Sunday, August 8, 2010

TSS: You've read this post before

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You've probably read this post before.  You know the one.  "My life is getting really busy and I don't have time to blog."  "I just feel burned out."  "I don't want to do this any more."  "I hate the drama/politics/cliques of book blogging."  Etc., etc., etc.  Lots of variations on a general theme of "I am not going to be blogging much any more."

I guess now it's my turn.  No, I don't think there is inherent drama in book blogging.  I don't think it's clique-y.  If you know me well enough for me to be candid with you over email (which isn't hard- I am generally a very candid person), then I have shared my thoughts on the "clique" idea with you already.  I also really like book blogging, and I don't think I'm burned out.  Yes, there are times when I wonder if what I do makes any sort of difference whatsoever:  does anyone read the books I recommend, based on my review?  I vacillate on this, and then remember that influencing the reading of others was not the reason I originally started blogging, so it shouldn't be a reason to continue in future.  Really, the only reason this blog may be going on hiatus (starting very, very soon) is because I don't know how much I'll be reading in the next few years.
Ross School of Business
I don't think I've mentioned it on this blog before, but I will soon begin business school at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.  I'm very excited about that, and am really looking forward to my time there.  I am thrilled about changing my career, getting back on a college campus, tailgating, meeting so many new and interesting people, learning all sorts of new concepts and just generally getting back on-track with my life.

I could be very dramatic and say, "I won't have time to read," but there have been multiple posts about this topic on other blogs.  About people who "don't have time to read" making a decision to do other things instead (for some reason, people often cite watching TV as the alternative to reading books, as though there is nothing else to do with one's time), and these posts, in my opinion, are fairly judgmental.  Well, after a great deal of mulling and internal conflict, I'd like to say:  sometimes people do not have time to read.  Yes, they are making a decision not to.  Yes, they are choosing to do other things with their time.  Yes, they are making a value judgment that you might not make yourself.  But hey, there are a lot of priorities to set in life and I am not in the least bit ashamed to say that for the next two years, I intend to be as social and outgoing as possible, and reading won't be my priority. 

If I get some reading done, I will be happy, of course.  Even if I am not prioritizing reading, that doesn't mean that I do not still love reading.  I just think there are other ways in which I should make use of my time.  I'm not setting any rules for myself, though.  I am not going to tell you that I hope to finish a book a week (but no more than that).  I don't really have any hopes in that direction.  I will read when I have time, and if I don't have time, I won't.  I don't know what that will mean for this blog.  Maybe I'll have weekly updates on what I'm reading and my thoughts on that read.  Maybe I'll post vignettes about things that happen to me that remind me of a scene/idea/theme of a book I've read.  Maybe I'll tell you about what textbook I'm reading and what novel I wish I were reading.  I am not sure where my creativity (or lack thereof) will take me and BookLust, but I do know that things are going to change.

I am sure that the reviews will slow down.  The responses to comments won't be as timely.  I probably won't be visiting other blogs nearly as often.  If you really want my opinion/thoughts/reactions/musings/recommendations/rambling responses to something, please email me.  Please.  I am much better about responding to email than I am about anything else.  I know most of you will not email me, and I know most of us will lose touch for the next few years.  But I hope that if you do think of me, you reach out to me (as I will be sure to do for you, too), and that we can stay in touch that way.  And for the rest of you out there- hopefully we'll get back in touch after I graduate.

This isn't a goodbye post.  It's a "See you around, I hope" post.  Thanks for everything over the past few years, and happy reading :-)
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49 comments:

  1. Aarti,

    How can everyone not be happy for you? No matter what you do with the blog or reading books, the important thing is to have fun with your new career pathway and get the most out of it. I for one (and I am sure I will not be alone in this) would love to hear posts whenver you get time about how school is going and what exciting new things you are learning there.

    I wish you the best of luck and hope we still hear from you from time to time about whatever you want to talk about!!!

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  2. Aarti,

    Congrats on going back to school. Good for you!!

    I'm glad your not shutting down your blog. I'll be happy to read your posts whenever you have the time or feel like posting.

    All the best to you!

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  3. I'm sure you'll get a whole string of comments that say the same thing but I'll add in my voice to the chorus.

    Good luck in business school, Aarti! Make the most of it and enjoy yourself. :)

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  4. Now I feel guilty about having posted one of "those" posts on having/making time to read :P I completely understand the judgement factor you're talking about, and that was actually more or less what I meant to address. I think that making the choice to do other things instead of reading is every bit as valid as making the choice to read, and there are times in life when even the most avid book lover will decide not to read. We're both coming to one of those times, and I'm sure they'll be great years for us regardless of how much we get read.

