As you probably know from the monthly thread, I read Blackout on your recommendation and absolutely loved it - in fact that is what inspired me to post the thread about enjoying reading above all other interests, not just now, but throughout my entire life.

After finishing Blackout last night, I checked the online inventory of my local library and was shocked to discover they actually have one of Willis's earlier books. Imagine my bitter disappointment when it proved to be missing from the shelves - either misplaced or stolen. Once again I was tempted to get in my car and drive to the nearest big chain bookstore to purchase at least one of her books. I did not...but I have just realized that I could buy it on my Kindle and have it right now...

Sometimes I read a book which raises questions in my mind along the lines of 'what would have happened if...' and I will spend days after the book has been finished working out alternatives. I think that other readers do this too!

I am amazed that there are those who can actually sit down and devote 24 hours to reading an entire book !!

Wow.

I find that even when I am reading a completely enthralling book, my attention eventually wanders off and I think of a list of other activities I want to do as well.
Rug hooking and knitting are always strong contenders for my creative energies.
I guess I am creatively ADD and just cannot stick with one activity for longer than an hour.
Even so, I accomplish so much that sometimes I amaze myself !
Right now I have THE SEPULCHRE in mid-read with THE LANGUAGE OF GOLDFISH in the pile, a funky Boobie scarf ( Breast cancer awareness pattern) on my needles and an original honey bee pattern on my rug hooking frame in the works.

Retired and loving life, every day's a banquet!

What do people do who have no passions!?

Yoyobon, I tell everyone that retirement is the best job I've ever had! I, too, have a hard time figuring out people who are bored and seemingly have no hobbies or interests beyond mindless TV.

I can stay w/a book for pretty much a whole day ... with breaks, of course.
But usually I'll wander off to watch some favourite TV show (like "Doc Martin" or "House Hunters International"), or talk to a friend on the phone, write a letter, etc. It's the rare book that can keep me mesmerized for a WHOLE day, exclusively !

lauramarie - My husband and I discovered "Doc" this summer and watched our way through all the seasons that were available on Netflix Watch Instantly. Loved it!

I used to be able to read for hours on end, but can't seem to do that anymore. I too start making lists of all the things I could/should be doing.

I'm watching the Doc Martin programs, too, and truly enjoy them. But I can read for hours, and have enjoyed my retirement those days.

I sat down with Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn last night about 9:30 thinking to read a little bit before heading up to bed. Every so often I would look at the clock and say to myself that I would just read a few more pages and then I'd go to bed. At 12:30 I turned the last page and decided it had been worth the short night's sleep (the alarm was set for 6 a.m.) that I was now going to have so that I could find out the ending. (Not the first and certainly not the last time I have decided a good book was worth a short night's sleep!)

As a chronic insomniac, I do most of my reading at night. Thus, I am able to read for about 5-6 hours straight through. Days are filled with other activities, less sedentary. I remember when I finished E. Kostova's "The Historian", I thought about it for weeks afterward. I promptly sat down and re-read it! Finally, I decided I just had to own a used copy. It was a long while before I could get my head around any other theme. Another work that had the same effect on me was "The Go-Between."

Dear Sarah C. & Phyllis-

Thanks for telling me I can rent "Doc Martin" on Netflix !

Here (New York City) the series only began last month -- PBS TV. So it's a whole NEW THING. I just love the setting! . . . Someday I want to buy a house (a *small* one -- ha-ha ! ) by the ocean (Canada or New England). . . . So besides this show being fun to watch for the story; it's fun to see the scenery and exterior/ interior of all those charming houses ! ! !

As for "afterglow" books -- Here are a few that did it for me :

"The English Patient" - M. Oondatje
"Emma" - J. Austen
"I Capture the Castle" - D. Smith
"Death Comes for the Archbishop" - Willa Cather
"The Stories of Eva Luna" - I. Allende

BTW: Last week when I sold some books at the Strand, what did I find on the shelf ? --- Both Connie Willis's books "Blackout" and the follow-up in hard cover. Both looked as if they'd never been read -- though they were used. (Price - $13 less the $10 they paid me = $3 !) Since I've never read one of her books, and I don't care for sci-fi, I only bought the first book. Because of the raves and story-line descriptions by so many here I've wanted to try this one. And they were the ONLY TWO BY HER on the shelf -- How about that for serendipity ?

Lauramarie, you should be warned that Blackout and All Clear together comprise one novel. There is no resolution at the the end of Blackout; it does not stand alone. It just stops. You will be a very unsatisfied reader if you get to the end of the first volume and are left hanging in the air.

Connie Willis is one of my favorite writers, so I was prepared for this going in, but I think the publishers did not do anyone any favors by not making people aware of this in advance.

Rosefolly -- Thank you for the warning. That's really news to me! Yes, what a nutty prank to pull on readers (buyers) of her books.

LM