Do You Enjoy Reading More, Same, or Less Than When Younger?

[rk911]

i used to read several books at the same time...one in bed, one in the can and for a while one in my lunch box. mainly fiction but some biographies. book-of-the-month club for 25-yrs and frequent runs to local bookstores for sales. i still have about 2-dozen unread books at home and 3 or 4 more in the motor home. i just can’t seem to get interested.

 

[blueskyk]

Nothing like settling in a comfy chair with a (real) book in your lap and a fire in the fireplace!
Oh, and a dog next to you

+1 And if it’s a GOOD book, I’ll think I’ve never been so happy

 

[DrRoy]

I voted same. Always read a fair bit and still do. I have hardly ever abandoned a book.

 

[audreyh1]

I read a great deal.

Like Harley I read a great deal as a young person, much less during my working years, and back to reading a lot during retirement.

I watch considerably less TV these days, and that’s probably why I read more. I watched a lot of TV during working years, and maintained the habit for a while when I first retired but got tired of it.

 

[TromboneAl]

Perhaps there are more (digital) distractions ?

Very true. There's something more immediate, active, or relevant about reading a news article, a forum like this one, or researching something (like how to make better scrambled eggs) than reading a book.

Sometimes I'll read for only thirty seconds before remembering something I want to check online.

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I sometimes reread books I couldn't put down when younger, but I don't get the same effect. It was interesting to reread My Side of the Mountain, which I read in elementary school.

 

[REWahoo]

Sometimes I'll read for only thirty seconds before remembering something I want to check online.

Like what's showing on Short Attention Span Theater?

 

[Lsbcal]

I think I used to read fiction for insights in how to figure out life. Maybe that was a mistake. Now that I've got it figured out (or given up on changing the "me" model) I read more for how other people think. Much of my fiction reading is mystery, spies or police procedurals and such.

I'm a slow reader and later in the evening I have trouble staying awake. So at that points it's either web surfing, spreadsheet work, or TV.

 

[TromboneAl]

I think I used to read fiction for insights in how to figure out life.

Great observation.

Several of the books I've read on how to write explain that that's the basis of why humans like to read or hear stories. Ogg come home from trip and explain how he avoided being eaten by tiger, and his cave mates learn from that.

That's why most of the blurbs for my books follow this formula (from Gotta Read It!):

1. A character, who
2. Wants something, but
3. Something stands in her way, so she
4. Struggles against that force, and
5. Something important is at stake.

 

[John Galt III]

May be a stretch from reading, but I am now into 'spoken word with musical accompaniment'. Doesn't count as reading, of course, lol. But I'm now into going to operatic voice recitals at local colleges. Just the singer and a piano or maybe a cello. Just like reading, you have to let yourself get drawn into the event for maximum enjoyment.

 

[Lsbcal]

Great observation.

Several of the books I've read on how to write explain that that's the basis of why humans like to read or hear stories. Ogg come home from trip and explain how he avoided being eaten by tiger, and his cave mates learn from that.

That's why most of the blurbs for my books follow this formula (from Gotta Read It!):

1. A character, who
2. Wants something, but
3. Something stands in her way, so she
4. Struggles against that force, and
5. Something important is at stake.

There seems to be some underlying mystery (to me) of really good story construction. Also some of it is the richness of the English language. That is why I tend to really like some British authors, for their command of the language. It a little like melody in music, hard for me to pin down but I know when I read it.

 

[Nemo2]

for their command of the language. It a little like melody in music, hard for me to pin down but I know when I read it.

+1

 

[Moemg]

I read as much as I 've always read which is a lot . If I find an author I like I will read all their books . I also belong to a book club so that spurs me on even more .

 

[Music Lover]

For years I read almost anything that crossed my path other than trashy romance novels, but now I'm a lot pickier and therefore, enjoy it more. If I come across an author I like I'll check if they have a recurring character and will then try to get the series.

 

[TromboneAl]

There seems to be some underlying mystery (to me) of really good story construction. Also some of it is the richness of the English language. That is why I tend to really like some British authors, for their command of the language. It a little like melody in music, hard for me to pin down but I know when I read it.

"I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the papers diligently of late, have you not?"

