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Sunday Salon: Reading Without Comprehending

The Sunday Salon.comDo ever have books that, as much as you want to be engaged with them, you just can’t seem to make the jump to get into it?  The topic, while interesting, just doesn’t grab you today?  That’s how I’ve been feeling trying to read Niche Envy by Joseph Turrow.  I really want to be into this book, but I just can’t get through it right now.

Niche Envy is about how the advertising industry is changing in the wake of a media shift from mass media to individual niches. For example, instead of relying on mass television like broadcast, more and more people have cable and Tivo and tv views habits they help them get around watching ads.  The book is trying to argue that new advertising methods that target consumers are a new form of discrimination.  At least, i think that’s what the argument is.  I just can’t really get into the book today, so I feel like most of what he’s talking about is going in one ear and out the other.

Aside from reading without comprehending, I’ve also been writing today.  I finally went through my entire archive of blog posts (posts I write and save until I need them, not just post right away).  I’ve been so, well, uninspired lately that I kept taking from the archive without adding anything back to it.  So today I finally sat myself down and reviewed a couple books I’ve had finished for quite awhile to build up my archive again.  NaBloPoMo goes for another 14 days, so I better start thinking of topics soon!

I gotta say, I love writing these Sunday Salon posts.  I like having an excuse to just reflect on reading, to write something exclusively personal on a blog that, generally speaking, I try to keep focused on books and my thoughts about bigger issues.  It’s nice to have a day that can be devoted to inward thinking if I need it.

This post is part of National Blog Posting Month for the month of November. You can find out more about NaBloPoMo here and view my NaBloPoMo profile page here. Thanks for reading!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • bermudaonion November 16, 2008, 4:36 pm

    I hope you find inspiration soon. Maybe the holidays will do it for you.

  • Debbie Nance November 16, 2008, 7:19 pm

    Nothing wrong with giving up on a book you’re not connecting with….We are grownups!

  • Lisa November 16, 2008, 8:43 pm

    It does sound like an interesting book, I hope you get back to it.

  • Joanne November 16, 2008, 10:06 pm

    I’ve had that happen a few times with non-fiction. I’m really into books like Freakonimics, Blink, Tipping Point – I can devour this sort of writing in one sitting. But every once in awhile it’s as though my brain says “nope, not gonna do it” so I set it aside for later.

  • Kim November 17, 2008, 8:35 am

    bermudaonion: I am so read to get home for Thanksgiving. I can use the break.

    Debbie Nance: If only I could just give up… I have to finish the book for class eventually!

    Lisa: It is interesting, just not today, or something.

    Joanne: I just finished The Tipping Point — it’s on my “to review” pile right now.

  • Louise November 17, 2008, 2:51 pm

    I know what you mean when you talk about having a hard time liking a book or getting into it. And sometimes it is even a book other people has raved about. But sometimes it is just like you describe and if it is something you have to read, there is nothing else to do but to bite down and do it. I hope you get into it or at least be able to finish as soon as possible.

  • bkclubcare November 18, 2008, 6:17 am

    Moods can definitely impact reading joy. I have Blink to read someday, soon. I am being called to nonfiction it seems – I can’t really decide what to read next. Maybe I’ll choose by what is shortest!

  • Kim November 18, 2008, 7:49 am

    Louise: Yeah, I finally just sat down yesterday and finished it. I liked it better last night, so maybe it just wasn’t a Sunday reading sort of book.

    bkclubcare: I’m being called away from nonfiction, I think. I would much, much rather be reading some of the fiction on my TBR list than the stuff I have to read for school!