Categories: phd
Date: 01 November 2007 20:26:51
As well as reading fun things (see last entry), being a PhD student means that I have to read quite a lot of non-fun things too. Having returned from fieldwork I feel like I need to reread a lot of the stuff I read before I went, and also widen my reading still further as some issues came up while I was away that I hadn't really looked at beforehand. So I am trying to be organised and, as well as spending time reading for the tutoring I do and starting on translating the transcriptions of my interviews, I'm trying to set aside some time each day in the library to read a couple of articles and make notes. I could do it in my office, but there's a computer on my desk, and, well, one thing leads to another if you know what I mean! Actually getting away from my desk is helping me to get more work done. I wish my office wasn't so unconducive to productive working*.
I feel like I've opened Pandora's Box. At some point (I hope) I will draw a line under things and just get on and write my thesis. But at the moment I am still being bombarded with interesting and relevant-sounding articles and books, and I need to read them if I want my research to be taken seriously in the field (which I do, of course). But I have tons of books and I don't know how many lever-arch folders full of articles to plough through - I wonder if they sell extra hours in the day on ebay?
* Actually, it would probably be more accurate to say I wish I wasn't such a lazy arse. But I'll blame the desk instead.