Ever find your interest in reading waning?

[MonteGss]

I've read at least 20 books each of the past two years...probably longer than that but I've only been keeping track since 2006. That said, I also go into spurts when I stop reading. If I am not diggin the book I am reading, I tend to put it down for days/weeks or even months at a time until I finally plow through it, or give up. Some books that I try to read just plain suck, so I quit and start a new one. When I fall into a slump, I pick up a King book and that will usually get me in the reading groove again. Also, I've always got an audiobook going these days on my iPod.
When I was in college, pleasure reading really suffered for me, like Chris said. I've currently got about 70 books that I own but haven't read and that number always seems to stay the same because I keep buying more.

[Daghain]

I'm an English Lit. major and sometimes I have to read so much stuff for classes that I find my pleasure reading suffering. By the time I find free time to do any pleasure reading, reading is the last thing that i want to do. My writing tends to suffer in much the same way.

As an added bonus, when you do try to read something you usually end up mentally picking it apart. Makes it hard to read trashy novels.

[Darkthoughts]

I find that, ironically, whenever I have reader's block and I'm trying to get over it, I seem to pick books that I've struggled with before...as if its a good time to be attempting that sort of stuff
The reason is probably that, when I'm on a mjor reading kick its like a high, I don't want to waste my time with the so-so stuff, I want to get straight to the good shit

[alinda]

No, I cant imagine my life w/o reading.
I think if that ever happened, I would'
seriouly consider going to see a DR.

[ZoNeSeeK]

Reading is habitual - if something changes in your routine or your priorities shift, the habit of reading can be sidelined. I used to read alot when I was single, as I did most of my reading in bed before sleep - this was of course replaced with rooting when Diem and I got together, and the reading habit went out the window. Perhaps you've started driving to work instead of catching public transport (also another great place to read), or maybe reading has been replaced by iPod on the train.

Anyway, the point isn't that you're not a reader anymore, its just you've fallen out of the habit. Reinstate the habit with a killer book and you'll be fine - and also make sure you have another one ready to go when you're nearing the end of whatever you're on. Or not, do something else, its not a problem if you take a hiatus from reading solidly for a few months.

[ZoNeSeeK]

I'm an English Lit. major and sometimes I have to read so much stuff for classes that I find my pleasure reading suffering. By the time I find free time to do any pleasure reading, reading is the last thing that i want to do. My writing tends to suffer in much the same way.

As an added bonus, when you do try to read something you usually end up mentally picking it apart. Makes it hard to read trashy novels.

For Lit in Yr 12 I had to read A Fringe Of Leaves by Patrick White which was almost unbearable.

[Mattrick]

Lately I've found my drive to read has disappeared but I go through phases. I can go months without reading anything then read four books in a month.

I've got Lisey's Story, Duma Key by King and the second Dexter book, No Country For Old Men and World War Z waiting for me.

[LadyHitchhiker]

Yes. But that's mostly because of rather mediocre books I've been reading...

[cozener]

My interest in reading does come and go but never goes away completely and if I leave reading for some time and get the urge to read again it comes back like a wild fire.

[Ka-tet]

I do this all the time , then i go crazy and read non stop for weeks on end

[Matt]

Reading has been an constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I was a lonely child and reading always represented so much more than just the story. It was my escape and its still that way today.

I'm not sure there has been a moment in the last 30 years that I wasn't reading something (or listening more recently).

[fernandito]

It seems that I'm finally shaking this curse off (for now at least) - I've had an insatiable appetite for novels these past couple of days.

[alinda]

yea glad to hear it. When I at first saw you had a new
post in this thread I was hoping to read these exact words!

[Ves'Ka Gan]

When I was with my ex husband I lost track of a lot of things. I didn't read or write hardly at all. When we split, I went to work for a bookstore, and it probably saved me from worst depression than I was already feeling, because it's really difficult to not read when you are surrounded by books! I think I made up for 3 yrs of limited reading in the year I worked there.

[Tiffany]

I haven't ever really lost interest in reading but sometimes life gets too busy for it. And I have to give myself a few days in between finishing one book and starting another.

Gotta have some time to finished chewing before taking another bite, can ya' dig?

[Matt]

Totally, I'm the same way. I always take a short break in between books.

[fernandito]

;clap; yea glad to hear it. When I at first saw you had a new
post in this thread I was hoping to read these exact words!

Thanks love

THE SPELL IS BROKEN! I LIVE AGAIN!

[Jean]

don't know how I overlooked it

::mutters to himself:: silly bear....

just to warn everyone that this thread is going to be moved to Dutch Hill shortly

[alinda]

------------------------------------> Exit stage left

[ATG]

I believe we read more when we are unhappy. It is escapism.

Like the artist who is more creative after getting dumped, pain fuels the need to create.
Reading less means ( to me ) life is going well and there is less of a need for an escape.

I started reading waaaaaayyy more last September when the economy started to go South and my business began to founder.

[alinda]

OMG, I must be the most unhappy person ....I read all the time,

[Jean]

OMG, I must be the most unhappy person ....I read all the time,

so do I, and it definitely does make me happy

[alinda]

[Girlystevedave]

I can't seem to get into reading right now, and I hate it. I started The Stand almost a month ago. Under normal circumstances, I would have been done in a week (two at the most). Now, here I am, halfway through it and haven't 'gotten into' it for over a week. Each time I try to pick it up, my brain is too distracted, and I realize it has taken me fifteen minutes to get through two f'n pages.
I hope this passes soon.

[jhanic]

I can't remember a time when I didn't feel like reading. Even when I was serving in Vietnam, I always seemed to have a book handy. I don't read just books, though. I read two different papers a day and just about anything else I can. I actually read myself to sleep every night (I leave a light on so that, when I wake up in the middle of the night, I can read some more too!) Sick, huh?

John