Saturday Salon: Long Reading Weekends

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Saturday Salon: because sometimes I feel like salon-ing on Saturday.

I really love my job. I find it challenging, yet satisfying. It's intellectually stimulating but rarely stressful. I look forward to going to work every day, but I also look forward to time away from work. I'm incredibly lucky to work at a university that values work-life balance. I get four weeks of paid vacation each year, and I have to use it or lose it each year. In addition, the university closes for almost two weeks for Christmas and New Year's. As someone who started this job in June, I didn't use very much of my vacation in the summer. I didn't want or need much of a break yet. So here I am, with most of my vacation time unused. I needed a plan to use these days before the end of May, and genius struck: long reading weekends.

Sure, they're called vacation days, but I'm planning to use one day a month to make a long reading weekend staycation. After a month of hectic but exciting travel on weekends, I'm thrilled to spend today, tomorrow and Monday (!) reading (and catching up on my DVR.) Bring on the relaxation.

More specifically, I'm planning to spend the next three days finishing up The Marriage Plot, which I'm really enjoying. I'm about half-way through it now and will dive back in as soon as I finish this post. I also need to finish Jamrach's Menagerie. I'm enjoying it, but it's one of those books I don't miss when I'm not reading it and often found myself picking up something else. It's perfect for the long reading weekend. I didn't finish it before The Marriage Plot came out, but it's next in line. Then, I need to start (and finish) Half-Blood Blues to round out my Booker reading before the announcement of the winner Tuesday. I'd like to get caught up (and ahead) in my Anna Karenina reading too, but that's less urgent.

I hope to bring you reviews of Jamrach's Menagerie and Half-Blood Blues before Tuesday too.

Now tell me: what are you reading this weekend? 

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Comments

  1. ZibileeOctober 15, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    I bought a copy of Jamrach's Menagerie at the Border's closing sale (along with a lot of other things) and have been curious about starting it. I have heard some interesting things, so I will be curious to see what you think. I am also interested in picking up The Marriage Plot as well. I hope that you have a wonderful long weekend reading!

    ReplyDelete
  2. RaynaOctober 15, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    I love the idea of a reading weekend! That was my plan for all of next weekend, including the readathon, but now I'm going to be away and I think I won't get as much read.

    I feel like I'm going to eventually have to read The Marriage Plot. Otherwise I'll be the only book blogger in existence who hasn't. Plus, it sounds really good!

    Have a great time reading!

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  3. Beth(bookaholicmom)October 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    I love a good long reading weekend! I received an audio version of The Marriage Plot and was thinking it was not a read for me but after hearing so many readers rave about Jeffrey I am glad I have it and look forward to it. Enjoy your nice long weekend!

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  4. Meytal RadzinskiOctober 15, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    I too have been enjoying a longer-than-usual weekend and am certainly taking the time to catch up on my reading. Though I'm not yet certain which specific books I'll be reading in the coming days (not being by the shelves at the moment...), I'm thinking to take advantage of the time to catch up on my world literature reading. Hopefully broaden my horizons some... Hope you enjoy your extra reading time!

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  5. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaOctober 15, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Working in an academic environment does have its benefits, but my job is far from challenging so I don't look forward to work, but do enjoy the time off...LOL

    Enjoy your long reading weekends. I have Marriage Plot and hope to start it soon. enjoy

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  6. BooksnycOctober 16, 2011 at 12:33 AM

    I am spending the weekend catching up on reviews as I am woefully behind. I will be finishing the memoir The Next 15 Minutes.

    Enjoy your long weekend!

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  7. VasillyOctober 17, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Lucky you that you have such a great job with plenty of vacation time! Having a reading weekend sounds like a great idea. Happy reading.

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  8. AthiraOctober 17, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    That is so perfect! To use vacation time for reading. I would love to have that. Over summer, I had Fridays off and used most of the long weekends for reading. It was fabulous!

    ReplyDelete

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