This is the post that I didn’t want to write, that I’m still not quite sure that I should be writing, but I think I have to write ….
The Girl Who Loves Books discovered them when she was very, very small, and as he grew up she found more and more to love. 
There were so many worlds in explore, in the past, in the present, and in the future. There were so many fascinating people to meet; real people and fictional people. There were stories, there were adventures, there was so much to learn. And it was lovely to step out of the real world sometimes.
She knew that lots of other people liked books, but, maybe because she came from a very small town, she didn’t know anyone who loved a lot of the books she loved. It was lovely to be able to talk to them, to recommend books, and to dicover so many new books, new publishers, new possibilities …
One of those possibilities was a book blog. She started writing about books and bookish things on a blog of her very own. And in time she found more places to write her book thoughts. Just to celebrate the books and tell more people about them. Because some people don’t use LibraryThing, or read book blogs. It was lovely, but it grew and it grew and it grew.
In the end it became too much – there were too many books, too many projects, too many places to be, too many people to keep up with.
She decided that the only thing she could do was walk away. So that she could do other things, so that she could read a book without worrying about what she would say about it, and so that she wouldn’t spend so much time wondering if she was Jane or if she was Fleur.
She’ll probably come back one day; maybe here, but more likely in a new home where things will be rather different.
So I don’t think this is goodbye.
But it is goodbye for now.
Fleur in her World 
I understand. I stopped reviewing books too, and haven’t yet felt the need to start up again. I’m still voraciously reading. I enjoy writing little bookish tidbits about what I’m reading on twitter 🙂
Will your pup still blog?
I’ll miss the both of you 🙂
Thank you for understanding. I suspect that I’ll still write about books, but mix that up with other things too. And of course Briar will be with me wherever I go.
I’ll miss your posts. But you’ve got to do what’s best for you. I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world! And I’ll hope that you come back someday. 🙂
Thank you. I will come back because I’d miss too many things if I stayed away, but I’ve realised that when that happens I need to do things a little differently.
It does become a bit all-consuming after a while. Best of luck – you’ll be missed!
Thank you – it does, and that’s why I need to step back for a while and think about exactly where I go next.
Take your time….
That’s exactly what I plan to do!
I will greatly miss your wonderful posts but understand the need to take a break. There is so much abundance in this world of reading and blogging and too much becomes overwhelming. Here’s hoping that you find a new balance that works for you.
There is indeed, and I hope to work out a sensible balance and be back very soon. Just a few days away made me realise that there were so many things I’d missed.
I had a sinking feeling when I read the title of this post. You will be missed. Thank you for introducing me to such lovely books, particularly Lucy Carmichael. Happy reading!
Thank you – if I rearranged my books I’m sure I could construct shelves of books that I could put your name on.
We’ll miss you! Wishing you all the best.
Thank you – I know I’ll miss this world too much to stay away for too long.
I’ve so enjoyed your blog the last few years. You’ve inspired me to read books I hadn’t heard of and to reread books I’d forgotten about. Many thanks and best wishes!
That’s lovely – thank you!
This is sad! But I hope you finally find the time to do all those other things and that you enjoy doing them… Good luck and hope to see you around the book blogosphere again soon!
Thank you – I’m sure I’ll be back to this lovely bookish world before too long.
Wonderful! I look forward to seeing you at Beyond Eden Rock or on Miss Darcy’s Library!
Thank you for all the wonderful posts, and company in reading some terrific books–enjoy your reading.
Thank you.
Oh – I’ll miss this lovely blog but completely understand, some thing have to be set aside at some times to allow time for yourself and other stuff. I’ll still see you in LibraryThing anyway, for which I’m glad. Be happy. I’ve so enjoyed reading this blog and hope you’ll leave it up so people can pop back and see what you thought of books they’ve wishlisted thanks to you.
This blog will stay, because there are too many things here that I love. I’ll see you on LibraryThing, and I’m sure we’ll be crossing paths in the blogosphere again before too long.
