BOOK-A-HOLICS discussion
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Hardest Thing About Reading A Book
Interesting question. I guess it depends on the book. I almost always finish what I start reading, because I only start reading books that interest me, but I think making the decision whether or not to stop reading something that's on the line between worth finishing and not worth finishing is tough. Luckily I don't face that often.It's been a long time since I've HAD to read anything, e.g. for school or on a deadline. I suppose that would be difficult as well.
Sometimes I get caught in those weird "between books" periods in which none of the books I have on tap seem like what I want to read at the moment. I hate that. Usually I return to something I loved to read and wait for the right book to jump out at me.
if i read too long my back starts to hurt. one of the signs that i'm 30.
Mod
? your back what does reading have to do with your back... lol
Are you reading while standing on your head?
hmmm....
alrighty then.
Wes
reading for hours on end can hurt your back!! i sit at work for 8 hours, class for 3, then read for more. my husband bought me one of those massage chairs and it helps....
Hardest thing about reading a book? Sometimes they are frightfully addictive. SO much so that you can't put them down, or find putting them down hard to do because theres a voice in your head going 'just one more page, one more page and then put it down'.Also when a book confuses you, much as one of mine is doing now. I seriously feel confused by it, and I'm not sure if the writer has intentionally written it to be confusing to the reader but at the same time,knowing that the book is addictive and is enticing you to read more while at the same time confusing you to high heaven. I feel like I'm reading something from Lost.
Aside from these, I don't really find anything, hard about reading books. If I find I'm not enjoying it then I don't bother with it, I find it pointless to force myself to read a story I'm not connecting with. For me, I have to 'see' the book in my head, imagine the characters and the scenarios I'm reading, if that doesn't happen then I move on to one that does.
The hardest thing is choosing what to read next.
I agree with Ajanta. When you start reading 4/5 books at a time, sometimes its a bit confusing keeping the charecters and storylines seperate. Another thing for me is rushing around between reading binges to finish my chores!!LOL!!
I was in two rear-end collisions in one month. The result was damage to the disks in my neck and a pinched nerve which causes lots of problems and pain but the worst was that my hands go numb. A good friend bound me a Table Mate 2 and a Roberts Bookholder. I can now read for hours in a chair or on the sofa with the book at eye-level, so no strain on my neck, and only use my hands to turn the pages, so they don't become numb from holding the book. I'm getting much better, but I still find this setup a great help.
If I read for too long, my eyes cross...I hate that.
The hardest thing for me comes about 2/3 of the way through the book when I know its almost over. Sometimes I have a hard time finishing because I don't want to leave.
1) Being interrupted while reading2) I agree with Lauren, with the fantasy style stuff, I don't want to have to leave the world.
3) Finishing one book before starting three others. I can't get too submerged in a single world sometimes because it's too depressing or too factual or too fun, etc. I have to mix them up, so if I'm not in the middle of a few, I can get mad at whatever book I'm reading.
I agree with Lauren and Joel...It is very difficult to read at the same pace when I'm 2/3 of the way in because I know it is about time for the climax and it will all end soon.
And I absolutely DESPISE being interrupted while reading. There are always those people who keep talking to you until you respond and don't understand why you are so testy about getting interrupted while you are reading. It is especially difficult when they interrupt you just to ask you what you are reading...um, a book. :)
However, I think the 'hardest' thing about reading a book for me is when I'm reading a book that everyone else things is just 'fabulous' and I could not be more bored or frustrated with it. I feel so completely out of the loop. 'Why don't I like it? Why do I think that this is a big fat waste of time?' And sometimes I will still wait it out thinking, 'maybe the ending is what everyone loves about the book'...only to be more annoyed that the ending wasn't any better than the other parts. Everyone always seems so shocked and amazed that I didn't 'love' it and they look at me like there is something wrong with me.
I think the hardest thing for me about reading is choosing what to read next. When I have a pile of 20 books or so that are to be read and a list four miles long of other books to be read and a whole plethera of books I've never even heard of that could be read... well, sometimes I just have to close my eyes and pick one at random.I hate hate hate hate being interrupted when I read. I used to read in the breakroom at work when I was on my lunch but so many people stopped to ask me what I'm reading that I started taking my breaks outside so no one would bother me.
I'm with the camp that hates being interrupted while reading. In fact, I'm convinced the main reason I disliked The Fountainhead so much is that every single time I was reading it (usually on the subway), someone came up to me and said "I LOVED that book". Also, I hated being force-fed books back in school (especially ones I wasn't interested in). It actually turned me off of free reading for a long time.
I totally understand what you mean....the idea of being forced to read a book is the worst. I would always automatically hate them....but once in awhile there would be a book that I would think was "okay", so I knew if I reread on my own....when I wanted to....that I would love it. Thankfully, I have found some new faves in the rereading!
Being forced to read a book .. I actually flunked an English test because of that. I hate having books ruined for me by being forced to disect everything ... lol, the teacher was surprised I'd be willing to not read the book at all than have it ruined. He let me write an essay to make up for it, so long as it was based on the book.I still hate the Grapes of Wrath, though.
But the hardest thing for me is ... the finish.
I get a new book, and as soon as I get home I'm nose-deep into it, with new people to meet, new places to see, new thoughts to think ... and I can't put it down until I'm done.
And then the let-down. I'm done, it's finished, and I feel like a kid who has no more Halloween candy. I mope, I sigh, I'm frustrated for a while before picking up a new book -- especially if I just read a good one! -- and until I'm fully imersed again in a book (ones I've already read don't force me to read them non-stop) I'm good for a while, lol.
