Author Topic: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to  (Read 8936 times)

Sulame66

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Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« on: June 21, 2017, 09:02:26 AM »
I used to read a lot, and I've been trying to more lately

I'm basically going through four things right now:

1) Recovering Redemption by Matt Chandler
2) Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
3) Bible by God
4) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

No matter which it is, I can't seem to go more than 20-30 minutes. I'm thinking about other things while doing it. I finish one chapter and go 'nice, progress. Back to video games.'

It's frustrating. Because I want to be able to be a well-rounded person and not a couch potato, but every time I try to put some time in I just end up not. Like, why has it taken me a month to get to page 550 in Harry Potter 4 when I could basically just read it on a Saturday. Why am I reading 4 things at once when I can't even finish one within a reasonable time frame. Why does it seem everyone else has no issue with their 'I read 210 books this year np' threads and I'm slogging through a 5th grade level book slower than a 5th grader.

MustachianKentuckian

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2017, 09:07:28 AM »
Maybe you are trying to read too many at once?  Maybe focus on one of those (or one, plus the Bible) and see how that goes?  I also think it's like with most things, once you get out of the habit of doing something, it takes effort and "forcing" yourself until it becomes a habit again. And if it's video games tempting you away, maybe there's a slight addiction? I can fall into that with my phone where, if I'm not intentional, I can end up wasting time playing stupid games or checking Facebook too much instead of doing the other things I want/need to do that are better for my brain and well-being!

I think you need to re-train your brain.  :)

With This Herring

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2017, 10:05:31 AM »
Do the listed books actually appeal to you? 

#1-3 are not generally considered "read for fun" books.  I know people who intentionally do 30 minutes of spiritual reading a day, and that is where those would fall.  They don't consider it a chore, but it isn't entertainment either.  "Self-improvement" versus "video games" is going to be a tough sell for your free time.

Just because Harry Potter is popular doesn't necessarily mean that you will like reading it.  I enjoyed it when it first came out, but I have no interest in re-reading it now (while other books I have read multiple times quite happily).  If you have seen the movies first, that may prevent you from being as interested in the books.

What sort of games do you play?  What sorts of movies interest you?  It could help to find books that focus on areas that already appeal to you.  So, if you like movies/games with aliens and warfare, Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card) might be a good fit.  If you like horror movies, try stuff by Stephen King.  If you love fantasy and comedy, try Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.  If you love Star Wars, try any of the many Star Wars universe novels (and the same goes for Star Trek).  If you have a short attention span and think you would enjoy many short stories about animals and rural British life in the forties and fifties, try All Creatures Great and Small (James Herriot).

What did you read before?  Why not go back and see if any of your favorite authors have new novels out?

Moustachienne

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2017, 11:18:04 AM »
I really relate to this.  I used to be a constant reader, accused of "always having my nose in a book", but in the last few years I have found it much harder to stay focussed on a book. Social media hits and other distractions draw me like a moth to a flame. :(

Seconding what others have said about finding books that really appeal to you, rather than "should" reads.  I've also found it helpful to create habits to make it easier to read, something I never thought I'd have to do.  For me, this means reading 30 minutes or so before bed; having a paperback or kindle book for transit reading, etc.  I also mix up light reading with more challenging books. 

This is a good post on the "finding time" problem - https://www.fastcompany.com/3026923/how-busy-people-make-time-to-read-and-you-can-too

The staying focussed problem is harder.  This book looks interesting.  :)  https://www.amazon.ca/Pleasures-Reading-Age-Distraction/dp/0199747490

There a lots of blogs for book recommendations which I like because I'm just interested in what other people read but when I'm looking for a book on a new topic or from a new author, I google "new york times best books" and get the top 10's from the last few years.  This always reminds me of good stuff I meant to read.

Now, *remembering* what I've read is a whole other challenge!

mm1970

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2017, 11:25:37 AM »
I used to read a lot, and I've been trying to more lately

I'm basically going through four things right now:

1) Recovering Redemption by Matt Chandler
2) Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
3) Bible by God
4) Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

No matter which it is, I can't seem to go more than 20-30 minutes. I'm thinking about other things while doing it. I finish one chapter and go 'nice, progress. Back to video games.'

