Reading is a Challenge

I visit a lot of reading blogs -- most of them having to do with historical fiction but a few which deal with all kinds of genres. Many of the blog owners are involved with "reading challenges" (which I will never do because I would fail then feel bad about it!) and some of these folks read ten or twelve (maybe more) book per month. I'm doing good to read that many per year. I absolutely adore reading -- a good book is a good friend and I always like to have a couple around. I'm usually reading both a novel and a non-fiction book at the same time (and,boy, does that take some hand/eye coordination!). Seriously, though, I go back and forth unless one of the other has me so wrapped up I want to finish that one first.

I used to read a lot more than I do now. I don't know why but I don't really set aside any time for reading except at night -- right before I fall asleep. And that's my problem -- because, quite often, I can only get through one or two pages before the book hits the floor. I really need to carve out time for reading because my personal library is absolutely full. And, I've found that when I'm reading, there's a part of my brain which says I should be writing instead.

The thing is a writer needs to read -- for relaxation, for escape from whatever world she has going on in her head, for inspiration. When I say inspiration, I don't mean for copying purposes -- I simply mean that sometimes reading can spark an idea -- I've had sparks come from a historical novel when what I'm writing is contemporary. When I read Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER, I had a huge spark -- a sudden memory of a story I had had in my head for years -- long before I'd heard of OUTLANDER -- in fact, long before OUTLANDER was even written. But it took reading OUTLANDER, to cause me to remember. I ended up writing that novel (ALANNAH) and it ended up being a whopping 97 chapters long. Alannah needs heavy-duty editing and, maybe if I ever get around to it, I'll actually shop it around one day. That and all the other novels I've written.

Anyway, I'm just amazed at how many books some folks can read during what, to me, is a short period of time. Awed and amazed. If I could read one book per week, I'd be thrilled. I might actually be able to cut a swath through my over-loaded bookshelves.

So, how in the world do they do it?