How do you read?
Do you read in bed? Or perhaps on the way to work? At lunch time? Or is it a snatched five minutes here and there? Do you read loads of books and then not bother for months? Do you have several books on the go at once, or do you concentrate on one at a time? Do you read in the bath? On the loo? Do you walk around with your nose in a book, bumping into furniture? Do you only read on holiday? Do you read anything and everything, or enjoy a specific genre? Fiction, biography, poetry? Hardback or paperback? Waterstones, Amazon, second hand, e-reader, borrowed, new, charity shop? Do you keep them once you've read them, or pass them on? Do you keep your favourites? Do you have a collection of loved authors?
I read a lot. I'd read all day if I could get away with it. I do find it hard to read on the beach, because I tend to nod off. Not good when you're in charge of little ones near water. But yes, I do love to read. I've been accused of being anti-social when I read. I have been shushed on the bus for laughing out loud (it was Bill Bryson's 'A Walk In The Woods' His friend Katz is flirting with a waitress. He leans over to Bryson and asks "Is she ugly?" To which Bill replies "Only compared to other women." Well it made me chuckle).
I may be a frustrated writer. I get ideas, and they get written down. But never seem to get any further than that. I think you must need a modicum of self discipline to write, and I'm the kind of person who starts a diet on Monday morning only to have thought "sod it" as I tuck into a piece of cake by the afternoon. I have read books and have almost hated the author, it's been so good. Margaret Atwood springs to mind. And Annie Proulx. I've shared them with other people, but there's a part of me that wants to keep it to myself. To not share, and let it be my own delicious secret. Do you ever get that feeling?
I've got a few books on the go this month. H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald, The Wire In The Blood by Val McDermid and MaddAdam by Margaret Atwood.
Oh and my Mum bought me a Kindle for Christmas. It was wholly unexpected. I've been quite vocal in my opposition to them. And I was going to make more of an effort to buy second hand and borrow from the library in 2015. But I have been giving it a try. I'm not sure I like it. I mean it's not particularly romantic reading Wuthering Heights from a black plastic rectangle is it?
Leanne xx
Joining in with Laura
I'm afraid I love my Kindle. I didn't think I would but I wouldn't be without it now. Especially good for holidays. No more arguing about how many books I can take! :) x
ReplyDeleteWe have a Nook and my husband loves it. Our son too. I'm more lukewarm to it but I'm starting to feel more comfortable. I try to buy old or used books as much as I can. Lately, I've been buying surplussed library copies from Amazon marketplace sellers whenever possible. They're often in excellent shape for the price. I mostly read sitting up on the couch or in a big chair, or lying on my stomach in bed. If I read on my back, I feel really nauseated. I don't know why. I read a lot, though, and I'll read almost anything. You should see some of the garbage I read. But I like all kinds of things, it's all good. I enjoyed reading about your reading.
ReplyDeleteI find my kindle difficult, I have lots of things on it to read, but never seem to really get on with reading them - although I have a general not getting on and reading issue, so perhaps it is just that! I hope that you and your kindle make friends and that you enjoy reading things on it - it will be good for travelling as you can have lots to read and not lots to lug about, that is what I like mine for really rather than reading at home. I hope that you enjoy your year of reading, whatever you read! xx
ReplyDeleteI read, oh do I read, I'd read every waking moment if life would allow it. I read anything and everything. I have a Kindle and love it, and it hasn't stopped me from reading regular books too. I check out e-books from my library, buy used books from Amazon and buy new if it's an author I have to have RIGHT NOW.
ReplyDeleteI currently reading 3 books: The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman, The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters and one whose title I can't remember about Merrily who's an Anglican priest.
Great post, Leanne! I love books, and have since I was a little girl. The sad thing is, as much as I love them, I don't read them as often as I used to. The evening used to be my designated reading time, but now most nights I find myself watching a show on my computer while I knit. One of the things I am hoping to establish this year is an hour of reading during the day, when I'm wide awake. My reading time right now is when I crawl into bed, and I can only make it about 10 minutes before I fall asleep no matter how good the book is. As for the Kindle, give it a chance. I don't think it is well suited to reading a classic, but a quick beach read or a good mystery are the perfect fit for it. I love my Kindle!
ReplyDeleteI can become totally antisocial if i get engrossed in a book, and resent having to stop for anything.
ReplyDeleteI read every day, usually in bed before going to sleep - a kind of a ritual. And I do read several books at the same time, mostly fiction. It often happens that after reading loads of books (usually from the same author; last time it was Paul Auster), I need a break. As a student I would spend all money on books, now I borrow them from library, another ritual - involves going to the library, talking to librarians, choosing amongst hundreds of books.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading Paul Auster. 'New York Trilogy' had a big impact on me when I was in my late teens.
