TSS: You've read this post before

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You've probably read this post before.  You know the one.  "My life is getting really busy and I don't have time to blog."  "I just feel burned out."  "I don't want to do this any more."  "I hate the drama/politics/cliques of book blogging."  Etc., etc., etc.  Lots of variations on a general theme of "I am not going to be blogging much any more."

I guess now it's my turn.  No, I don't think there is inherent drama in book blogging.  I don't think it's clique-y.  If you know me well enough for me to be candid with you over email (which isn't hard- I am generally a very candid person), then I have shared my thoughts on the "clique" idea with you already.  I also really like book blogging, and I don't think I'm burned out.  Yes, there are times when I wonder if what I do makes any sort of difference whatsoever:  does anyone read the books I recommend, based on my review?  I vacillate on this, and then remember that influencing the reading of others was not the reason I originally started blogging, so it shouldn't be a reason to continue in future.  Really, the only reason this blog may be going on hiatus (starting very, very soon) is because I don't know how much I'll be reading in the next few years.

I don't think I've mentioned it on this blog before, but I will soon begin business school at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.  I'm very excited about that, and am really looking forward to my time there.  I am thrilled about changing my career, getting back on a college campus, tailgating, meeting so many new and interesting people, learning all sorts of new concepts and just generally getting back on-track with my life.

I could be very dramatic and say, "I won't have time to read," but there have been multiple posts about this topic on other blogs.  About people who "don't have time to read" making a decision to do other things instead (for some reason, people often cite watching TV as the alternative to reading books, as though there is nothing else to do with one's time), and these posts, in my opinion, are fairly judgmental.  Well, after a great deal of mulling and internal conflict, I'd like to say:  sometimes people do not have time to read.  Yes, they are making a decision not to.  Yes, they are choosing to do other things with their time.  Yes, they are making a value judgment that you might not make yourself.  But hey, there are a lot of priorities to set in life and I am not in the least bit ashamed to say that for the next two years, I intend to be as social and outgoing as possible, and reading won't be my priority. 

If I get some reading done, I will be happy, of course.  Even if I am not prioritizing reading, that doesn't mean that I do not still love reading.  I just think there are other ways in which I should make use of my time.  I'm not setting any rules for myself, though.  I am not going to tell you that I hope to finish a book a week (but no more than that).  I don't really have any hopes in that direction.  I will read when I have time, and if I don't have time, I won't.  I don't know what that will mean for this blog.  Maybe I'll have weekly updates on what I'm reading and my thoughts on that read.  Maybe I'll post vignettes about things that happen to me that remind me of a scene/idea/theme of a book I've read.  Maybe I'll tell you about what textbook I'm reading and what novel I wish I were reading.  I am not sure where my creativity (or lack thereof) will take me and BookLust, but I do know that things are going to change.

I am sure that the reviews will slow down.  The responses to comments won't be as timely.  I probably won't be visiting other blogs nearly as often.  If you really want my opinion/thoughts/reactions/musings/recommendations/rambling responses to something, please email me.  Please.  I am much better about responding to email than I am about anything else.  I know most of you will not email me, and I know most of us will lose touch for the next few years.  But I hope that if you do think of me, you reach out to me (as I will be sure to do for you, too), and that we can stay in touch that way.  And for the rest of you out there- hopefully we'll get back in touch after I graduate.

This isn't a goodbye post.  It's a "See you around, I hope" post.  Thanks for everything over the past few years, and happy reading :-)