Play Book Tag discussion

Some of you may have noticed, but I haven't been on much in the last few weeks... I've lost my desire to read.

I was so excited about all the challenges I planned to do this year and I was making such good progress! I had amazing months for Jan, Feb and Mar and read everything that I planned to read.

Then within three weeks I lost two half-brothers in unrelated ways. One died of natural cases and the other died from injuries received in a tragic car accident.

I finished my 'PBT Horizons' book that I planned which also hits the tag for the month, but I'm struggling to get through my 'Trim' book, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

Right now, I honestly just don't have a desire to read. I've been in GA and FL spending time with my family and have been more focused on spending time with them than trying to check another book or challenge off my list. I'm sure I'll be back in a couple of weeks or a month or so. Hopefully, it won't be like when my dad passed and I didn't read for a couple of years because I was too afraid that what I was reading would make me confront my feelings and leave me feeling vulnerable. Luckily, I've been working on that and have an amazing group of people that I can lean on for support.

Remember, your life can in an instance. Make sure people know how to get into your computers, phones, and accounts if there is something important on or in them. Make sure you have someone to erase your search history ;) if you need that. And make sure you take an extra second to hug your loved ones, because you never know if you'll see them again.

Oh, wow. I'm so sorry, Charlotte. How devastating. :'(

You take care of yourself. Reading will always be there when you're ready to come back to it.

I’m so very sorry to hear this- this news is heartbreaking. It’s understandable that you don’t feel like reading. Hugs to you and your family.

So grateful you checked in to tell us. I hope you know you have all of our support and love.

All my love to you Charlotte - what a devastating time for you. We had a similar time a few years ago and I know how hard it is. I echo your sensible advice about having backup plans for the unexpected as well

So sorry to hear that, Charlotte! Hugs and love to you and your family. We'll be here when you feel like picking up a book again, or you can just drop bye here to let us know how you are doing.

You are going through such a hard time, Charlotte. I'm so sorry to hear it. Sending you all my thoughts to comfort you and give you strength.

I am so sorry for the losses you and your family have suffered. I hope you find comfort and peace; just know that your reading family is here when you are ready.

Very sorry for your losses, Charlotte.
I hope you are able to heal with the strength of your family and friends, and 'see' you when you return.

My thoughts and prayers are with you Charlotte as you process and heal through the heartbreaking losses of your family members. I always enjoyed reading your reviews and when you are ready to rejoin us will eagerly look forward to them.

My thoughts are with you and your family Charlotte-I wish you peace and strength during this time. Your love of reading will still be there when you mind and heart are ready

Thank you all!! This all seems so surreal. When my dad and my oldest brother passed, it was expected because of their respective health issues. With my other brother, Greg, it is just all so sudden, surreal, and tragic. He had a brain injury and the swelling just wouldn't stop. They tried to keep his body alive so that he could be an organ donor as per his wishes and so there could be something meaningful to something so meaningless but after 5 days, his body just gave up. We were able to donate his corneas.

I'm thinking I may just pause on all the challenges and maybe read solely for the joy and fun of reading, once I head home. Or at least once the fog clears and my ability to focus returns.

Any fun or light-hearted book suggestions??

Charlotte wrote: "Thank you all!! This all seems so surreal. When my dad and my oldest brother passed, it was expected because of their respective health issues. With my other brother, Greg, it is just all so sudden..."

Everyone is different, Charlotte. I found that I couldn't concentrate on anything new. When I had time and energy, I escaped into comforting old favorites. It gave me a break when I needed it, but I could also just put the book down at any point.

Jgrace wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Thank you all!! This all seems so surreal. When my dad and my oldest brother passed, it was expected because of their respective health issues. With my other brother, Greg, it is ..."

In the past I've read Nora Roberts because it always has a happy ending and it's so predictable. I've been more watching the movie equivalents on Netflix at night when I can't sleep.

Charlotte wrote: "Any fun or light-hearted book suggestions??n..."

First and foremost, Charlotte, you have my deepest sympathy on your loss. How devastating and heartbreaking.

As for fun or light-hearted book suggestions:
The "Miss Julia" series by Ann B Ross ... Book # 1 is Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

The "Harmony" series by Philip Gulley ... Book # 1 is Home to Harmony ... He has a second series with the same lead character: "Hope" series - book # 1 A Place Called Hope

I also find the various series by Alexander McCall Smith to be light and entertaining. He has several stand alone books as well, such as My Italian Bulldozer

Take your time, Charlotte. We (and books) will be here when you're ready.

Charlotte wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Thank you all!! This all seems so surreal. When my dad and my oldest brother passed, it was expected because of their respective health issues. With my other brothe..."

Those sound like healthy choices for mental health breaks. Grieving is hard work. Here's a happy result. When I couldn't sleep, I discovered Play Book Tag. :)

My condolences to you and your family. These are the times when you just have to treat yourself and your family as well as possible just to get through each day.

I think the idea of not worrying about challenges is the right approach. Just read whatever catches your eye and fills an immediate need. I'm a huge believer in comfort reads!

So sad to hear this, Charlotte- sending you bunches of love up the I-5 Corridor to you.

Totally understand about the mental health reading break. I know we share a mutual love for silly celebrity memoirs, perhaps a light hearted fun one for a distraction? Maybe Mindy Kaling- she narrates her own audiobooks, Jen Lancaster, Chelsea Handler, or something like that?

I'm so sorry that you and your family are bereaved. May your loving memories of your brothers sustain you and give you some peace.

I'm so sorry to hear about this terrible time you are going through. Sending you virtual hugs. Grief lasts long, you never forget but it does become easier. We'll be happy to see you whenever you come back.

