03 March 2006

Why does this blog read like a reading list?

I finished a book by Amos Oz who grew up in Jerusalem and then, after his mother committed suicide, left his father and went to live on a kibbutz. The reason I was reading the book in the first place was for my book group. I have one meeting every month or so, and what with needing to order the book I only really get about three weeks to read it. Which is fine if the book is relatively light, but you try reading Martin Gilbert's 600-page-plus history of the state of Israel, or Rabbi Louis Jacobs' on the theology of Judaism. This month's book was a novel, and I can usually get through one of those in a day or two. Even if they are 500 pages long. Somehow however, the lateast offering by Marian Keyes tends to get consumed a lot faster.

I was like that at school too (but it got worse at university. and leveled out at law school) in that I'd have a book to read, or some homework or preparation to do, and it would take me until the day before the deadline for me to start writing it. I remember my first term at university - I did 75% of all my history essays for one course in the last week of term. Every time I leave something to the last minute I regret it. And this time it's not just affecting me - the wonderful person in my life says that there's not much point him attending bok group if I've not given him the book until the day before. Did I mention I finished the book this morning and book group is Tuesday?

When we get the next book I'll definitely read it as soon as it arrives. I promise.

On the bright side however, the flat is clean and tidy (barring the bedroom which is coated in dust from the bathroom works), my shoes are polished and the washing up is all done.

Why can't I find a reading list containing the entire works of PK Dick, Harry Harrison, Isaac Asimov, Iain M Banks, Christopher Brookmyre and Marian Keyes?

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