Libb

How many fiction books do you all read? E-book or paperback. But not interesting in audiobooks. I’m curious about physically-read books.

To answer your question, I read fiction (be it novel, short stories, poetry, plays) less than I read essays, history, science(s), philosophy, sociology, spirituality books, and stuff like that. But I will always be reading some fiction, at any time. I love fiction, I just have to prioritize other kind of books if I want to read them ;)

The number of books depends the type of book I’m reading and their author, and in what language. I’m French, but I read a lot more in English and can also manage my way through not too complex Spanish books and this year I hope I’ll be able to really start reading in German but obviously I will not read as fluently in any of those languages than I read in French, not even in English. And that’s true not just for fiction.

I mean, I’m reading Jean-Jacques Rousseau at this moment and I obviously do not read him as quickly as I will read a novel but I also read Rousseau much quicker than I have read, say, Kant (Kant’s style is not as easy going as Rousseau’s, and his thought process is not as straightforward either, even though they ideally both require a lot of thinking in order to get anything worth out of reading them).

Even only considering fiction, my speed does vary a lot depending the author and their style, the length of the book and the type of book as I have personal preferences that will help me read a lot more than with anything written by an author or even in a genre I may not appreciate as much. I’m also much more likely to quickly finish a volume of short stories or a short novel than say Anna Karenina (which is probably my all-time favorite novel, btw) because I can read it even when I have much shorter time available to read.

Right now, I’m reading Proust In Search of Lost Time (I read it in French) and I know I will probably spend the whole year reading it. So, that’s one book a year? Not really, since I will read other fictions (and already have read others) during that time but still, it’s a whole year spent on a novel, or not?

Also, should I count the books I start and don’t finish for whatever reason, or not?

And then, even more so with fiction than with essays, I always have multiple books started at once. I don’t care much about finishing one book before starting another as I’ve pretty good memory and can instantly get back into the story where I left of and get back in the mood/atmosphere when I’m switching book), like when I’m watching a movie or a series. Even years after, I just have this odd memory.

So, it’s kind of a difficult question to answer but I would say: a lot ;)

Never had the opportunity to buy a Varsity, so I never tried one even though my all time favorite fountain pen is one from Pilot (not in the same price range, though ;)

I’m surprised I did not think of mentioning it next to the Preppy fountain pen I already mentioned but a reading lamp! This one is 15-18€ clip-on. It’s USB-C (I would prefer standard batteries if there was a model so it doesn’t got to waste one the battery is dead). It’s lightweight and the brightness (as well as its temp) can be adjusted.

Worth every single cent, imho. I find it so useful that I have purchased two, just in case I need to recharge one.

It picks one every hour from a folder full of paintings (oil & watercolor, a few sketches).

Love Platinum, they’re the only fountain pens I can even consider using, as they’re the only ones I found that can handle my low writing volume without drying out between uses.

Yep. As long as you cap it (like with any fountain pen for that matter), they won’t dry. In that regard, they’re among the best at any price range not kidding. But the plastic of the cap is a on the brittle side… which may ends up hindering the tightness of the capping as it won’t sit as tight. Not hate here, that’s only a maybe could happen (happened to me ;), they’re great.

I only ever browse social media on a PC and that’s the way it will always be. Sometimes I can’t help but feel like desktop/computer users are becoming an afterthought. Anyone else have similar feelings? 🫠

They are. This gives much better control to them of what we’re doing when we’re doingon ‘our’ phone, and much less control to us at the same time. It’s a Win-Win situation… for them only. And a lose-lose for us (worse experience and much less control of it).

That’s one of the reasons I refuse to use my phone to do anything… where I still have the option.

Platinum Preppy fountain pen. Often, it’s less than 10$

No one needs a fountain pen to write, but writing with a fountain pen is a unique experience. Alas, many fountain pens will cost a little fortune and other will cost a large fortune (what about a 40k$ one?). The Preppy is an exception. It’s not the best fountain pen but it’s very decent, it’s even incredibly good considering its price. For slightly more 25-30$, I would also suggest the Lamy Safari.

Beside that, I can’t think of many luxury items under 20. I mean, I can think of a few useful luxury things but they cost more than 20.

what do you folks generally do to optimize beddy-bye time?

Most of the time, I don’t look at any screen.

Instead, I read (paper book, a journal or a magazine), chat with my spouse, sketch and journal. Earlier in the evening, we may decide to watch a DVD together, but that’s not everyday. No coffee and seldom any tea late in the evening (or something herbal, then).

And almost without exception, the moment I put my head on the pillow I fall asleep. There have been many exceptions to that rule, mind you. That was back in those days where I was trying to escape my own personal daemons instead of facing them (like not getting rid of my own addictions and bad habits).

Like already suggested in the comments, if you have hard time sleeping melatonin is an option but on the short-term only. Don’t make it a long-term habit. I also consider the extra sleep it may give you not the best sleep, no surprise you may feel groggy.