Joi wrote: "So sad to hear this, Charlotte- sending you bunches of love up the I-5 Corridor to you.

Totally understand about the mental health reading break. I know we share a mutual love for silly celebrity..."

I had just downloaded Laura Bush's Spoken from the Heart. I think your idea of a silly memoir is great... I'll look at Mindy Kaling and some of the others.

Light-hearted reads - well, not sure if these suggestions may exactly fit "light-hearted", but these are books that made me feel good, they're light reading with no heavy emotion.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa - bonus that it fits the May "beautiful" tag

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - I don't know why I just love this, but it always makes me feel good whenever I read it, and I've read it plenty of times. It should fit the beautiful tag too!

They Call Me Naughty Lola: Personal Ads from the London Review of Books by David Rose - I don't know if you want laugh-out-loud humor, but this is the kind of book you just browse through and read in bits and pieces and it won't matter if you finish it or not. Most of it is amusing, and many bits are hilarious.

Charlotte, I am so sorry for your losses. Lots of hugs and positive thoughts to you during this difficult time.

And, when you decide to get back to reading, whether it is next week or next month and whether it is for a challenge or for fun, PBT will be here waiting for you ♥

I am very sorry for your losses. When my son passed away in 2015 I had a similar experience. I lost the ability to concentrate much less focus on something like a book.

His death was quite shocking as the doctors had been leading us to believe he was on his way to being cured. Or maybe we only heard what we wanted to hear.

I finished my first book earlier this year. What I also missed was looking forward to getting back to the book I was reading at the time. I still on occasion don't have a desire to pick up a book. But it passes fairly quickly.

The grieving process takes time. For me it was one step forward and two steps back.

I'm thinking of you with warm thoughts and prayers in your journey forward.

Oh, Charlotte, I am so sorry to read about your losses. My condolences to you. This is a difficult point of your life and nothing quite makes up for such a loss.

Charlotte wrote: "Some of you may have noticed, but I haven't been on much in the last few weeks... I've lost my desire to read.

I was so excited about all the challenges I planned to do this year and I was making ..."

I'm so so sorry to see this news, Charlotte, and that I'm just seeing it now. I've been a bit "missing in action" myself, but your post makes me remember to keep things in perspective. Hugs to you and so so sorry for your losses. I hope you will return to us when you feel ready.

Anita wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Some of you may have noticed, but I haven't been on much in the last few weeks... I've lost my desire to read.

I was so excited about all the challenges I planned to do this year..."

I thought I was going to be gone longer than I was, and I was gone a few weeks before a even made the post. Once I got back home, I started an audiobook that really brought a smile to my face and started a print book that didn't take much effort to follow along :)

It's also easier to check in now that I'm back home and trying to get back to my normal routine.

I hope all is well with you!!

So glad you are able to be with us! And that you found a good book that wasn't too taxing. I am well! We have been having some legal woes with my son due to a court error. Due to the court's mistake, we have had to hire an attorney, file an appeal etc. Nothing like you have had to contend with, but a bit distracting!!

Anita wrote: "So glad you are able to be with us! And that you found a good book that wasn't too taxing. I am well! We have been having some legal woes with my son due to a court error. Due to the court's mistak..."

Ugh.. I can only imagine how frustrating. My sister-in-law is getting into the legal aspect of everything now. We were hoping to avoid hiring an attorney but my brother had the cars only in his name so for her to get the insurance payout and to be able to keep the other car, probate will have to be opened. Such a headache. I've been trying to help her out as much as possible. I never realized everything a family or widow has to go through after a death when everything is so raw. I spent one day pretending to be her and called every bank, creditor, loan company, etc... basically telling people all day long that a loved one has passed.

Charlotte wrote: "Anita wrote: "So glad you are able to be with us! And that you found a good book that wasn't too taxing. I am well! We have been having some legal woes with my son due to a court error. Due to the ..."

I have not had to deal with the sort of thing you describe, but I can only imagine what a giant pain it must be - - just when one wants to just crawl into bed and hide under the covers. I dread when the day comes for my father who is a very disorganized person, and I'm his executor. I've tried to go over some things with him ahead of time, while he is well and thinking straight, but honestly -- I feel it is going to be a giant fiasco when the time comes.

You are a saint to make all those calls!

Oh I'm so sorry for all you're going through. It's wonderful that you can help your family members. They're lucky to have you, and it might be doing you some good too to help.

Thanks for the reminder to hug your loved ones, and to make sure they can access your files. I saw a workbook that helps you to put all your key information together in one place. I'd add the suggestion to try to visit, reconnect, or heal any rifts now with family members. My family is spread out geographically, but we're making a greater effort to get together more often since my mom has been sick.

As to insurance for the car accidents, it's worth it for her to get a good attorney and to be patient. (It took nearly three years to get a payout after my car accident but I got much more than I would have if I demanded an immediate payment. With a death, it should be faster because you don't have to wait for the medical treatments to end.)

I second the idea of returning to favorite authors (or movies) when your concentration is low due to sadness. I also like David Sedaris audiobooks when I need a distraction or to laugh.

A year after my dad died, I spent some time listening to his favorite music and watching his favorite movies.

It’s nice to see you back Charlotte. 😊

Welcome back :)

Charlotte - I so hope you and your family are forging some peace.

I just want to defend the lawyers who specialize in estate work. They (we!) really do help ease the way, providing guidance, information, and assistance at the most difficult time of all. If money is a very serious concern, ask for a consultation. All the lawyers I know will give either a free or very low fee consultation. Then armed with information, you can decide how you need to proceed.