Jun 22, 2010

Oops

A lolcat to illustrate my blahs

So, between a busy period at work and some unexpected personal problems to deal with, I seem to have taken a short impromptu blogging break. I’ve barely been online since last Thursday, and as things are going to continue to be busy for some time, I’m afraid I’ll have to make use of the dreaded “Mark All as Read” Google Reader button. The alternative would surely result in me driving myself crazy trying to catch up. It’s amazing how out of touch I feel after only a few days (and how much book bloggers post! Not that I love you any less for it, of course.)

I always worry I’ll miss something important when I do that, so please tell me if you’ve read any books you think I’d really like, or announced any fun events or irresistible challenges, or posted any interesting discussions. Don’t be shy about leaving me a link or two, as you’d really be doing me a favour! Also, I feel horribly guilty that I’m so behind on replying to your wonderful and thoughtful comments. Plus the people I owe e-mails/guest posts/joint reviews to probably hate me by now. I’m so sorry! I’ll get on top of things again soon (hopefully).

I haven’t been reading much at all this month, but I still have some May books to tell you about, so bookish chatter should resume as normal soon. Before I go, I’ll leave you with some literary news that made my day: Vintage Books will be reprinting fourteen of Stella Gibbons’ books. You might remember how much I adored both Cold Comfort Farm and Nightingale Wood, and how much I lamented that more of her work wasn’t available. I dearly hope that her two other fairy tale novels, which Sophia Dahl mentions in her introduction to Nightingale Wood, will be included among those being reprinted. Either way, the news made me ridiculously happy.

Posted by Ana S. at Tuesday, June 22, 2010

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44 comments:

  1. I totally understand since I've had some personal things to deal with lately. It's so hard to be disconnected, but also so necessary at times. I hope things settle down for you soon.

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  2. I came very close to sending you an email yesterday to make sure everything was ok. I get nervous when you don't show up in my reader! Glad to hear from you & you'll be in our thoughts. We'll be here when you get back! Elisabeth

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  3. Sounds like your summer's been very crazy so far, and not in a good way! I hope things get much better for you soon, Ana. You didn't really miss anything on my blog, though my blame game ended yesterday and Chris barely barely squeaked both you and Jason out as the winner, by one book! You and Jase were tied in 2nd place. :D

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  4. Please don't let yourself get stressed about not blogging as life gets in the way sometimes.

    Besides, we can always read your older posts to get a Nymeth hit. As a new reader I have a lot to catch up on!

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  5. Don't stress out - though our comments here give you more to respond to and hence more stress, heh - we all understand and have been there at some point or another! Good luck with all of your stuff and I hope you get caught up soonish. But don't feel bad about your break!

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  6. I would like to join you in your delight over Stella Gibbons because I loved 'Cold Comfort Farm', but 'Fort of the bear' was so appalling that I think I will have to hope out library buys the new editions rather than splashing out money myself.

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  7. Fabulous news about the Stella Gibbons reprints. I am so pleased about that.

    Don't worry about the blogging world. Life is more important and sometimes we all need to take a step back.

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  8. I do hope things settle down for you very soon, Ana! Summer should be relaxing and fun...and I hope it gets to be that way for you very soon. Well, if not relaxing (as I know you've got a lot going on), at least fun!!!

    PS--That may be my favorite lolcat ever. :)

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  9. That's so awesome re: Stella Gibbons! Her books are always so difficult to find (with the exception of CCF), so I'm really looking forward to seeing more things from her back catalogue!

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  10. I totally understand - I just got back from a week of vacation and had to hit the dreaded Mark All As Read. I hate doing it, but it's not worth driving yourself crazy to catch up! I hope things get better!

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  11. Nymeth, I am hoping that things get less busy and more peaceful for you soon. Please don't worry about the blog posts...they will all be here when you get back! Also, it's really great that the Gibbons books will soon be available. I have only read Cold Comfort Farm, so it will be nice to have easy access to others!!

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  12. Everyone needs to step away from the computer...now that I'm on summer break I've made a rule that I can only be on a few hours in the morning and not until 9 pm at night. It's amazing how much I've accomplished...reading a book a day has been nice! People understand Ana, and if they don't, well then they weren't really a friend after all. Take care of yourself and you always know that we'll be here!!

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  13. I was just away from blogging for a few weeks, so I know how you feel! But don't worry, we won't leave you.

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  14. Please don't stress. Sometimes it is good (and necessary) to "unplug." It's nice to know you're out here. :)

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  15. Thought I hadn't seen you on Twitter in a while, that's when we know you really need to hang a do not disturb sign on your laptop :) Hope everything is coming back together after those problems you mentioned.

    Oh and let me share a bit of bookish joytime with you - 14 Stella Gibbons eep :)

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  16. Thanks for the post I was wondering where you'd been! I hope things work out for you...I suppose this is getting us ready for when you go off to school. :(

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  17. I've yet to read Cold Comfort Farm.. you were the one who made me really consider it. I'll be awaiting the new Vintage covers, hope they're lovely!

