Saturday 5 January 2013

Book collections

Coffee and kindle

I realised a few days after Christmas, that I've had my Kindle for a year now - it was a Christmas present from Graham last year.  I keep my ebooks organised into folders: To Read, Currently Reading and Finished.  My Finished folder had 71 books in it on Boxing Day, so that is how many ebooks I read last year.  On top of that there were quite a few paperbacks - and plenty of textbooks - which I read too.

It surprised me to find out how much I read.  I think that was a pretty normal year for me - I've probably read close to a hundred books in total, or roughly two a week.  Many of them were quick trashy reads, and many more were well-crafted, intelligent books.  I'm quite eclectic in my tastes.  A quick flick through my Finished folder reminds me that some of the highlights in 2012 were:
This afternoon I spent time with new cookbooks - some received for Christmas, and some recent purchases which I hadn't had time to rummage through properly.

Cookbooks

All four books are now begging for me to make things from them.  My menu plan for the next couple of weeks is filling up nicely.

But the one book I've failed to make any headway with today, is my reflective journal.  A notebook (a lovely Rob Ryan notebook no less) in which I am meant to be reflecting on a regular basis about my experiences on placement.

Reflecting

A great deal of the writing we do on our nursing course is reflective - exploring what happened, how we reacted or behaved, and what we would do differently next time.    We have to write reflective essays, as well as writing reflective pieces in our portfolio of experience, and keeping a reflective journal.

I am finding it ridiculously difficult - ridiculous mainly because I love blogging, and it struck me quite early on that blogging is a form of reflective writing.  I can see how reflective writing would be useful for my studies too - there is so much to take in, and so much that is emotional and challenging on the wards, that it would be good to get everything down on paper and make sense of it.  I often end a shift feeling like I need a pensieve like Albus Dumbledore's, into which I could dump all my thoughts and experiences until I was ready to make sense of them.

So I'm not sure why I have not got the hang of reflection yet.  I have this little textbook to help me, which is brilliant, and I shall keep trying.  Just as soon as I've spent a little bit longer with Hugh, Nigel and the others.

9 comments:

  1. I think I'd struggle badly with reflective writing too - and a Pensieve would be a wonderful aid to all students I'm sure :-D. I've been wondering how much I read. I don't have my Kindle organised in any way, partly because there's a lot of my husband's favourite reading on it too (if it's free and science fiction he'll read it). I do know I've actually read *more* since I got my Kindle though and I'm endeavouring to keep track of how many books I read this year. Like Sue I'm on a bit of a crime-fiction-fest at the moment :-).

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  2. I've only read one of the books on your list (the Jon McGregor) but it's one of the most 'remarkable' I've ever read. I must look up the others in anticipation of my next turn to choose a book for our reading group.

    I received Nigel's latest cookbook for Christmas and had Hugh's signed for my elder daughter. They're both as inspiring as you would expect. Jamie's had some interesting recipes (some of which I found on the internet) but I'll be interested to hear whether you manage any of them in the allotted time. As for Rose Petal Jam, it looks good enough to eat itself.

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  3. I got Rose Petal jam for christmas too! but then I am Polish! makes sense huh? I just love the pics in it! I asked for jameis meals but santa didnt bring me that one, oh well next xmas maybe!

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  4. Gosh... makes me think I don't read much at all. My Kindle was a present last year and I think I've read about 10 e-books (plus some paperbacks).I also had the Nigel Slater book for Christmas this year. I think any sort of writing is difficult when you have to do it.

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  5. I think Sue is right - if you *have* to do anything, it immediately becomes far less appealing.

    I haven't read nearly as much as you have, and I have absolutely no excuse. I have watched a heck of a lot of rubbish TV while sewing though. Don't think that counts ...

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  6. Oh and I was so proud of my 45 books! Thank you so much for convincing me to get a Kindle too. I've had my eye on Rose Petal Jam. Do let me know what you think of it. And who can resist Nigel?! K x

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  7. The problem with academic writing is that it is more formal than the reflective writing style you have become familiar with in blogging and also you cannot avoid the subjects that you don't want to discuss. However, you will find that the formal style of academic writing will become more familiar over time and you will be able to separate it from your comfortable blogging style.

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  8. This must be one of your best blogs EVER. i didn't want it to end....

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  9. gosh and I thought that my one book a week was good going.... have you discovered the secrets of time stretching!!

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