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| Several problems beset me:
At the moment, for my work, I am obliged to read a series of novels (classics) which I find extremely boring. However, it's got to be done. So: I haven't got time to read things I want to read. Ii also feel gulty for reading these books while the others wait. The final problem compounding all is that, these days, I've a reading/concentration span of about 20 minutes, partly due to eyestrain problems, so that i have to get up and walk about and look at things. The result of all this is that I don't read very much at all! I just look at the pile I must read..... then I consider the pile that I want to read...... then I continue like this for a while..... then I go away and do something else altotogether. NB: I have always managed in the past, and have never missed a professional deadline. I don't think there's much advice to be given on this present problem however - I'm just having a grumble, really. Advancing years and deteriorating health most probably have a lot to do with it too. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Alas, I fear you are right. There is just no way to make a book interesting. Reminds me of my school days, the second round being relatively recent. Those textbooks...ugh. Does it help to comment that the classics are probably better than the physics textbooks I ploughed through? (Probably not!) |
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- Posted by lemonhead101 (My Page) on Thu, Jul 12, 12 at 10:42
| What about listening to the books on tape etc.? That way, perhaps you could stride through the lovely countryside (and/or rain) and at least look at interesting stuff. Just an idea. (Or get an intern. I have approximately 26,000 potential student interns walking by my building so happy to grab one and bundle him/her up for you.) :-) |
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| Is this is situation that might lend itself to CLIFF NOTES !? Are there still such things? Reading assigned boring tomes is highly overated. I say get thee to a book store and search for CN ! |
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- Posted by twobigdogs (My Page) on Thu, Jul 12, 12 at 19:26
| Dido, Stop...breathe... relax. I am in your boat. Bad eyes, deadlines to meet and a definite deadline on my "eye time". The obstacles you cannot overcome, you must find a path around. Plan for the breaks. Plan for a coffee, or an errand or a visit during your rest times. Look forward to them as a chance to do something you enjoy or something that must be accomplished. Then, when "the buzzer" goes off, head back to your books. As for reading books you do not enjoy, my only remedy has been to appreciate the fact that I can STILL read. And to begin a hunt for a character, a sentence, a description, ANYTHING, that could justify WHY this book is still in print. Good luck. Let me know how it goes. |
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| If I have understood your post correctly, you are making one of your adaptations for radio or TV of a classic book which doesn't grab you? If so, will this interest the audience either? I, too, have recently had sight problems and I share your frustration. I was given an incorrect prescription and was trying to adapt to new glasses which gave me terrible eyestrain. I now have better ones but need to get used to these! The library knows me no more for a while! |
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| Annpan, yes, you are right. But I have to wade through quite a lot of reading to find out which are OK to adapt, and how I would link them in with others which I already know would be interesting. It's quite complicated - and quite an interesting project, of itself. PAM, thanks for your advice - I'll try it out. It's at times like this that I wish I still smoked, but not really because it has crippled my health. Which, Lemonhead, is why I can't 'stride through the country', much as I'd like to and good advice though you give. Yoyobon, I don't know Cliff Notes - are they things that give synopses of books? If so, I've already tracked down synopses and I can cheat with some of them. But others need to be read. Thanks, Friends, for your interest and advice. |
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| Would it help to have someone else read aloud to you? He/she might agree or disagree that the books are boring and you could discuss why you feel as you do. It wouldn't be cheating because you would hear the text, but your eye discomfort would no longer be a problem and discussing a chapter immediately after hearing could possibly help you to enjoy the task. The two of you might not agree the book is awful and you might actually find the author's message more interesting. |
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| Dido. I remembered listening to 'your' Germinal, Therese, Raquin and L'Assomoir and while I did very much enjoy them I appreciate there must have been many cold towel around the head and burning of midnight oil moments while turning them into scripts. If these 'new' novels are yet more Zola perhaps you remember feeling like this when you were reading/writing them a few years ago. How many books have you got to wade through? Of course, you are probably finding it difficult without Stan to throw ideas/questions at. Be unsparing with the blue pencil and soldier on. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. |
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| Not doubt that is true. But when facing a tedious project, sometimes it can be a very long tunnel. |
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| I've cut the number down to about 4, Vee....... from about 20! He's very long-winded. Thanks for your encouragement. I'll probably, almost certainly, get there in the end - though as you say, Rosefolly, it's a very long tunnel! I think, when beset, that I"m lucky to have something constructive to think about which I can turn into Work. |
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