Thursday, November 8, 2012

JAM.08 - That's entertainment?


I have realized lately that my recreational reading has dwindled down to barely anything in the last several months. I'm part of a monthly book club in Santa Barbara, and I think I have only made two or three of the meetings all year because I just haven't made time to read the chosen book.

For the last month or so, my main reading material has been my Bible and the devotional book I started during the women's retreat. Now, I definitely don't regret making those books a priority. But it's not like I'm reading my Bible as much as I used to read other, recreational books. So where is all that time I used to spend devouring books being spent now?

Well. It has dawned on me that I'm spending a lot of my free time watching TV, and that's probably a huge reason I haven't been reading much. I've known for a while now that I watch WAY too much TV (especially for someone who doesn't even own a television). I make light of it, and I sometimes tell myself I should really cut back on it, but then nothing ever really changes... except adding MORE new shows to my Hulu queue.

So it's time to cut back. I'm not going to stop watching TV all together. At least, that's not something I feel the need to do right now. But I looked through my list of subscriptions, removed most of the shows I had recently added (since I'm really not invested in them yet), and deleted like ten more shows, and it actually felt really good. (Are you thinking, "You deleted more than TEN shows and still have more TV to watch?!" Because, yeah. I wasn't kidding when I said I watch a lot of TV.) I feel like I still have a lot more shows in the queue than I probably should, but it's a start.

I think what it boils down to is: what sort of entertainment am I most interested in? What inspires me, gets me thinking, makes me laugh, prompts me to ask questions? A lot of the shows I've been watching are, to be quite honest, garbage. I would much rather let go of New Girl and its painfully awkward (albeit often funny) humor, and spend that half hour delving into a good book instead. (No offense, Zooey Deschanel.)

And, okay, I read some pretty ridiculous novels from time to time, too. I fully admit to reading the entire Pretty Little Liars series, and I haven't let go of the book-inspired TV series for that one just yet, either. Sometimes I think I enjoy those types of books because I tell myself I could write something better if I wanted to. (Not that I have tried to write a novel since I was eight years old. But I digress.)

Anyway, I want to rekindle my love of books again, because I find joy in the experience of "seeing" new worlds through the written word.


Do you watch a lot of TV? 
Got any good book recommendations for me?





Day eight of NaBloPoMo: check!

7 comments:

  1. I know what you mean! I only have 5 core shows in my queue that I'm hard-pressed to give up (plus 2 new ones that are interesting but I'm not too hooked on yet) and it already feels overwhelming, trying to keep up with them AND find time to read. Just out of curiosity-- did Grimm and/or OUAT get the axe? ;-)

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    1. Nope, still watching Grimm and OUAT! :)

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    2. Haha, nice. They'd def be harder for me to give up vs. a show like New Girl (or even Bones) because there's that continuing storyline to follow!

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  2. Way to go on cutting down on the TV! We didn't get cable when we moved in in order to save money, and then we actually decided to stop watching TV altogether in August- and it's been the best!! More time to read, talk, connect- and for me, it's one less thing to distract me from studying :) Loving your blog lately and glad to hear things are going well in SB!

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    1. When I moved away for college I thought I was going to DIE without being able to watch my shows, but I never missed them! I'm thinking after the current season of my favorite shows ends, maybe that will be a less painful time to cut ties. :-P

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  3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern! I also love the Divergent series by Veronica Roth (she's currently finished two of the three). I love anything by Marian Keyes (Last Chance Saloon is my personal favorite)...

    That should get you started ;).

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    1. I read the Night Circus last year around this time and LOOOOVED it. I may even read it again. :) And I've been meaning to pick up the Divergent series for ages!

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