It's frustrating. Because I want to be able to be a well-rounded person and not a couch potato, but every time I try to put some time in I just end up not. Like, why has it taken me a month to get to page 550 in Harry Potter 4 when I could basically just read it on a Saturday. Why am I reading 4 things at once when I can't even finish one within a reasonable time frame. Why does it seem everyone else has no issue with their 'I read 210 books this year np' threads and I'm slogging through a 5th grade level book slower than a 5th grader.
Too many at once, not interested in the book, wrong time of day?

I love to read, but went a few years without it (kids, work, exhaustion).  Now, I read before bed every night, 5-30 minutes.  I'm not hitting big numbers!

I've been reading a lot of different things, up to 2 books at a time, but usually one.  I get my books from the 2 "little free libraries" in my neighborhood.  So this is where I've learned some things:
- some books are interesting, but hard.  These are great for bedtime reading.  They may take me MONTHS to finish, because the language is hard but the subject matter is interesting.  (Think: tome about Lewis & Clark, or non-fiction books about family life - like what it was like in the 1950's, for example.)

- some books are lighter reading, like fiction romance novels and such.  I just finished one that was a little boring and such a terrible ending.  Have to say, no more Belva Plain for me.

- some books I can really get into.  I like mystery novels, and have a few favorite authors.  I can speed through these.

- some books are so bad and boring, that I can slog through about 1/3 and then just give up.  A recent one was like that.  I wanted to like it, but the writing style was not for me, and the main characters were not terribly likable.  So I stopped reading it.

Noodle

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2017, 11:37:00 AM »
There are three possible issues here...

1. The books you are reading are not engaging to you. While with "serious" books the content may be worth forcing yourself, with pleasure reading you should not have to! There are too many great books in the world! I recommend librarian/author Nancy Pearl's 50-page rule of thumb. If a book isn't grabbing you in 50 pages, put it down and find something else to read. There are tons of readers right here at MMM who love recommending books (see the recent thread on someone who wanted a new SF book for a friend) and these days most libraries have a free service where you can write in and ask for recommendations from a librarian. I have gotten some terrific suggestions that way.

2. Your reading/concentration muscles have atrophied a bit. Honestly, one thing that will help is just finding some books you really love and getting immersed in them even if they're not "quality." That's one reason children's librarians don't get exercised if kids want to read 79 Magic Treehouse or Captain Underpants books in a row...reading ANYTHING helps build up abilities to process, concentrate, etc. Scheduling reading time helps too.

3. Some books are just better taken in consistent small bites rather than reading marathons, especially more serious fare. I have read a number of classics through the Daily Lit website, which will send you a chapter or two of various classics every day--there's also a "Serial" app that does the same thing for mobile devices. Google Slow Reading for more info on mindful reading practices.

Some people get paralyzed by choice and end up not reading anything. Right now I am reading several interlibrary loan items with hard deadlines, but what I have done in the past that has been very effective is to have three books going...one fun fiction book, one serious book (which I commit to reading a chapter every day) and one book that is easy to pick up any time, such as a humor book or an art book. Having just one book going doesn't work for me, but I do have to be careful about getting carried away.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2017, 11:38:23 AM »
When I used to commute by train for the last 18 years, I read so many books. I had nothing else to do on the train. Now that I commute by car or by my legs, I can't read during my commute anymore. This is more difficult. I try to read a bit in the living room, but get very distracted when the TV is on at the same time. Now I often read for half an hour or so when I am laying in bed.
But the best moments for reading are when I am on a trip and get some hours for myself without many other inputs and worries. In general I think becoming more of a minimalist might create time for you. This might require getting fewer input channels, like stop following/posting on facebook and twitter, turn of the TV etc. And get yourself in situations where you have nothing better to do than reading.

And as mentioned above, read books that you are interested in. Don't worry about how much "status" a book has. Find something fun to read. And read one book at the time.
« Last Edit: June 21, 2017, 11:41:32 AM by Linda_Norway »

YogiKitti

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2017, 02:28:29 PM »
I'm reading a book called The Shallows, which is about how the internet is not that great for us. One of the points is that we have rewired our brain to constantly seek new info, so we are no longer able to focus on a single task as well.

Focusing on a single task like reading is something I need to train myself to do again. For me, it isn't that the book is boring, it's that I'm used to constantly having new distractions.

