[Closed] Anybody else find reading books (novels) boring as hell...?

I don't think I've read more than 10 books (as in novels) in my life

I pity you.

I find it extremely tedious and gets in the way of doing other tedious stuff.

Try reading some good books then. Books are ace!

Ever tried audiobooks? Say, whilst driving?

Probably. No idea how many books I have in dead tree format, I must have getting on for 150ish ebooks on the phone. All the Sherlock Holmes, all of William Gibson's books, Joe Abercrombie, lots of others. Give me ten minutes and a quiet corner and I'll have my nose in a book, have done since I was a wee kid. But then I was brought up to treat books as a joy, not a chore.

My dad kind of insisted I read books when I was younger, although it didn't take long for me to get hooked.

I reckon you've maybe just not found the book for you, I've tried to wade through books that were just totally over my head (The Hardie Boys, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter etc.) and would find the eyelids drooping pretty fast.

Last real blinder I read was the Testament of Gideon Mack, almost had me in tears at one point, and before that 'Mountain Days and Bothy Nights' which was so good I read half of it standing up at the table as I forgot to sit down.

I can quite understand why somebody should regard silly made up stories as irrelevant and boring.

If I read a "thriller", unless I can take pleasure in the crafting and the delicious use of language and grammar (Sit down at the back McNabb and Brown*, I'm not talking about you) then I feel the same.

But give me a novel in which nothing much happens, yet it illuminates the human condition, then I'm hooked. I'm reading T S Spivet at the moment and I'm absolutely captivated by it. Some of Trollope is wonderful, but you need to get the right "tone" to understand the wicked cynicism.

But I ****ing hate bloody Jane Austen and Dickens.

* I forgot his name, so i googled "bad author" and it was first up.

I tend to read biographies or historical books myself, more interesting to me than fiction. I'd suggest you just haven't found the right genre yet. I do find myself, if a book doesn't grab me within the first few pages i'll rarely persevere with it. No harm in that, you should maybe go into a book shop and read different genres until you find something that holds your attention.

What BigJohn says - stuff that beats up your mind in various ways is good.

Reading Atomized at the minute which is quite brutal and some draft stuff from Nassim Taleb about anti-fragility

Me I can read them but really struggle to been interested been a few years I last read one now. Just can't get into them never have been able to, my Dad is avid read has about 5 or 6 on the go at a time goes through dozens of them in weeks.

[i]But I ****ing hate bloody Jane Austen[/i]

Really? She's all about the human condition.

depends, i haven't read a book for a while as been doing other things and i have never tended not read 'airport novels', i tend to read books where you 'learn' something, be it Satre or Orwell, or more factual books such as Thubron or Thesinger.

Perhaps you've just not read the right book yet. Ignore what your wife is reading. Ask some mates who have similar tastes in films or music what books they have really enjoyed and see if you get on with those instead.

Don't worry about it, though, civilisation isn't going to collapse because you find a particular art-form boring. Few people worry about not reading poetry, for example. Personally I can't stand ballet, and I don't beat myself up about that...

Books are ace, I've always got one on the go. Unlike BigJohn I'll read all sorts including Brown and McNab for a bit of light relief, currently finishing Grisham. Hardy (Thomas), Handy (Charles), McCarthy and Courtney for something more engaging.
Books really are ace.

emsz - Member
But I ****ing hate bloody Jane Austen

Really? She's all about the human condition.

The human condition of rich, privileged people maybe?

Unlike BigJohn I'll read all sorts including Brown and McNab

I really struggle to understand how anyone can not like reading a novel. I'm rapidly running out of room in my house - and i live alone!

My genre is historical - novel and biographies - but i can see how this doesn't do it for others. Can't see how people get through life without the pleasure of a good book, hardly turn the tv on these days.

I read (and write) all day at work as an academic. Ever since i started doing this all day everyday during my PhD I found reading books really difficult. I go through phases of reading stuff but I get half way something through and give up.

I've listened to quite a few audiobooks in the car. With regards reading a book myself, I'd much rather watch tv, or, as I seem to do all the time with any spare time I have these days, browse the web on my phone. My smartphone has pretty much guaranteed that books will never get a look-in in the future.

Idlejohn,

They love and loose differently to us? besides she mostly just took the piss.

I'm the same, except that I have actually read a few books. Well, a few thousand, probbly. I used to read like crazy as a kid. We had no TV, but I'd be happy just reading a book. Exhausted the children's library by about the age of 9, then moved onto more grown up stuff. Had the reading age of an adult by the time I was 8.

Got to about my mid-teens, then just went off reading almost altogether. Got into images instead I spose. Much happier looking at pics than reading text. In fact, I actually don't like reading long texts at all any more. Some sort of ADHD, but I get very bored and it just becomes an almost painful task. Don't read long articles in papers even, and even some of the long threads on here, I can't be bothered with unless I've bin following it. I'll often skip really long single posts.

I don't just sit and watch telly though, I'll chose what to watch and won't watch owt if there's nowt on that interests me.

