It’s the curse of the Buddha Belly!
Last time I was pregnant I could not read. That is to say, I could read, I didn’t forget how, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything I read. If I remember correctly, I read 32 books that year, and most were after Ellie was born. I’m afraid this curse is going to be repeated.
So far this month I have read 9 books. But, 3 were fluff, 2 were audio, 2 were young adult vampire novels, and 1 was a graphic novel. The only harder book I’ve read was Lady Audley’s Secret and it’s mainly because I started it before I knew I was with child.
It’s not looking good folks.
I tried to read The Count of Monte Cristo, a book I have LOVED in the past. No go. Although, in all fairness, it still smells bad, which is bad for my very, very, very sensitive stomach (ie, it gives me dry heaves!) so I’m going to go get a new copy as soon as I can get to a bookstore. I picked up The Hobbit today, as I want to reread it before I challenge myself to read the Lord of the Rings, here’s hoping I can finish it!
I hope I can break this cycle of not being able to read heavy stuff whilst preggers, because I have SO many books I want to read this year!! Gah!
I have to say that it is somewhat hard to generate sympathy for a person who has read 9 books thus far this month! Assuming you squeak through another one by the end of the month that is on pace for 120 for the year!
If you want I will indeed shed a tear for you and not one because I'm chuckling!
Okay, now that I'm done being a smartass I can indeed sympathize with you not being able to read the books you most want to read and I too hope that you can overcome this before your newest bundle of joy is born. (Hope all else is going well with that so far)
LOL, you have a point there!
I would probably be happier with 9 books for the month if they were books I was "proud" of reading. I can be such a damn book snob sometimes and I'm talking about the romance novels here. Obviously, Nora and her kind have their place in the world, I just don't typically like to read them.
I need to work on my reading attitude.
Funny, I was the same way when I was pregnant. For some strange reason, I totally lost all interest in reading, and really didn't pick up a book the whole time. Hmmm, no wonder I'm adopting this time around!
I'm having the opposite problem. Besides not being pregnant, I've read about 7 books this month and I'm worrying that it's too *many*.
Good luck with reading The Hobbit. It's fun read and intro to Middle-earth.
Might be a good time to read a lot of fluff and mysteries. I suggest Dennie Lehane's Kenzie/Gennero (sp?) series. And Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series is quite good, too.
Maybe this is a good thing then, slay that book snob shadow that is trying to creep in. I'm all for reading whatever floats one's boat and choose not to feel ashamed of my love for what would be considered 'low-brow' science fiction or feel superior when I read and enjoy a work of 'classic' literature.
You will love The Hobbit! It is a great intro to the Ring Trilogy and so much fun. I'm with Carl about reading what you enjoy – it's all good. This month for me has been mostly non-fiction, but next month will be mostly sci-fi, fantasy, and mysteries. I'm an escapist at heart.
We all have cycles in our reading and in our lives, so if your pregnancy cycle demands fluff, enjoy it!
Buddha Belly! I have permanent Taco Bell-y. Keep those crackers at the ready.
Congrats on the pregnancy, Heather! I'm the total opposite as you this way. Here I am, 6 weeks away from my due date, and reading voraciously (stuck in bed with a cold, requiring babysitting for my 2yo, a good, *almost* guilt-free excuse to read read read), but knowing that once the new baby comes, it'll dwindle down to NIL. That's what happened the last time, anyway.
I'd say nine books–whatever the genre are pretty good!! Read what makes you happy. And at least it will only be nine months! Good luck and I hope you find something good you can stick with!
I giggled throughout this post and the previous comments. 'Adjust your reading attitude' – I love that!!!
I was the same way when I was pregnant. My reading numbers went way, way down! Definitely odd. Try reading the short story "Babies" by Ann Packer (in her book Mendocino and Other Stories). Have fun and good luck!
I can't read during morning sickness, that's for sure. I'm 34 weeks right now and totally back into the swing of reading, but it took me almost all of last summer to read "The Time Traveller's Wife" and even now, to remember that book makes me nauseous–and I don't mean any offense to Audrey Niffenegger–it wasn't her, it was me.
Anyway, congratulations on the pregnancy! I have five more weeks to go and then I'll be a mother of two–what?!