I’m so sorry to see you go Jane – I’ve enjoyed reading about your adventures with books and also about Briar’s escapades. But life often gets in the way of blogging and so you must do what you must do. Hope to run across you again in the book blog world!
Thank you – my dog and I will definitely be back somewhere in this bookish world before too long.
What a lovely – though sad – message! I shall miss your great recommendations, kindness and intelligent reviews. Have a rest, read for pleasure, no pressure, and maybe we’ll meet again sometime. All the best. xx
Thank you – it’s been lovely to have a break, but I’m already eager to be back in this bookish world, so I’m sure it won’t be long before our paths cross again.
Oh no! But I get it. I really do. I feel like I’ve only just “met” you and now you’ve gone already. I’ll miss you but wish you and Briar and everyone else in your life all the best. Enjoy whatever you do.
Thank you – I’m sure that I will be back as a blog reader, and probably as a writer too, so this isn’t an end really, just a change of gears.
You’ve introduced me to a bunch of new books, and egoistically, I’m sorry to see that end. But I understand your need to take a break. Best of luck to you!
That’s lovely to know, and I hope we’ll cross paths again in some bookish corner of the internet.
All the very best!
Thank you!
I’m so sorry to see you go. Your blog has been one of my favourites and I’m going to miss reading your posts, but I do understand the need to walk away for a while and do other things. Good luck!
Helen, that’s lovely to now, and I have to say that any appreciation is mutual. I’ve loved reading your thoughts on historical novels, and I’ll still be following your blog.
Although I have been lurking more than commenting of late, I have so enjoyed following your reading as well as Briar’s updates. I completely understand your decision and hope the break is restorative. I’m also happy to be connected to you in a different way, through Ravelry. You have unknowingly helped me become a confident garment knitter. I will see you over there!
Laura, I’ll be holding you up as an example to anyone I know thinking about starting to knit. I’m sure we’ll cross paths on Ravelry and on LibraryThing.
I understand too and have thought several times that I’d stop blogging – but I still cling on. I will miss your blog and Briar’s posts too. Best wishes!
I’ve wobbled several times before, but this time I decided it was time to jump. I’ll still be reading blogs, and I expect I’ll start writing again, but it a more relaxed, occasional way.
See you around Fleur 🙂
You definitely will!
We’ll miss you! But i understand, I stopped updating my blog, the impetus had run out and it had become a chore rather than a pleasure.
I can understand that, but I think I’d miss writing too much if I gave up entirely – being an accountant by day it’s a lovely creative outlet, but I probably need to do something a little more low-key to get the balance right in life.
I am sorry to see you go, but you have to do what’s right for you. Good luck 🙂
Thank you.
So sorry to see you go, but I understand. I think about stopping my blog all the time. It is a big commitment and real life connections are more important. Good luck for the future!
You were one of the first bloggers I ‘met’ all those years ago when we were new to this world. You’re doing a wonderful job blogging with a family and a busy life, and I’ll still be reading, and probably back to blogging in some form before too long.
So sad to see you go, but I completely understand. I embraced having a “life blog” because I couldn’t keep up with the pressure of being a “book blogger.” Happy reading to you and I hope I see you around again!
You made a very wise decision, and I think I might be moving in a similar direction. Something more low-key with more diverse content might suit me very well.
I will miss you, Jane. And I will miss you, Fleur. You have introduced me unerringly to some wonderful reads, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the personality who wrote those lovely posts of lovely books. I hope one day you will want to return, but, if not, wish you most well and hope the rediscovered time is deliciously enjoyable. Meanwhile, I hope this will just be au revoir
Well, I think will probably be leaving but Jane will definitely be back. Reading what you have to say about books, and establishing a new home of her own in a quiet bookish corner of the internet.
I’m so delighted we haven’t lost you for keeps Jane. Don’t forget to let us know if you decide to open the door to visitors!