MMMarbleheader

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2017, 02:43:45 PM »
It's horrible but I am actually trying to watch or listen to more baseball to try and kick my technology fueled add. Funny thing in high school I used to watch the Red Sox regularly now I can't go an inning without touching my phone.

Dave1442397

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2017, 03:29:56 PM »
I like to read in a room away from TV and other distractions. I can quite easily sit and read for three or four hours in the evening.

As stated before, find a book that grabs you. I've read plenty of books where I just can't put them down until I'm done.

I've always been a reader, never watched much TV apart from some sports (F1, skiing, cycling), but this is the first year I've kept track of the books I've read. I just started book # 185 for the year (The Force, by Don Winslow). And so, back to my book...

Noodle

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2017, 03:48:53 PM »
Also, don't discount the possibility that your tastes have changed over time. I had always been a wholly engaged reader who could stay with a book for hours, and I wondered if the internet had ruined me because I was having trouble staying with books. Then I came across a few books in a row that I couldn't put down, and I realized it was less my ability as a reader and more that I have just gotten pickier with age about what is worth my time.

wenchsenior

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2017, 07:00:07 PM »
Several things are likely going on (at least they are with me).

1) Out of practice.  I don't even have a smartphone, and I'm still out of practice of concentrating more than 10 minutes without distraction. I can't imagine how bad I'd get if I was exposed to a handheld device.  Good thing is, I find that when I used to do 2-4 weeks of fieldwork in the Caribbean, mostly without much internet access and no tv, I could concentrate on reading just fine after a few days. Could you try taking your book somewhere that isn't  your usual environment, leaving your smartphone, and just doing 10-15 minutes at a time?  It's easiest for me in bed at night.

2)  The bible (OT at least) is intermittently fascinating, but a lot of it is repetitive and tedious, so that's hard to stay engaged in unless you are moved by intense religious 'mood' I would guess.  I read it as part of a self motivated 'project' of reading nearly all the ancient classics (started with Gilgamesh and went through the Greeks, yes EVEN History of the Peloponnesian War...yikes).  So I was on focused on getting through each book of the bible as a miniproject (including doing research and context reading about each one).  I viewed it as an intellectual project, rather than 'reading' per se. Perhaps that would work for you? 

3) Pick lighter books.  Harry Potter is ok, but I find that to ease back into the habit, mysteries or suspense are the best. They are plot heavy and move fast. When my brain is more in the habit of engaging, then I can tackle literary fiction or heavier genre (sci fi/fantasy with a lot of world building).

4) Remember that the 'rush' of reading fades a bit with age, as do many pleasures, simply because we've seen/read/done a lot of things as we get older. Stories might not grab us with the intensity they did when we were encountering them for the first time, rather than another 'version', no matter how well written.  I admit that I have a harder time falling in love with books now than I did when I was young...I think I've just read too many.  Switching to nonfiction helped (I didn't used to read much of it) and also, branching out into new genres helped. 

redbird

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2017, 07:36:16 PM »
As a gamer, I do want to point out there's a way to get your "reading" cake and eat your other hobbies (gaming) too: play (err, read) visual novels. :)

That being said, I do read a lot too. Really you just need to go to a quiet, comfortable place and with a book you actually want to read. I love Harry Potter, but sometimes I don't feel like reading a fantasy book. Sometimes I'll grab a How-To book. Sometimes I'll read a book about something that happened in history. Sometimes I'll read a mystery novel. If you WANT to read, but those books you have aren't doing it for you, then try something new. I'll sometimes just go the library and wander around until a title or cover catches my eye and I'll read that.

undercover

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2017, 11:46:07 PM »
The only way I got through all of HP was to promise myself I'd take myself to Universal Studios after I was finished :) But of course I didn't actually go. It as a great motivator though. Maybe you could try doing the same for yourself and holding some other proverbial carrot on a stick. I did enjoy the books and story immensely - just not the arduous process that is reading.

Books certainly provide more room for intellectualism and introspection, but there's a reason people read less and less these days. There's just too many distractions. And I don't even know that it's that we don't read as much - it's just we don't read formally. Aziz Ansari said he's on like page a billion of the worst book ever - the Internet.