    Best of luck with everything, Aarti. I'll be e-mailing you for sure, and I hope we can keep in touch.

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  5. Aarti, I don't think anyone could question your decision - I think you're at a very exciting threshold and you should totally seize it as much as you can. If that means not reading, then it means not reading. I thought I made a similar choice when I started grad school a couple years ago, but it didn't really turn out that way; even so I understand what you're getting at, and I think you're making the right choice.

    Good luck to you in business school, and I do hope you still hang out around here sometimes. I enjoy reading your posts and I'll be here when you have time for them!

    (As a quick PS - it's fine when people choose to do things that are not reading. It just annoys me when they say they wish they had time to read when they really don't wish that at all, and make it sound like *I* have no life as a result!)

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  6. Aarti, I am really happy for you, this sounds like a well thought out decision. I am sure you will be successful. We will still be here when you do have tome to post.

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  7. I hope you enjoy business school, Aarti. It sounds like it's going to be an exciting new experience for you and it's understandable
    that reading isn't your top priority at the moment.

    Good luck - and have fun!

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  8. Here's what I think about graduate/business school: you're time is so scheduled (you have study time, class time, social time - and if you're like me, commuting time and work time) that you eventually start to have pockets in that schedule. Not all the time, but certainly at the beginning of the semester and right after midterms, but I actually read MORE than when I'm just working or taking time off, because it's scheduled. So I agree with you - reading isn't going to be your priority and it hasn't been mine for the past year either, but it still has managed to hold an important place in my life. Enjoy business school Aarti! I'm sure we'll hear from each other :)

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  9. Aarti,
    I am sad and happy at the same time. Happy that you are going to school and all, but sad since you're giving up blogtime. But hopefully I will still be here after you finish :)
    I understand with lack of time, uni took my writing from me, I just hadn't time with that and reading. Now I have more reading time cos I gave up much tv.

    Anyway. Will miss you. You were my first commenter, or second. And you write these amazing posts that makes me wish I could write smart things like that too. Instead I stick with reviews.

    And you love fantasy! You have given me so many great tips. And yes I would love to read other books you write about too but living here, impossible. And when I buy it's fantasy, or now UF and PNR cos those are mostly good and ok. I dare not take a leap of faith with fiction.

    I am totally blabbering away here. But please to email me too if you wanna :) I'd hate to loose touch. And I will try to email you also, cos I do love talking fantasy lol

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  10. Awesome post! Life is about choices and we all need to make the ones that are right for us at the moment. I am really excited for you going back to graduate school; I loved my time(s) in grad school and am looking forward to my work on National Board Certification this year. Being a life-long learner is so wonderful.

    And, being social, reading, not reviewing, doing whatever you need to do each day is what you should do. No guilt if you chose to read over going out or vice versa.

    Have a fabulous time, learn lots, meet new people, make new friends, read good books. It's what life is all about. If we get to hear from you in between all that we will be thrilled!

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  11. Congratulations on the transition to business school Aarti! I took business myself, so I have to say great choice :D I hope you really love the courses, and that you have a great time. Obviously I will miss you being around posting frequently, but that is a sign of how much we love you! And I have definitely added to my wishlist and gotten books that you've recommended :)

    I am glad that you'll still be around from time to time, so enjoy your schooling, and see you around!

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  12. Thank you all for the kind comments! I am really grateful to know so many wonderful people through blogging.

    I am sorry I implied that I thought you would all judge me for choosing not to read and doing something else- I see how that came across and I didn't mean it in that way! I just wanted to explain that I won't be reading so much, or commenting so much, as I did before.

    Lu, your comment makes me feel very positive! I won't have much of a commute time (I don't think), but maybe there will be enough downtime to Get. Stuff. Done.

    Nymeth- No, I didn't think your post was judgmental (I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of being judgmental). I know exactly what you mean, and I am glad we are going through similar transitions in our lives around the same time :-)

    Blodeuedd- Your comment really made me tear up! Now that I can stalk you on Google Chat, you can expect to hear from me often :-) And of course we will continue talking fantasy.

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  13. Very, very best of luck in business school! I'll miss reading your posts, of course, but I completely understand where you're coming from. It's great that you're planning to make the most of this change! Have an amazing time in Michigan and do not freeze to death. :p

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  14. Congrats on business school, i think that will be really exciting!

    I started my blog in grad school, and I actually found it easier to maintain then I do now, out in the "real world" with a 9-5 job. Like Lu said, time ends up pretty structured, but you find pockets of time to fill in with other stuff. Writing blog posts, reading, doing reviews, visiting other blogs -- those were the breaks I took between grad school responsibilities and I found I really enjoyed it. Sometimes now, the blog feels like another job on top of the one I already have rather than a reward between school responsibilities.