Your blog was one of the first I discovered when I started blogging… since then you have introduced me to such great books and taken me on such wonderful adventure…It breaks my heart to see you go…but I know and I understand how you feel…so au revoir! Take Care till we meet again!!
This is definitely only goodbye for a very little while – I’ve realised I’d miss my fellow book-lovers and sharing the books I love far too much if I let go.
yay! and Super Yay! Love your new home!!
I’m very sorry to see you go, but I think I understand. It’s hard to keep going… Wishing you all the best and I hope to link up with you again one day. Thanks for all your thoughtful reviews.
Thank you for writing about so many books that I might not read but have been vey interested in knowing more about. I’ll definitely be back in a different guise before too long. I just need to lose the weight of history and my own expectations that this blog has brought.
Well. I will miss you! Very much so. I have read many a book after reading your reviews.
Please know i hope you are happy no matter whether you blog or not. If you do decide to pick it up again, I will be here.
Thank you, that’s lovely to read. I’ll definitely be back somewhere in internet bookland before long.
It’s a sad decision for us, but clearly the right one for you. Thank you for all of the recommendations and I hope the next installment in your reading story is as successful and inspiring as your blog has been.
Thank you – I’ve loved this blog, but it was time for a change.
I shall miss reading your reviews, and your alphabets, and your bits about Briar, but I know how you feel. I abandoned blogging completely for most of last year because I reached a point where I felt writing and reading about books,had become more important than reading the books themselves. Sometimes you just have to step back. Good luck, whatever you do.
I’ve realised since I hit ‘post’ that I’d miss too many lovely things if I left this world, so I’ll definitely be back very soon, with my dog and with the A to Z s that I’ve always loved compiling.
Good for you. I have a feeling for what you’re experiencing, After studying English Literature at college, it took me quite a while to read books simply for enjoyment … without taking notes, focusing on character development, psychological underpinnings, literary allusions and the like. I was always reading towards an essay, class presentation or exam. It took time to get back to my love of reading for its own sake. And I did! You will, too. Wishing you all the best.
Than you – you’ve caught my feelings exactly. I’m sure I’ll go back to writing about books, but I’m definitely not going to target writing about everything again. Just the books that inspire me to say something.
Both Briar and you will be much missed. It has been a pleasure and privilege to have been able to read of your adventures in books and life in one of my favorite corners of the world. I hope this is not goodbye for good. And that your blog will always be a place of comfort and pleasure to you, should you return. Till then, wishing you and yours all the very best. Take care….
It’s been lovely making your acquaintance, Michelle, and I shall always remember your wonderful book hauls and seeing one of your pictures and realising it was our promenade. This definitely isn’t goodbye for good, just the end of this particular chapter.
I complete understand how you’re feeling and how sometimes you do feel the pressure to blog about every book and keep up with reading other people’s reviews (something I have been rubbish at recently). I’ll be sorry to see you go and miss the updates about Briar, but I wish you luck and hope to hear from you again.
Thank you – I’m sure I’ll be back – and Briar too – but doing something a little different to this.
Hello Jane, I’m sorry to know you are leaving, but don’t feel bad about it. I abandoned my book blog for awhile too, but came back to it this year. There is just too much information going round and it can be overwhelming to keep up with things, also, I see that many people blog with perhaps too much frequency, putting too much pressure on themselves. Just do it whenever you want. Enjoy your pressure-free reading, and I hope you do pop back up in the not-to-distant future! Take care, Lori
That is very wise, and I plan to escape the pressure of history and expectation with a different kind of blog before too long. I just want to read what I want to read and say what I have to say without worrying about what others are doing or reading the ‘right’ books.
You will be much missed. I have picked up some lovely reads from your blog and have always enjoyed all your writing. I totally understand the overwhelming feeling of reading a book and wondering what you can say about it. Which is why I stopped reviewing some of the books I have been reading to get a happy balance. Do keep in contact somewhere on the blogosphere/twitter.
That’s lovely to know, and I think your approach is sensible. I may do something similar, and I’ll definitely keep in tough.