Doyle's books sound especially good as audiobooks:

 

[Badger]

I have always enjoyed reading. When I was just a young sprout it was anything that grabbed my attention. Once in college it became technical and scientific (especially biological) books. That continued for many decades until I needed to return for a little more enjoyment. Once retired reading was for entertainment again.

I prefer series fiction once I find a style that is a fun read. Sometimes it takes a while to find a new series but thanks to the internet there are websites that can help find authors with similar styles.
I mostly read either in the evening (I find new TV shows to be mostly garbage) or while occupying my time when waiting.



Cheers!

 

[ncbill]

I read as much as I did when younger...it's just now most reading is done on online forums like this one.

 

[dtbach]

I read about the same as always, about 4 books/month. I rarely read fiction and if I do it's historical fiction. It bores my DW to tears that I mostly read biographies, military history and science as if I try to tell her about what I'm reading her eyes roll up fast.

 

[Lsbcal]

I read about the same as always, about 4 books/month. I rarely read fiction and if I do it's historical fiction. It bores my DW to tears that I mostly read biographies, military history and science as if I try to tell her about what I'm reading her eyes roll up fast.

That is an impressive amount of reading for nonfiction.

There are some heavy hitting readers on this forum.

 

[DRC726]

I've always loved reading. When I was a kid I'd read cereal boxes and I'll still read just about anything. It's funny, I rarely give up on books. I guess I pre-screen them before I get to invested in them. Used to read a lot of sci fi/fantasy. Now, more about finance, retirement, healthy living (could be cuz I'm knocking on the retirement door?). If my health failed and I could no longer read for some reason, just shoot me...

 

[Katsmeow]

I still love reading. I loved reading as a child and young adult and still do. My enjoyment hasn't changed but over the years the amount of time I spend has. When I had 3 kids at home I had less time to just read. Nowadays, I have more time. Almost everything I read is ebooks though so I often will read when I am waiting somewhere else, am a passenger in a car, etc. I read for an hour or two almost every day before bed. But, I do have more things know that I enjoy doing so I do divide my time more as there is more competition for it.

 

[athena53]

Interesting question. I would have said "less" as far as books, because of all the reading I do on the Internet, but I just got a Samsung tablet with Nook software and am on my second book "borrowed" from the public library and downloaded. When my attention wanders I can switch to FaceBook, the weather, e-mail, etc. and then go back to reading. I think I'll be doing more (virtual) book reading.

I've always read a lot for pleasure- one of my most vivid memories of the years I spent on the actuarial exams was studying in libraries and passing through tons of books with inviting titles- and I had to go back to my tomes on Business Law, Social Security and Insurance coverages. I was so glad when those days were behind me, for many reasons!

 

[rodi]

Since retiring I have more time to read - so I'm enjoying it more because I'm reading more. During my work/young kids under roof years I didn't have time to read more than headlines.... Now I'm a power user of the library reserve-a-book system.... so I'm targeting book series by favorite authors... reserving the next book in the series before I finish the current book (so it can be transported to my local library).

I've always enjoyed reading - was an avid reader when younger... but life/work/kids got in the way for a few decades.

 

[LRDave]

Less. Eye fatigue gets me. I have the time for the reading binges I imagined I'd have when I retired, but not the eyesight anymore.

 

[athena53]

Less. Eye fatigue gets me. I have the time for the reading binges I imagined I'd have when I retired, but not the eyesight anymore.

I'm on my 3rd downloaded book since I got the Nook 2 weeks ago and I don't go through hard-copy books that quickly. I'm beginning to realize that the electronic version is easier on my eyes- decent font size, strong contrast between the print and the background, easy to read regardless of how well-lit the room is, etc. My eyes are average 67-year old eyes- I wear glasses but have no serious problems and my prescriptions don't change radically from exam to exam. It's just good old presbyopia (the ten-dollar word docs use, from the Greek for "old eyes".)

I'm so happy to have discovered the joys of electronic readers!

 

[braumeister]

I'm so happy to have discovered the joys of electronic readers!

You bet.
I always have five or six books going at once on my Kindle. Usually either the 99 cent sale type or something I downloaded from my local library, but I do buy regular priced books as well. Also fantastic for taking on trips.