    That said, one of the biggest things that helped me was giving myself permission to let go. During test weeks, I just didn't blog. I only tried to post 1 review a week because that's all that worked with my reading schedule. It's a shift, but I think it's one you can manage if that's what you decide to do.

    Anyway :) Good luck, and I can't wait to read whatever you end up posting.

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  15. Well you already know I'm happy for you and I do hope we can stay in contact! Best of luck to you and if you decide to post here even on an irregular schedule, I'll be here to listen. :) I'm sure a lot of us will.

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  16. Have fun and good luck! I hope you still post from time to time.

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  17. My first couple of years of college, I didn't read much outside of school stuff...maybe 4 'fun' books a month? (Of course, right after my last final, I'd go on a crazy reading frenzy.) And it was a choice, because there was SO much richness to life on a little residential campus! So I think your decision makes perfect sense, and I hope you pop up on occasion. Either way, though, you're not escaping my e-mails! hehe

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  18. Good luck! Good luck! I hope to see you around on the 'sphere every once and a while ;)

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  19. That is exciting news! I hope you'll still post regularly, albeit less frequently, and update us on university life.

    I think everyone's feelings about blogging ebb and flow. For what it's worth, I read almost all your book reviews, and I've read several books you recommended, including my first ever graphic novel. ;-)

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  20. I will be glad to see you when I see you and good luck with school! Let me know if you need a proofreader of essays. It's been a while since I did my business degree but I do like to keep my hand in. Oh and friends of mine who are Michigan grads would tell you you will love it :D

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  21. Congratulations and best of luck with your program! Going back to school sounds so exciting and fun -- and all that STUDYING! :) Totally jealous.

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  22. Well, you and I have talked about this quite a lot lately, and so this is not unexpected for me. I know that you are going to be doing some really amazing things in the next few years and I am so very happy for you! I think that it's really very cool that you will be meeting so many new people, exploring new areas, and just getting on with the next stages of your life. In doing all this, it's inevitable that some things about the blog are going to have to change, but I also think that you have a ton of devoted followers who will keep up with you and be waiting for you when you get back. I know I will :)
    I hope that you have an amazing time in all your new adventures in school, and I know that I will be checking in by e-mail frequently just to chat and see how things are going. I am wishing you the best, and am very excited for you!!

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  23. Hello fellow Wolverine :) I went to the U of M for grad school (library science), and their business school is top notch. I took a course in business librarianship there and learned a lot. Good luck with the program! It's understandable that other things besides reading/blogging will take priority. Ann Arbor's a great little town, and I hope you have a wonderful few years there.

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  24. Oh goodness, Aarti! Real life always has to take priority over the fantasy ones we read about in books! Your life is taking a very exciting new direction and I'm sure with a bit of adaptation you can keep your blog going, but from maybe a different angle, which could be fun. I don't know how much reading I'll get done in New York but I don't care - I'm starting a new chapter of my life too, I'm not going to have as much time to read or blog, but who cares? People who love your blog will relish any posts you find time to do, and if you lose a few readers, well - it's not the end of the world. Have a fantastic time at business school and congratulations for being brave enough to go back to school and take a new direction - not an easy decision but I'm certain it will be worth it! x

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  25. I hope you have a wonderful time at school! It does sound like an exciting opportunity, and there really are so many new things to do and discover when you embark on an adventure like that. As much as I love reading, I always had a strict people-over-books policy when I was at university, so I can relate.

    I hope we can keep in contact. I'll be sure to e-mail you over the next little bit. :)

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  26. Well, I'm not going to lie and say do what you want - because I will miss your posts! But, do what you want. LOL!! The second blogging becomes I chore, I think the whole idea is gone. Come back when you have a few moments or feel like a break. And, of course, good luck with all the new stuff!! Can't help but be a little jealous - it would be nice to head off to school tomorrow rather than regular work... :)

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  27. Aarti - Good luck with business school! Whatever you decide to do with the blog frequency-wise and content-wise, I'll be reading.

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  28. Good luck - I hope you have the best time there!

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  29. I do know exactly how you feel, combining a blog and graduate school or any kind of school is always hard. And I admire you for coming out and saying that sometimes you do not have time to read, because it isn't your priority at that time. I so agree with you there.

    I do wish we could stay in touch (I'm fairly shy with emailing) and I hope to read your blog whenever you feel like posting

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  30. Yay! I knew you were moving to Michigan and going back to school, but I didn't know what for. I hope you love it!