I'm glad I got through HP since I wanted to finish it as sort've a tying up some loose sends type of thing, but I have no interest in reading nowadays unless it's something I directly want to learn or am immediately interested in. There's too many other ways to consume information these days. Podcasts have kind've replace reading for me in a lot of ways.

Goldielocks

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #14 on: June 21, 2017, 11:58:47 PM »
Get your eyes checked!  If your eyes are not teaming well or not aligned, it will make concentration and immersing yourself in the material very difficult, and will feel like reading is a "slog".

misshathaway

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2017, 10:38:00 AM »
Do you have to read physical books? I switched over almost totally to audio books available from the library, and you'd probably get an even greater selection through Audible. I have gotten through some pretty heavy history books by listening to them while on a daily walk or while doing some drudgy household chore. My mind can still wander, but at least the distraction of "I should be doing [other productive thing]" is gone. Also, I figure having it wash over you without expecting to retain every detail is better than not reading it at all.

Lis

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #16 on: June 22, 2017, 10:48:21 AM »
Loads of good suggestions here, I'll add two more to the list:

- To get yourself back into it, treat reading like... well, a treat. "I'm only allowed to read one chapter, then I'll put it down." And what happens when that chapter ends on a cliffhanger? You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. As you find yourself enjoying it more and more, expand it to two chapters, three... until you just read as much as you want.

- Make a bedtime ritual, especially if it's a physical book. I try to be in bed by 1030, and I like to read until I'm ready to fall asleep. Sometimes that's until 1033, and sometimes that's not until much later (I have been that person that says "one more chapter" then finishes the book at 3am). If you're reading on your phone I don't recommend this as much. If you're on an ereader, maybe. But a physical book? Yes.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #17 on: June 22, 2017, 10:52:58 AM »
I downloaded a book series to my Kindle I thought I would really be into and I am not. I left in on the Kindle as my tastes my change or I may find myself stuck somewhere crazy boring for a few days and be glad for any reading material.

In the meantime I started on a different series of books and I am avidly reading a for an hour or two several days a week as time allows.

If you are someone who has been a reader and are not stoked with the books you are reading now find something else to read unless you just have to finish a book for other personal goals....like say the Bible.

Milizard

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #18 on: June 22, 2017, 11:16:55 AM »
When I was a kid, I told my mom that once I learned how to, I was going to read all of the books, and I tried for a few years.  I stopped reading as much for pleasure as it became harder to find new books that appealed to me, and became busier with other hobbies.  I haven't managed to finish a book in years, but did recently reread a few in a series that I own from way back, completed an audiobook, then just yesterday a physical book from the library, which is progress.  I found the first half really interesting, which kept me going after it got more repetitive.  I guess I just found these books I've been trying to read all these years boring.

merci001

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #19 on: June 22, 2017, 12:37:37 PM »
I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. I have many friends who also consider themselves avid readers. That said, I'm not sure any of us has managed to read 210 books/year!  With work and family responsibilities I don't often read during the day anymore, but I do read every night when I go to bed. I usually stick to one book at a time. Occasionally I'll start two books at a time but find I will only end up getting through one of them.  I read both fiction and non-fiction.  I've had plenty of times when I'll start a book I think I'm really going to like, and I just never seem to really get into it. Sometimes I find I'm just not in the frame of mind for that particular book and I may or may not go back to it at a later date. As I mentioned, I read every night before bed. I may get through just a few pages before I start nodding off, other times I have to force myself to put the book down so I can get some sleep for the next day.

So I would say-stick to 1 book at a time. If you don't like it, don't sweat it. Just put it away and try another book. Perhaps you could try some short story books. You could even start with magazines. There are lots of magazine with interesting stories/articles.  Consider just setting time to read before bed when your likely not as distracted as during the day when you may have other things that need doing.



wenchsenior

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #20 on: June 22, 2017, 01:42:38 PM »
I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. I have many friends who also consider themselves avid readers. That said, I'm not sure any of us has managed to read 210 books/year!  With work and family responsibilities I don't often read during the day anymore, but I do read every night when I go to bed. I usually stick to one book at a time. Occasionally I'll start two books at a time but find I will only end up getting through one of them.  I read both fiction and non-fiction.  I've had plenty of times when I'll start a book I think I'm really going to like, and I just never seem to really get into it. Sometimes I find I'm just not in the frame of mind for that particular book and I may or may not go back to it at a later date. As I mentioned, I read every night before bed. I may get through just a few pages before I start nodding off, other times I have to force myself to put the book down so I can get some sleep for the next day.