Haven't read a book in years. Don't feel worse off for it, as I can take enjoyment from other media, such as film, photography, art etc.

People's minds are different. Some are better suited to written language, others to images. At some point my brain switched from one to the other. All good though.

give me a novel in which nothing much happens, yet it illuminates the human condition, then I'm hooked

me too..

I'd much rather watch tv, or, as I seem to do all the time with any spare time I have these days, browse the web on my phone. My smartphone has pretty much guaranteed that books will never get a look-in in the future.

That may be the saddest thing I've read on here. 🙁

In fact, I actually don't like reading long texts at all any more. Some sort of ADHD,

Might be worth getting your eyes tested? If your vision isn't quite right then long text will be a strain and you'll find it hard to concentrate.

Am I alone in this..?

I find reading rather anti social (I have issues tho)

emsz - Member
Idlejohn,

They love and loose differently to us? besides she mostly just took the piss.

I was messing emsz! 😉

Got to about my mid-teens, then just went off reading almost altogether. Got into images instead I spose.

I go through phases, sometimes 3-4 months without a book, at other times I might read 3-4 a week. I've not had TV for 10 years though so that frees up some time! I haven't read an awful lot of non-fiction though and keep meaning to rectify that.

I rarely read, but will probably try to read 6-7 books a year and complete 2 or 3. Reading some novels and some modern history books, but as someone says above if it doens't grab me in the first few pages then its out

I absolutely can't read books, I don't have the attention span, I will however ensure my daughter (like her mother) is a big reader.

I find reading rather anti social

Yes, somewhat limited as a group activity 🙂 For me it's very hard to express what I get from it. I like to fully immerse myself and read very quickly, so much so that when I've finished it won't stay long in the memory. If possible I like to read a book in one hit, not so easy now I'm married 🙁

My smartphone has pretty much guaranteed that books will never get a look-in in the future.

Try reading novels on your phone then.

I probably read more books on my phone than I do in dead-tree format nowadays, and I read a lot. It's great, I can read in the dark without disturbing my light-sensitive wife. I have an Android phone and use [url= http://www.fbreader.org/FBReaderJ/ ]FBReader[/url] which has a couple of massive catalogues of old expired-copyright stuff to read. I've also tried Amazon's Kindle app, but they really need to sort their library out because last time I looked it seemed to be full of atrocious self-published tat. It's the future though, I reckon: in a decade or two paper books will be rather a rare luxury.

Might be worth getting your eyes tested? If your vision isn't quite right then long text will be a strain and you'll find it hard to concentrate.

Nowt to do with that; close vision is fine.

No, it's just that I lost interest and enjoyment in reading. Images became a more natural means of expression for me as I entered adulthood. Words on a page just lost their appeal.

s****

Stoppit.... 😉

Actually, while out minds are in the gutter for amoment, always bin more inertested in the words rather than imagery in this particular context, as here, I feel that words allow for far greater imaginative interpretation than pics. Ironic, eh? 😀

Actually I think that's quite interesting, and I bet old Siggy would've had something to say about it...

I'm kinda with the OP

I used to find books boring and couldn't get into them. Now, I do enjoy a good book, but i'm not one of these types to read for the sake of reading, nothing wit pictures of speedboats or harriers on the cover. If it's been recommended by Richard and Judy then it's unlikely to make the list.

I do enjoy books about music and film, factual stuff, political science, science.........but my favourite this year has to be [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-We-Suck-Staying-Stupid/dp/0452295645/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303242647&sr=1-1 ]Why We Suck by Denis Leary.......if you like him this will have you in stitches[/url]

I go through stages of reading by author, Will Self at the moment who I have to say I'm loving. Such an emmersive and vivid style of writing coupled with amazing ideas. Love it.

I used to devour books as a kid as well, have definitely slowed down.

Anything by Cormac McCarthy. Especially the "Crossing" books. Prose is amazing, plots are surprising, and every line tells you more about you, me, and all the other people on this planet than a psychologist ever could.

Andy McNab= modern Commando comics, btw.
Dan Brown= good, if derivative plots, bad, bad writing.

Andy McNab= modern Commando comics, btw.

i love books there arent enough hours a day well not since having a kid

im currently planning my dream bookshelf wall, ideally id like a library a proper one with a ladder on wheels etc

but as we live in a 'terraced cottage' im satisfying myself with my floor to ceiling bookshelf wall

audiobooks work well for some people

My smartphone has pretty much guaranteed that books will never get a look-in in the future.

give me a novel in which nothing much happens, yet it illuminates the human condition, then I'm hooked

They're exactly the books I do my best to avoid - I get quite enough of the "human condition" on a daily basis... Science fiction, a bit of fantasy and a lot of non-fiction (pop-science and history, mainly) will do for me.

Still, to the OP: I personally wouldn't like to live without books, but I'm hard pushed to find any real reason that people are somehow "better" for reading more - I might enjoy a book about Anglo-Saxon Britain more than, say, Eastenders, but I don't for one second think it's somehow more worthwhile.

the beauty of a smartphone is that books are guaranteed to get a look-in at all times in the future: Stanza, Kindle, ereader, iBooks...