    I totally understand why you want to cut back on reading/blogging. I'll be here if/when you decide to post every once in awhile!

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  31. First: congratulations on school! That's really exciting, and I'm sure it will be awesome for you. What a great new adventure!

    Second: having done a masters, you're exactly right. Sometimes there just isn't time to read for pleasure. And if there is time, there might not be brain energy. And if there is brain energy, it may be taken up with other things. In my experience, it made coming back to reading that much more wonderful, having not read much at all for a couple of years.

    Third: I'll keep Booklust in my reader, no question, so hopefully when (if) you have time to post I'll see it. I love this blog and I'm glad that you're hoping to stick around, even if rarely. And if I read something I think you'd like to know about for post-masters reading, I'll be sure to let you know!

    Best of luck with everything. I'm excited for you!

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  32. Good luck, Aarti, and congratulations on getting into business school. How exciting! Reading is about pleasure, and I'm sure you'll read when you feel like it. I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting your posts, on whatever topic and whenever you are able to post.

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  33. I am still going to be checking out past entries when I am stuck for something to read. You have always influenced my choice in books, and I love that your blog feeds my voracious reading habits!

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  34. Have a wonderful time going back to college. New phases of life can be exciting.

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  35. So, it's here -- moving to Ann Arbor! As you remember my telling you, we lived there for several years and my husband attended the night-time MBA program at Michigan (along with working full-time and when we had a toddler and new-born to take care of!). it's a very good school.

    Ann Arbor is a very literary town, so don't be surprised to find that there are lots of temptations to continue reading (bookstores, author events, etc). But, read whenever you can, and don't pressure yourself, overall -- even if it means blogging becomes a zero priority!

    Take care and I definitely will be interested in your progress!

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  36. Oh, and their main library (in downtown)is one of the best I've ever seen. Another temptation!

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  37. Congratulations and all the best to you, Aarti! We'll be here whenever you decide to post. :)

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  38. Aarti - best of luck with going back to college, hope it all goes really well, and that you have a great and rewarding time.

    And...re your comment that you don't know if anyone reads what you've recommended - I'm shortly going to read Slammerkin, after a comment by you. Have fun!

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  39. I don't think your decisions need any thinking about when regards to other people, it's natural that you'll want to enjoy your time and also you've spent so much time reading already it's good to have a long time away from it if you've other things you want to concentrate on :)

    And you're right, sometimes there really isn't time to read, whether that be literal or because there are things that are more important.

    Best of luck with your studies, I hope you achieve your goals and have a rewarding experience!

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  40. I can relate to that very well. In my first year back to school, I didn't read more than 3 books. I'm sure I had time for reading more, but I chose to spend my time otherwise. It happens. Life happens. And school is one of the most exciting phases of life - I think you should focus more on enjoying it in any way possible, even with lots or less reading. Have fun, and good luck to you! Hope you will have time to blog once in a while!

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  41. Good luck with your schooling! I know if I ever go back to school my pleasure reading will take a back seat. Hopefully, once you get into a groove, you'll have some more "me time" for yourself.

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  42. Have an awesome time at school! I'm cheering for you. :)

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  43. (chiming in) I'll miss reading what you have to say as often, but change is always good, and sometimes habitual readers surprise themselves at how much they can read even while doing something new!

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  44. Anonymous8/11/2010

    How fun for you! I wish you all the best in grad school and with all of the other activities that go with it!

    And I think my wish list breathed a mini sigh of relief...because I totally read what you recommend. I'm just now finishing up my post for Mornings in Jenin, which I ordered after you raved about it.

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  45. I look forward to updates on your Business School adventure. You are right about people sometimes not having the time to read. I've been working 60 hours a week on my Marketing/Advertising job and when I get home I am just too burnt out to pick up a book. I guess technically I have time to read but one can only stare at words for so many hours in one day!

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  46. Your blog has been great reading. I'll enjoy whatever you have time to post.

    May you enjoy your studies, use your beautiful new pots to make delicious food, and find good friends waiting for you!

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  47. How exciting for you! I hope you enjoy every minute of your time back in school. Reading will still be there are a great escape when you need it. Good luck!

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  48. Congratulations! Blog when you can what you want. It's not a job, it's an adventure. Well, really it's a log but there's really no timetable, I promise you.

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  49. I blog for fun. Once a week is my goal. I'm happy if I meet it and happy if I don't.

    I read because I must. Reading is life to me, the way some people must jog or must write. I read.

    I may stop blogging someday, but I don't think I will ever stop reading.

    Have fun with your new adventure!

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