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  18. Here's wishing you strength and an easy mind and good books while you take your break. That is great about Stella Gibbons! And I just heard about not so much a challenge as a little festival at Jenny's Books. She is doing a Diana Wynne Jones week at the start of August. She's got a neat button for it.

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  19. AHHHHH!!!! You just made my year!!! I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT TO READ MORE STELLA GIBBONS!! I loved Cold Comfort Farm too and was very upset when I couldn't find more of her works anywhere and found that they never got reprinted.

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  20. It happens to everyone now and then. I would just do the "mark all as read" and start fresh!

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  21. I was gone for two weeks on vacation and felt totally disconnected, but that is life. We do have them outside of blogging, don't we? The only thing major going on, at least in my neck of the woods, is the celebration of Audio Book Week. Jen at Devourer of Books is leading the charge and we are posting audio reviews and discussing various topics on the subject. No guilt...mark them all as read and move on!

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  22. I've been through an exceptionally hard time lately too, and for a while books and blogging seemed unimportant. There's nothing wrong with getting a fresh start! I hope you're O.K.

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  23. Things do seem to move at a quicker pace in the book blogging world :) But don´t stress yourself over it, take your time!

    So excited about the Vintage reprinting of Gibbons´ works, I loved Cold Comfort Farm as well. Hope Vintage Classics will choose great cover art, like they usually do.

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  24. Don't feel guilty about the "mark as read" button! I click on it everyday. I allow myself 20 minutes a day, tops, for scanning items of interest... the rest, I don't have time for. Just reading blogs could be a full time job in and of itself.

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  25. You're such a champion, that I wouldn't worry about it! Seriously, you deserve a break, and you'll be in the loop with one quick glance through your next reader! :)

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  26. We all need time to ourselves every once in a while and especially when you have so many things going on. I do hope you don't stress about your blogging life too much and take all the time you need for yourself. We'll be here.

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  27. Sometimes we have to "mark all as read" to keep our sanity! Don't worry about that Nymeth. Just take care!

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  28. I hope everything improves soon! I have had to make use of the mark all as read button myself lately, and I will again next month when I go away for two weeks - it's just life. We'll always welcome you when you come back. =)

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  29. Your reviews are always so terrific - I can see why you might need some time to relax and refresh. Of course your posts are missed, but here's hoping you are taking good care of yourself.

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  31. I hope things are back to "normal" soon. I'll be here when you return!

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  32. No worries at all, Ana, though I've to admit I've been wondering about your "disappearance". ;) I hope everything's going on fine with you. Take care!

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  33. Enjoy your break! When you return we can discuss Monsters of Men which eeeeeee just arrived in the post!!!

    P.S. Seriously, thank you for reading and reviewing Patrick Ness.

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  34. <3 I hope everything clears up for you soon, with a postive outcome.

    I wouldn't normally do this, but I recently started a women in fantasy project that I think might interest you. I also posted my review of The Vampire Lestat, and we were talking about it on Twitter, so, um, yeah. *shuffles awkwardly away*

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  35. I am excited to hear about the Stella Gibbons books. I just got my hands on Nightingale Wood! A break i sometimes a very good thing:)

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  36. I hope things settle down for you soon Ana!!! Sorry to hear that things have been so damn hectic :( Nothing special to catch up on with my blog :p But that's so exciting about all of the new Gibbons books!! And I haven't even read anything by her yet, lol. *hugshugshugs*

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  37. I hope things calm down soon Nymeth, I miss you! ;-)

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  38. Thank you so much! You're all so lovely and kind and understanding - this is why I miss you so much when I'm not around. I think I'll be able to stay on top of things now. I actually managed to write two posts this morning, so that's the rest of this week practically covered. And tomorrow's a holiday, so who knows how productive I'll be :P

    I'm glad to have helped spread the Stella Gibbons happiness! Gavin, I think you'll really enjoy Nightingale Wood. And Study Window, let us hope that Fort of the Bear was the exception and not the rule! I also can't wait to see those Vintage covers. They rarely disappoint.

    And Memory, no awkwardness! I want those links, and I'm already excited about the women in fantasy series :D

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  39. I've somewhat finally got my Google Reader under control but before I did I'll admit to hitting that Mark All as Read buton a few times.

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  40. Please don't stress over this at all! We'll still be here. And, seriously, you post a lot. I'm not sure how you do it and am in total awe :o)

    I loved your two Stella Gibbons reviews so much that I purchased them!

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  41. Relax, mydear. I, too, am feeling a bit pressed for time to blog 'approrpriately' for my motivations, but alas, ... ya know. SMILES and HUGS!

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  42. Ana -- take whatever breaks you need to help yourself out. Hope things get better for you, too.

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  43. Thank you so much, everyone! And Terri B, I hope you love Stella Gibbons' books as much as I did!

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  44. Oh wow that's wonderful news about Gibbons' books!! I wonder if Vintage heard our collective mumbling about not being able to get ahold of them anymore? ;)

    Looking forward to hearing more from you and what you're reading when you have the time - I struggle just to keep up with my reviews, let alone post about anything interesting! No one expects you to always be here :D *hugs*

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment - interaction is one of my favourite things about blogging and a huge part of what keeps me going.

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