Is it possible to read too much?

 

I definitely tested that theory last week, when I went on a glorious week-long reading retreat (https://www.readingretreat.co.uk/) in Lincolnshire. The retreats normally run from Friday through Monday and then Tuesday through Friday, and it’s not usually allowed for readers to attend both retreats in the same week (because the hosts understandably want a night off to relax between groups).

 

I have ‘done the double’ once before when circumstances went awry and I was left needing somewhere to stay during the second retreat – but I had to leave on the Monday, stay overnight in a nearby hotel, and then turn up again (as if freshly arrived) on the Tuesday, to maintain the sanctity of the hosts’ night off.

 

This time, the retreats were taking place somewhere with a large main house that had an additional tiny cottage on the grounds. On the understanding that I would seclude myself in the cottage from 9am Monday to 6pm Tuesday and not set foot anywhere near the main house during the period, I was allowed special dispensation to stay throughout the whole week!

 

This concept was put to me by the hosts at the last (3-day) retreat I attended at the end of March – and I spent every single day of the intervening three months anticipating this glorious impending reading extravaganza. The experience exceeded even my extremely high expectations.

 

I’m currently taking part in the r/Fantasy Book Bingo Challenge, which involves reading 25 books to fulfil specific prompts on a bingo board. So, I decided to see how many squares I could tick off in a week.

 

I basically only went up to the main house for meals, skipped out on one of the author talks, and barely spoke to anyone the whole week. I ensconced myself in a very comfy armchair, with a beautifully embroidered footrest and a pot of tea at my elbow – or enjoyed a shady table and chairs just outside the cottage’s front door – and read and read and read some more. I also went for a few walks and did some colouring while listening to audiobooks, just to break it up a bit.

 

I finished the audiobook I’d been partway through when I set off and listened to another one. I also completed nine whole physical book and one e-book (with two other books I gave up on) and overall read about 3500 pages in seven days!

 

I got home early Friday afternoon and unexpectedly had the whole weekend to myself in the flat – but barely read anything until fairly late on Sunday afternoon! So, after seven days of intense reading, I apparently needed about 48 hours of no reading to recover.

 

So, yes, it seems it may, in fact, be possible to read too much…