To the insomniacs, what are some things you do in the wee hours/early morning for a relaxing start to your day?

Since I don’t need much sleep and I do my best work early in the morning, most of the days I wake up very early, around 3-4 AM and… I don’t look at any screen either. Imho, it’s even truer to realize that screens and online content are pure poison to the mind and to the soul early in the morning, like they’re in the evening.

I drink a large glass of water and appreciate the quietness for a few minutes. I may flip some pages of a book but most often I just sit or stand still breathing slowly. It probably is the closest thing to meditation, for me.

After I shower and dress, I’ll sit at my desk and start writing longhand—no screen remember, and no music either. Nothing but the still sleeping city around me with its otherworldly quietness, and me slowly scratching some paper with my fountain pen. (In summer, I’ll open the window next to my desk or even go sit on our balcony so I can better appreciate that magical quietness, and a little later start enjoying the company of the earlier-riser of the few remaining birds, the ones that start singing their songs well before car/bus/motorcycle engines overrun their voice for the rest of the day.)

I will write up until we’re getting close to the time my spouse usually wakes up @ 7-8AM (btw, we both work from home) at which time I’ll prepare breakfast and, while she is getting ready, I often will go grab some fresh pastry for her at the local bakery (they’re handmade and she loves them). We have a quiet but also chatty breakfast together. When she’s ready to start working I will go out for my first walk of the day, in order to get my body moving.

Now, the normal day is allowed to start, with its constant noise and its unexpected and very often less than pleasant events. I’m ready ;)

The Twilight Zone season 2, and we started season 3.

And a Muppet Christmas Special, too :)

• Like every day, long walks.
  For the last few days, the weather was really not great and if I don’t mind the rain or the cold, everything constantly being dark and dim made my daily walks less enjoyable. This morning the sky is bright blue, there is not a cloud to be seen and the sun is shinning. Happy.
• Read more of Proust A la recherche du temps perdu.
  Seriously, after many failed attempts in the last… 30 years or so, I opened the first volume one more time this evening to give it a shot and, somehow, I was able to get into it and appreciate his prose. Being French, one would think I should be able to better appreciate his style but for some reason I never was, like the book would fell off my hands. No idea what changed this evening (and after so many years) but reading the first 40 pages I was fucking blown away by what I was reading and how well it was done.

On DVD:

• The Twilight Zone (1959-64) Season 1 and beginning Season 2.
• Kelly’s heroes
• The Road, right after I re-read that amazing novel, I could not resist.

There’s something much more personal about it than typing on a screen.

So much! Like receiving (and sending) a handwritten letter. I don’t now, It encourages to care much in reading and/or answering it.

• Spend some time posting stuff in the !journaling@sh.itjust.works, hopefully encouraging members to participate more. Things have started to move in the right direction which makes me even more convinced there are a lot more people that could share real good/interesting/useful/fun content. One just needs to find how to encourage them.
• Write a letter and send it to a friend, the old-school snail mail way.
• Read (a paper book) and write (on sheets of paper, with a fountain pen). Yep, I try to spend as much time as I can away from any screen.
• Do chores. Yeah! (Don’t tell anyone, I cheated as little as I started the laundry today already)
• Get over that nasty cold I got a couple days ago.
• If that cold allows, get out for my daily walks.
• Last but certainly not not least, spend as much time as I can with my spouse, being silly together. It doesn’t matter if we’re well into our 50s and are supposed to be serious and all that, or if we’ve been silly together for 25 years already, it’s always a lot of fun ;)

I would start by looking in public libraries, shops, and by asking. Edit: most libraries will organize (or relay) various events, or they might know someone who does.

Without knowing what you’re looking for it’s difficult but let’s say you like to play chess like I do. The first think I did when arriving where I live is visit a chess shop and ask questions. The guy gave me a couple addresses, I went there and met people there, who helped meet other people and so on.

Edit: I would also check local newspapers and bulletin-boards.

I use mine as a way to keep track of events around me (no politics or earth shattering stuff, just daily & intimate stuff), things I want to be able to remember. And to help me put a semblance of order in my the mess I call my thoughts. Also as… a sketchbook which I find fun and relaxing to do even though I’m no artist.

My main suggestion would be to make it fun and exciting. The more it is, the more likely it will become a habit you will enjoy keeping.

Oh, I’m 50+ and I’ve been journaling for almost 50 years, if that makes any difference.

BTW, I very recently decided to try to ‘revitalize’ the !journaling@sh.itjust.works community. Here is two posts that may interest you: How do you actually start journaling? and How do you guys make short journal entries?

I hope you won’t mind that shameless plug but I thought it might interest you to know about that community. So, if you ever feel like joining and participating, do not hesitate. For the moment, people have been commenting below my posts, which is already a nice (and huge) change, but I would love to see more people posting new content. And if that’s something that worries you, there is no such thing as a stupid question ;)