Another Sarah's 2016 Classics Challenge

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Two more great books. Congrats.

[Sarah]

Pink wrote: "Wow, they're two daunting books. Congrats on finishing A Tale of Two Cities, that should at least free up some more time for The Divine Comedy. I still haven't read either, but I might tackle the f..."

It took a lot longer than I anticipated to get through A Tale of Two Cities. But part of that was not reading much for a week when my grandma passed away.

The Divine Comedy is proving a little more daunting than I anticipated. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but yikes. I'll get through it though because so far I find it very intriguing.


Sara wrote: "Two more great books. Congrats."

Thanks :)

[Sara, Old School Classics]

Sarah, I am so sorry about your Grandmother. Understandable that you would have had a break in the reading.

[Sarah]

Sara wrote: "Sarah, I am so sorry about your Grandmother. Understandable that you would have had a break in the reading."

Thanks, Sara.
Even thinking about reading hurt at first. A love of books was one of the things we always shared. Which is why after about a week I told myself that Gram would not be pleased with me for not wanting to read, so I had best get back to it.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Oh Sarah, many condolences on your Grandmother's passing. Take care of yourself.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I'm so sorry for your loss!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sorry for your loss.

[siriusedward]

sorry for your loss Sarah..

[Sarah]

Thanks all.
She was ok, then she hurt her back in August. She went to the doctor who saw nothing in any tests. She ended up in the emergency room two days after Labor Day. Well turned out that the back pain was actually the result of a tumor and she had cancer. Diagnosed to gone in a month. Still seems a bit unreal at times.
But I'm trying to get back into a normal routine, one day at a time.
Its definitely hard though. We saw her almost every weekend as she lived in the same town as us.

[Pink]

Sorry for your loss Sarah, that must have been a sudden shock for everyone. Look after yourself and don't worry about taking time away from reading. Sometimes it helps to distract or comfort yourself, but sometimes you just can't concentrate on a book when you're going through a personal grief. We're here if you want to talk about books, or anything else :)

I hope The Divine Comedy improves for you too, just take it slowly.

[Sarah]

Pink wrote: "Sorry for your loss Sarah, that must have been a sudden shock for everyone. Look after yourself and don't worry about taking time away from reading. Sometimes it helps to distract or comfort yourse..."

Thanks Pink.
My groups here are helping. I pop in here on GR during my breaks during the work day or at lunch time. Trying to keep up with conversations or join in on discussions has helped remind me that I have lots of things to help me stay anchored while my whole family works out the new normal out in the "real world."

I started The Divine Comedy, then had to put it down for a few days when I realized I had reread the same section twice and still couldn't tell you what I had just read. I just wasn't ready yet for something that required that much concentration. I'm ready to get back to it though.

I'm to the point now where reading is a good distraction. I can lose myself in the book I'm reading for awhile. I've been doing that before bed to help me relax enough to fall asleep. Its helping.

Just taking everything one day at time.

[Kathleen]

I'm sorry to hear your news Sarah. I too have found losing myself in a book really helpful when dealing with something so difficult. Hang in there.

[Sarah]

Never going to complete this challenge, but one more down anyway

[Sara, Old School Classics]

With what you have been through, Sarah, it is more important that you are getting some release from the books than that you complete the challenge. Hope things are improving.

[Sarah]

Sara wrote: "With what you have been through, Sarah, it is more important that you are getting some release from the books than that you complete the challenge. Hope things are improving."

Thanks, Sara. Each day is a bit easier. Thanksgiving was hard and Christmas is going to be tough, but we are slowly finding a new routine. That involves getting back into a reading groove, no matter how hard. One of our favorite authors announced approximate release dates for his next few books yesterday. Not being able to pick up the phone and tell Gram all about it definitely hurt :(
I didn't read as much in September with Gram in the hospital and for almost two weeks really in October I did almost none at all when she died. It definitely impacted the challenge, but there are more important things.

[Sarah]

One more down.

If I can manage to finish The Divine Comedy, there will only be two that I failed to read.
It could be worse.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

The Divine Comedy alone is a major accomplishment!

[Sarah]

Sara wrote: "The Divine Comedy alone is a major accomplishment!"

I really didn't expect it to be as difficult as it is turning out to be.

[Sarah]

Completed The Divine Comedy today.
So that means 10/12 completed, 11/12 when counting the alternate I did read.
Could have been a lot worse.

[Pink]

I consider 11/12 a great success! Well done :)