A New Challenge and Rocking It

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Oh dear, apologies one and all, I have been inadvertently absent from this site for longer than I had intended. The truth is I have set myself a new challenge.

I had thought that retirement would bring endless time and opportunity to work through my stockpile of books after decades during which reading was pretty much confined to leisurely holidays in the sun supplemented by occasional interludes before bedtime. The reality has been very different and with trips abroad now devoted to travel rather than relaxation, the opportunity for a sunbed and a ready supply of novels next to it has eluded me.

As a result I shocked myself in my second year of retirement by reading only half the number of books I had generally been accustomed to completing and have been trying to reverse the decline ever since. Now I love immersing myself in fiction; lock me away on a Saturday afternoon with a copy of Tess of the D'Urbevilles and I'll emerge with tear stained cheeks, totally drained by the emotion yet fulfilled by the experience. Unfortunately finding the time to spend an afternoon in absentia because of the printed word has not been easy when so many other pleasurable activities vie for attention. It's not even as though I'm a slow reader, in fact quite the opposite; years of perusing long and often complex court documents has certainly honed the ability to race through the pages whilst hopefully still absorbing the facts accurately. 

So this year, conscious that I am heading rapidly towards a rather big birthday, I have set myself the challenge of reading a book for every year of my age. There are no other rules, meaning that the length and genre of the books is completely at whim. I am pleased to say that, by overlooking a visit to this blog during the last two weeks, I am very much on target with perhaps a paperback or two notched up in reserve. I may not have had the deckchair in the sun but, on a cold winter's day, a rocking chair in the warmth of indoors is just as good.

So now you know and should I go AWOL again, rest assured there's a high probability that you'll find me in that rocking chair, book in hand.


Comments

Debra Journet said…
Oh great project. Of course I want to know what you're reading. Please share any good finds.
15 February 2018 at 23:20
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com said…
Hi Caree! Good for you for finding your passion and committing yourself to do something you love. Enjoy! ~Kathy
19 February 2018 at 20:03
Jane said…
Since I've retired I haven't been reading as much as I was used to and found that quite upsetting. So I've had to make a concerted effort to make reading a priority. I'm doing better but would still like to increase my quota. Good luck with your reading - let me know if you find something amazing. Last year I read Hardy's "The Woodlanders" and just loved it. As a teenager I read a lot of Hardy's books, but not all. I'll get there!
23 February 2018 at 20:46
Caree Risover said…
I certainly will; maybe a quarterly book review session although I'll keep the also ran chick lit quick reads to make up the quota to myself. There's a limit to how much shame a blogger can take.
24 February 2018 at 21:50
Caree Risover said…
It's strange isn't it? I really thought retirement would bring oodles of time to read but I now find that I am distracted by so many other activities that without the effort you refer to, the books get neglected.
24 February 2018 at 21:54
Caree Risover said…
Thank you; it's the enjoyment that makes commitment a pleasure and hopefully the challenge achievable.
24 February 2018 at 21:59
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