So I would say-stick to 1 book at a time. If you don't like it, don't sweat it. Just put it away and try another book. Perhaps you could try some short story books. You could even start with magazines. There are lots of magazine with interesting stories/articles.  Consider just setting time to read before bed when your likely not as distracted as during the day when you may have other things that need doing.

Yeah...that is some seriously hardcore intensive reading. I'm not sure I ever hit that during my peak reading years as a jobless, bored, avoiding-schoolwork tweener!  I normally manage 70-100 books/year, roughly, but that is only accomplished by 2/3rds of them being on audio.


MVal

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #21 on: June 22, 2017, 02:03:54 PM »
Maybe you are trying to read too many at once?  Maybe focus on one of those (or one, plus the Bible) and see how that goes?  I also think it's like with most things, once you get out of the habit of doing something, it takes effort and "forcing" yourself until it becomes a habit again. And if it's video games tempting you away, maybe there's a slight addiction? I can fall into that with my phone where, if I'm not intentional, I can end up wasting time playing stupid games or checking Facebook too much instead of doing the other things I want/need to do that are better for my brain and well-being!

I think you need to re-train your brain.  :)

This is totally me. I struggle with ADD and I'm totally addicted to the internet and Facebook. Instead of doing something productive, I often spend all my free time laying on the couch online, staying up way too late because I can't shut it down and then I feel like crap all the time. I used to be a voracious reader many years ago, but now I can't stick with a book more than a few minutes.

Tyson

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #22 on: June 22, 2017, 02:07:40 PM »
I always have 2 books going at a time - one on CD that I listen to in my car, and one physical book at home that I read.  It's nice because I never feel overwhelmed but I still can get through books fairly quickly. 

Noodle

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #23 on: June 22, 2017, 06:09:48 PM »
Short stories are great. The library I went to as a teen had a ton of short story collections from the 1950s and 1960s, for some reason...I think back in the Golden Age of magazines, a lot of them did anthologies as a sideline. My favorites were the sci fi collections...I got to know a lot of the great early SF writers that way.

Also, graphic novels go quickly and are a good way to get yourself into the reading mindset. There are books in every genre now, from teen angst to traditional superhero plus every mashup you can think of (angsty teenage superheroes FROM MARS!)

golden1

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #24 on: June 22, 2017, 07:08:27 PM »
I am having the same problem.  I used to read a book a week and now I am lucky if I read 10 books year.  Part of it is just lack of time.  Part of it is that I am easily distracted by the internet. 

tawyer

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #25 on: June 22, 2017, 07:49:32 PM »
Once I got over the idea that if I started a book, I had to finish it, I began reading a lot more. If I'm not getting engrossed in a book (i.e., looking forward to reading it again) after a few sessions, I'll just get something else.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #26 on: June 25, 2017, 01:35:47 AM »
Yesterday I finally ifnished a bokk that I have been reading for a couple of weeks in lost hours. We spend a day doing painting jobs on the house, like 7,5 hrs in total. When I was finished, I thought I deserved sitting down with a book and read for 2 hrs or so with good consience.

oblivo

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #27 on: June 25, 2017, 04:50:41 AM »
I'm trying to get back into reading too! Here's what's working for me so far:

In an E-reader, infinite scroll makes it feel more like a webpage and so more alive, good for some stuff.
Music is a huge part of getting immersed in something. I read with headphones on.
If the book belongs to me I read with a pencil and mark sections that are super interesting.
I write about what I read at the end of the day, parts that were especially good.
It helps most of all to read things I'm interested in, curious about, and that are well-written


Mezzie

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #28 on: June 25, 2017, 09:45:47 AM »
I usually have about ten books going at a time, all different genres so I've got something for any mood. I average a book a day over the course of a year. I often take a break from one book by reading another book. :p My students find this endlessly amusing.

How do I do it?

1. I'm interested in everything. I love learning in all areas, so I usually have a 70/30 ratio of nonfiction to fiction these days, but I used to only read fiction (I was a lit major way back when).

2. I am good to my eyes: I've clearly built up some reading stamina with my regular reading. I limit my backlit computer reading, and I read in adequately-lit areas.

