Day 50
A stack of books loaned to a friend.
My lending library is growing. Or rather, my borrowing constituents are increasing in number. I currently have 36 books loaned out to four people. I was winging it for a while, but today, before I dropped off nine books for a friend (I would have loaned the books anyway, but she secured tofu for me! So I scampered up to her house to acquire said protein and brought a bag of books), I realized the gaps in my bookshelves were unaccounted for. So I made a (nerd alert) spreadsheet.
Like many people, it seems, I am having trouble sinking into a book. Focus is hard to come by. Over the past seven weeks I have felt less connected to books and reading than in my pre-pandemic lifestyle. On average, over the past several years, I would have read somewhere between seven and 12 books in seven weeks. If you had asked me five minutes ago how many books I had finished in the past seven weeks, I would have said four. Imagine my surprise then, when visiting my Goodreads profile, where I faithfully track (nerd alert #2) books I am currently reading, have read, want to read, and did not finish, I see that I have finished nine books so far during this time. Twenty-seven so far this year. I am so surprised. Maybe because I’ve started twice that number and put down at least as many as I’ve been able to finish I feel a diminished sense of completion. But I’m strangely encouraged now, that what I came here to write must shift. The data of Goodreads tells me that I am still a reader, that I am still prioritizing reading and enjoying it. Perhaps, I realize now, I feel like I’ve been reading less because I’ve be doing other things more: listening to podcasts, watching television. Even though on any given day I rarely feel that I have more time on my hands than I know what to do with, clearly, now that I’ve paused to count, I’m still me. A reader above almost all else.
I spend as much time reading ABOUT books as I do reading the books themselves. And I spend a not insignificant amount of time looking forward to books before they are published. How thrilling that during this pandemic so many anticipated books have been released or are due out this month. I started off in isolation in the company of Chris Bohjalian’s “Red Lotus” and Emily St. John Mandel’s “The Glass Hotel” — both fantastic reads that I was long looking forward to. Then I read Lily King’s “Writers and Lovers.” Twice. Twice! And I’d read it again. That book launched to the top of my all-time favorites list.
Two other books that I have been awaiting are “Rodham” by Curtis Sittenfeld and “I’d Give Anything” by Marisa de los Santos. Both are out this month, and I am splurging on hardcover pre-orders. When I place that order I will be throwing in the Suzanne Collins prequel to “The Hunger Games” for my 14-year-old (though surely I will read it, too).
Sittenfeld and de los Santos are two of my favorite contemporary writers. I have read everything they’ve published. Or so I thought! Last night, while checking to see when “I’d Give Anything” will be released I stumbled upon a book by de los Santos that I hadn’t read! I downloaded it and am reading it now. I almost whooped out loud when I realized the existence of this book, not sure how I’ve missed it thus far. I felt like you might when you reach into the pocket of your winter coat during the first snowstorm of the season and find a ten dollar bill!
Another reason, I think, that it feels I’ve been reading fewer books is that I’ve been spending so much time reading the news on my phone. When that screen-time summary comes through on Sunday mornings I quickly dismiss it. I do not want to know the details. I already know my screen time is up. Today’s news tells me:
There was an earthquake in Puerto Rico.
There are more than 3.4 million cases worldwide.
I saw a tweet that stated this:
Reported U.S. coronavirus cases
March 1: 89
April 1: 212,692
May 1. 1,103,461
This notification popped up on my phone from the Washington Post: “In pandemic’s early days, U.S. saw an estimated 37,100 more deaths than would normally be expected during that time period.”
So: What is the real death toll? Will we ever know?
Massachusetts Governor Baker has made wearing a mask mandatory in public.
New cases in Massachusetts: 1,952. Deaths: 130.
And that’s enough news. It’s a beautiful afternoon. 4:39 already. Laundry on the line. Calzone dough that needs to be made. A book by a beloved author on my Kindle. Counting my blessings as I acknowledge where we are. On day 50. FIFTY. Oof.
Stay safe, everyone.