Funnily enough, last book I bought was on the Kindle - Count Zero no less. Can't find Mona Lisa Overdrive on Amazon, though 😕

Currently reading "We need to talk about Kevin" sort of creeps me out, tend to read in bed late at night.
😯

KINGTUT - Member
I absolutely can't read books, I don't have the attention span

No, itz coz yore fik.

I used to read loads as a kid, but I was an only child with limited entertainment options.

Really can't be bothered with books these days and in any case, surely there's is enough literary genius contained within these hallowed pages to stimulate the brain of any man?

Books are for losers.

Books r gud, they improove ur inglish I rekon.

My inglish is gud cos I red wen yung.

Butt I cudnt tell u wat a pronown is cos I didn't doo eny werk at skool.

KINGTUT - Member
I absolutely can't read books, I don't have the attention span

No, itz coz yore fik.

I really can't wait to meet you one day.

I should be at Mountain Mayhem this year. I could do you a signed picture of me, for a donation to the Bullheart charity. How's that sound? 🙂

Try to contain yerself until then, eh? 😉

Aw diddums, he's gone all shy and edited his post. Bless.

Ooh look, it's back again...

Books r gud, they improove ur inglish I rekon.

I should be at Mountain Mayhem this year. I could do you a signed picture of me, for a donation to the Bullheart charity. How's that sound?

Try to contain yerself until then, eh?

Aw diddums, he's gone all shy and edited his post. Bless.

Ooh look, it's back again...

Still sore after your Mleh embarrassment eh?

Oh and try and not to shit your pants at any events this year will you..

I love reading books and have found that I enjoy non-fiction now as well which never used to be the case. I've avoided buying one of those e-reader/tablet things as I like going to the local second-hand bookshop so much and just seeing what's down there.

Currently reading The Complete Sherlock Holmes, a book by some guy who worked at Enron and The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy.

I can see why it doesn't appeal to everyone though, it's often difficult to find the time and with stuff like Ellroy I find that you need to keep reaidng pretty regular or it's easy to forget what's going on and lose the plot (in literary terms)

I find people who read a lot more interesting, otherwise you find you're engaging with some sort of sub-Daily Mail mentality.

Still, to the OP: I personally wouldn't like to live without books, but I'm hard pushed to find any real reason that people are somehow "better" for reading more

Literacy was, and still is to some extent, a sign of education, and before free education, a sign of class and social status. Probbly why reading is still seen as quite an 'intellectual' thing to do, and something that people may think gains approval amongst their peers. I have noticed some folk dropping names of books/authors into condversations, as if somehow to try to appear 'cleverer' and impress others with how 'well read' they are.

And then there's the kind of books/authors that a person may think sets them apart from others. Maybe some scoff at those who enjoy Harry Potter or Andy Mcnab, because they themselves prefer the more intellectual fruits within a good Dostoevsky, or Solzhenitsyn or whatever. Lot of snobbery.

And Lo! BillMC proves me right! 😀

Hey Duggan, try Ellroy's 'My Dark Places'. It's brilliant.

Let me know what size pic you want, King****. 6x4", 12x8", or A1 poster size?

I will hopefully be doing a range of Elfinmerchandise too. Mugs, tea towels and a fabulous illuminated chess board. No, it's true!

Books are rubbish - they'll never take off....... 😕

Books r gud, they improove ur inglish I rekon.

My inglish is gud cos I red wen yung.

Butt I cudnt tell u wat a pronown is cos I didn't doo eny werk at skool.

Solzhenitsyn has provided me with one of the most sublime moments of my life elfin. What worries me is that people categorise books like his as intellectual and not for the masses. I don't think Harry Potter is suffering from a lack of exposure 😉

No i'm not saying thaat only certain people should be allowed to read certain books, Rich, but you know what I mean; if someone sez they're reading a book by X author, then maybe people will have a certain view of them, bit like if they say they enjoy EastEnders or Corrie. Yet if they were to say they were reading a book by Y author, considered to be 'greater' literature, then they may get more kudos, which is a bit silly.

Solzhenitsyn is fantastic, just not 'feel-good' reading. I read 'On day in the life of Ivan Denisovitch' as a kid, and was struck by how someone could write about a potato and yet make it so compelling. Yeah, proper good make you change the way you think type stuff. Got Cancer Ward sitting here, but I just can't face it. Read it years ago, and it's not uplifting, is it? 😥

Like with most forms of culture and cultural production, literature suffers from snobbery and elitism. But then, people need to think for themselves and decide not to be victims to such stuck up attitudes.

I've read all the Harry Potters, I've read all the Dan Browns and I've read all the Ian Fleming James Bonds.

My favourite work of literature is the 12 volume novel A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell. In which, er, nothing happens.

Varied diet. (I only read trash one day a week, iDave stylee).

If anybody wants a treat, try The Selected Works of T S Spivet by Reif Larsen.