3. I have ADHD. One often forgotten symptom of that is hyperfocus. When hyperfocus doesn't happen, I might read while on an exercise bike.

4. I learned that nonfiction is digestible in audiobook form. I can't stand fiction audiobooks. This allows me to "read" while exercising, driving, or grinding on a video game.

5. I don't do social media. I keep the sound off on my phone.

6. I sometimes read socially (book clubs, recommendations from friends). Knowing I'm going to talk about a book is motivating. I also am always motivated to expand my repertoire so I can match the perfect book to a reluctant student reader.

7. I abandon books that suck or make fun of them, depending on my mood.

As far as a diagnosis for your problem:

1. Three of your books are similar subject matter. That may be overkill.

2. Harry Potter is overrated. One and three are good. The others? Meh. I enjoyed it along with all the excitement, but I don't think it really has as much staying power as people think, and it is certainly lacking in literary merit in most of the books. If you find yourself easily putting it down, try something else. Do you specifically want to read fantasy? Young adult/children's lit? Adventure? Talk to your librarian for recommendations.

3. Consider the translation of the Bible you're reading. Some of them are really quite bad. The New Jerusalem translation is my favorite as it maintains the poetry of the original languages well. If you have to read a bunch of begats, at least they can be in pretty sentences.

4. Your eye stamina is probably compromised. People use different eye movements to read on a computer/screen, and it effects how they read print texts if they don't keep up with that kind of reading. You're going to have to retrain so that you're not missing the right side of some paragraphs. One way to do this is to slow down for a while. Also, reading, when you haven't built up stamina, can make you tired. That's normal. Start with, say, fifteen minutes at a time, distraction-free and fully concentrating on the content, rereading when you get distracted as needed. When that becomes easy, do twenty minutes, etc. Reading is incredibly hard work, and people take it for granted that our brains can do this amazing feat once we've learned it even if we don't keep in reading shape. That's simply not the case.

rmp451

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #29 on: June 25, 2017, 02:26:43 PM »
Once I got over the idea that if I started a book, I had to finish it, I began reading a lot more. If I'm not getting engrossed in a book (i.e., looking forward to reading it again) after a few sessions, I'll just get something else.

I have tried to read a lot of the classics, simply because they are classified as such. I'm sure they all have something to offer-otherwise I'm not sure they would be considered classics-but I just started to think about the opportunity cost of forcing myself to read something that didn't interest me. As a result I read a lot more.

What I hate is when I am reading something that I really enjoy, but it's like I'm reminded that other than entertainment value I am not getting anything from it. I'm slowly going through The Stand right now, and I absolutely love the story. But I keep telling myself that I could be doing something more productive or worthwhile. I've always been like this, and I hate it.


Moonwaves

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #30 on: June 28, 2017, 01:38:29 AM »
I have a phase like this at some point most years and I have found it getting worse since I got a smartphone. Part of it was that, I think, and part of it was that I was trying to read more non-fiction and after spending most of my life only reading fiction, it took me a while to adapt to the different experience. Accepting that I might only get a couple of pages read in a sitting, for example, because I need time to think about what I've read, too. I got a kindle about five years ago and while I was never a huge fan it was very convenient for travelling, and for getting books as soon as they were published. However, I drifted back towards paper books more and more over the last year or so and have found myself far less likely to lose concentration. I just seem to engage differently with a book if I'm reading a paper rather than a digital version.

When I do go through a period of not really being able to concentrate on what I'm reading, or finding myself having multiple books on the go, it is also often because there is too much else going on in my life. When I realise that, I know that if I want to get the escapist benefit that reading can bring me, I need to switch to something easy and familiar. For me, that means Georgette Heyer regency novels. I've always loved them and I re-read a few of them every year. They're funny and, since they're romances, there's always a happy ending. And after a few weeks of reading those, I'm usually reading to go back to new things.

GuitarStv

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Re: Wanting to actually read and not forcing myself to
« Reply #31 on: June 28, 2017, 05:54:42 AM »
It sounds like you're not that into any of the books you're trying to read.  When you find a good book that you want to read, you'll also find that it's difficult to put down because it's so interesting.  Don't read because you think that it'll make you well rounded, read because you enjoy it . . . and you'll end up well rounded despite yourself.