or watching plenty of stuff that is scary this time of year.
I hear ya on the blog thing. I really keep mine up to keep track of what I've read. It's always been the point of it and it's still that. I've met lovely people along the way and again, like you said, I keep in touch with them in some fashion whether by blogging or FB or Twitter or all the other stuff out there.
You do what feels good for you. You can always resurrect it if you find that you miss it too much.
I've always loved your blog and have so many old posts to still read in my Feedly. My time is not my own, the way it used to be and I've had to back away from my blogging. I hope you won't do it (for selfish reasons, I like reading your stuff) but I do understand if you do. I think those of us that have been at this for a long time understand that it is like another job to blog. We love it but don't always find the time. I'll be reading if you blog and if you blog less often I will still read!
I love your blog, it's the only book blog that I keep up with these days...but totally get pulling back or stopping. I miss both my blogs, but just don't have the time or the energy to put anything coherent out there these days.
Wow, you stop blogging a few weeks and return to find others jumping ship...
I, of course, certainly get it. It is a bit like a job and it takes more time than I am willing to give at the moment.
But still, I do love posting pics...maybe I will do that from time to time...or just fade into the Blogland...
No doubt, your blog will be missed..
Blogging can be such hard work! You know your online friendships won't depend on whether you blog or not, but we'll be here if you come back! Sometimes taking a break can help you prioritize what you want too!
I'm sad to see that you will be leaving. I hope it's temporary. My posts have really fallen off (as have mt visitors) but I still like a place to call my own. Hopefully your break won't be forever!
Nooooo!!! On the one hand I've been feeling exactly the same way as you (hence the fact I've only read this on Thursday!) on the other I'm feeling exactly the same way as you. I hope that you decide to carry on - as if you don't I'll be one step closer to quitting too. :-( Good luck with finding the right balance.
It makes me sad to think you won't be blogging anymore...
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