DeleteLeanne xx
I'd love to know what the joke was that your friend told you in the shoe shop! I love to read, usually in bed or sitting in the car in the school car park, waiting for E to emerge. Thanks for the tip about your favourite books - I'm always on the lookout for new authors to try. I'm very anti-Kindle, but my husband, who cycles and then takes a train to work, swears by his - it's so much lighter and doesn't end up as a clump of papier-mache if it rains! It's good for taking on holiday too. x
ReplyDeleteI couldn't possibly tell you. It would completely blow my cover here ;))))
DeleteI'm also one of those folks resisting kindles. I just don't want one. Nothing quite like holding a real book and turning its pages. Nonethesless a lovely gift from your mum, though xxx
ReplyDeleteI wandered over here from Kristie's - I am a compulsive reader, whatever is to hand. I do like the kindle for some things - the ability to carry 50 books with me wherever I go, great for traveling; having a book on my phone, so I can whip it out and read when I stand on line somewhere, or sit waiting unexpectedly. However, I don't think I retain what I read on the kindle as well as in a book.
ReplyDeleteHello Mary-Lou,
DeleteYes I can see the use of a Kindle for travelling purposes. And in fact we camp a lot as a family, so I shall take it with me then. It's interesting what you've said about not retaining the book as well. I get annoyed with trying to 'turn the page' and having the dictionary popping up. I fnd it quite distracting.
Leanne xx
Oh, I'm exactly the same with the whole diet thing. Just can't do it. I tend to have one book on the go at any one time, although I might have another non-fiction one as well. It's usually read in odd minutes here and there, watching the children swimming, waiting to pick them up, that kind of thing. I get them from charity shops, secondhand book shops and the library mostly. I just picked up "The Shipping News" from the local secondhand book shop, I'm really looking forward to it. Nothing fancy and electrical here though. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteJohn has a kindle and loves it. I can see their advantages but prefer a real book myself. I read for ten minutes in bed at night so it can take me months to get through a book, but i love to read all the same and have done since I was very little. I have no discipline though, and read whatever I fancy instead of the books I imagine I should be reading. xx
ReplyDeleteI think you should read what you want. It's for pleasure and relaxation. I LOVED the Twilight series of books. I read them when Olly was a baby, and they were pure escapism for a very harassed woman who felt as though she would never feel like a human being again.
DeleteLeanne xx
Hi Leanne. Paper or audio for me, anytime all the time anything. Compulsively so. I once had an accident on my way home from school, ending up with a cut face because I had my nose buried in a book. I only read what I like and don't look back if I can't bear to continue a book because it is not for me. Love a bit of escapism, too. I like to pretend I am part of the story. Hopefully you get plenty of reading time this weekend. Christina xx
ReplyDeleteI love books and reading. Usually have three on the go with one main one. I read during lunch and during wine and crisps in front of the fire at 5pm with the dogs passed out at my feet :o) Also have a pile of interesting ecology-related ones to get through but time is the limiting factor really, as with everything. Good luck with the Kindle- you'll find it useful on hols I expect xxx
ReplyDeleteLike you, I would read All The Time if I could (and that isn't the title of a book, incidentally!) Other things get in the way of reading, things like meeting writing deadlines (I'm a freelance feature writer), doing housework, cooking, helping with grandson, etc, etc. But I don't have an electronic device, I still read the old-fashioned way, with a book. I prefer it that way. I dare say if I had an electronic reader I'd quite like it for five minutes, but I love books, the look, feel, smell, even the font and the binding. Right now I'm reading three books: a history of Ladybird Books, Jenny Uglow's A Little History of British Gardening (a great little book), and Katharine McMahon's latest novel, The Woman in the Picture, which I've been saving to read for several weeks as I know it will be a while before her next one is published. I don't listen to audio books, and my favourite place to read in winter is in bed and in summer, in the garden under our walnut tree or in the summerhouse.
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
Hi Leanne. I actually used to be naughty on purpose as a child so that I would get sent to my room..... Quiet reading time with no distractions. And saved all my pocket money for batteries for the torch I used for reading under the bedclothes! My dear husband fave me a kindle and I gated it so much I swiftly gave it away to my daughter in law who loves it. It just was like sleeping in nylon sheets... WRONG and HORRIBLE!
ReplyDeleteI got my Kindle about 4 years ago and I have never looked back. All the space it saves is worth the plastic and any lack of book scent. But the best benefit for me is it finally broke me of the habit of Reading the end of the book first!
ReplyDeleteI don't read as much as I did - I used to be a voracious reader - but I'm trying to get back into the habit. I fell out with modern fiction though so choosing what to read is no longer straighforward.
ReplyDeleteI have Kindle app on my iPad and I thought I'd hate it but I don't, although I do have to watch that I don't fall asleep reading and send it crashing to the floor.
As a child I always had my head stuck in a book, I just don't seem to find the time at the moment. I loved the MaddAdam trilogy, and have them sitting on my shelf with the rest of my favourites books. Wouldn't be the same if they were on a Kindle.
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