I have a bad back, so sometimes I have a hard time getting comfortable when reading. Lately, I've just been walking allot while reading. I know, it sounds weird, but for some reason, it helps keep my mind off my back pain and allows me to concentrate better on what I am reading. Another thing that gets to me sometimes is getting about half way through a book and realizing that I am bored and not interested in the book at all. I've already invested too much time in the book to stop, so the rest of the read is grueling. Especially, when its a book like The Age of Innocence, a Pulitzer prize winning novel that was absolutely the most difficult and grueling read ever. I've re-read the thing twice since I initially read it, thinking for sure I had missed something. Each time, I walk away with the same disgust. With the exception of a few very good quotes about marriage that I remember, I got absolutely nothing out of the read, no matter how many times I've read it. Sorry for that rant, not sure how I got onto that... LOL
Finding time to actually READ a book!!!!!!! lol. i always have so much homework and i'm too tired by the time i go to bed to stay up and read, and it makes me so mad!!! i read a lot on the weekends though, and school vacations.
having to keep reading it when bad for school requirement or other compelling reason
Sticking with it. You go walk around and see books everywhere! There's so much to choose from. It's hard to continue the story when you want to read another book. I don't like to mix read - reading more than one book at a time - so it's hard to always finish the book because of the others you want to read.
The hardest thing about reading a book is the end, getting to the end of the book that is. It's bittersweet when I come to the end of good story, when there is no more, when I have to move on, that I won't get to read more about these characters that I have become so attached to. -Sniff!- Parting is such sweet sorrow.
i am surprised that you stuck with THE AGE OF INNOCENCE after so many attempts. i just put down THE COVE by catherine coulter. it struck me as one of the worst books i have ever tried to read. i read 200 of 260 pages and got angry with her story. it seemed so stupid and i didn t care how it ended.
I find the most difficult thing about reading a book is when I cannot connect with the characters. Most recently with "Atonement". I finally gave up which is unusual for me.
Reading a book, usually paperback, where the print is so tiny you can hardly stay focused on the words; also reading historical/war novels are difficult for me to stay focused on simply because of foreign names and languages used in the book.
I agree with so many of the comments here: tiny print, uninteresting characters, being interrupted ...but for me it's also when everyone else is home and TVs and conversations are going on (I have to retreat to my office or shut myself in my bedroom), or having to tend to the domestic stuff like picking my son up from school, cooking, letting the dog out, feeding the cat (they just won't wait) and all the other errands and household chores that build up.
I think the hardest think about reading is 1)People will interupt me when I'm reading.
2)People around me start having a conversation
3)I'm horrible at this, I will start a book and then find another one that I really really want to read so I start that book. But it's different from you guys, see I don't get confused about reading 7 different books at the same time. It's just wanting to read every book that is the hardest for me.
I'm the same way, Chelsea. I love to read many books and have no problem with it - I have the same desire as you to read as many as I can - only so much time I can read and that is the frustrating part! I wish I could read all day!
I know but sadly we can't :( Live is too short to read all the books you want to. :( But sometimes our butts can hurt so I guess thats one reason we have to get up. lol Oh, and another hard thing about reading is when there are sequals and they leave you hanging on the edge! It drives me nuts!
I see other people find this one hard to. Finishing the book you love. I'll read like crazy, gobbling it up and then I realize I'm a few chapters away fromt the end and start reading really slowly to make it last longer. Then their's the neck or back pain, hands going numb or my biggest issue: reading makes me sleepy. After a few hours I can hardly keep my eyes open and suddenly I'm startled awake from the book hitting me in the face. (I read in bed, tones of pillows and blankets, get all tucked in and propped up for a long read) I have to take a ten minute snooze, at least, to be able to keep going. Sometimes, the begining is really boring too, I hate skipping pages, so it's making myself keep going until it gets good. If it's boring I get sleepy really fast and a couple pages in I'm snoozing.
I agree...it's hard to decide what to read...especially when you're a book-a-holic and have a ton of unread books waiting in the wings.
Well, I would say starting something that I've been meaning to read and want to read, but just don't feel like reading. Usually in that case it ends up being a really good book too.Or trying to read something that is boring, or below my reading level. Just getting through them is difficult.
Getting through books has been more difficult for me lately though, because I only recently became picky about what I really enjoy. Not everything is amazing anymore; most things aren't, but they are pretty good.
1) Putting it down.2) ST and LJ, I feel your pain! That's been my latest struggle - so LJ, thanks for the rec for the Tablemate, etc... my chiro just recommended that I start looking for something like that!
I agree with Jessica. The most difficult thing is finishing a book where you have connected with the characters. When that happens I would KILL for the book to be a series. 
I hate finishing a book I love. I find once that I get close to the end I actually slow down my reading pace b/c I cant stand the fact that its about to end. Then comes choosing that next book to read. I always have the hardest time choosing what to read next b/c its not the book that I just loved! lolI also find its very hard for me to read a book that Im not in the mood for. I read a lot of different genres of books, so I have to be in the mood to read a particular genre. If I have no choice but to read something Im not really in the mood for it makes for a very long read.
Finding time to read a book. when I get close to the end. I feel like I wanna skip some pragraphes/pages to see how it ends!
Finding a book I want to read, and waiting for a book that I want to read. I've been waiting it seems like forever for this one book to come out and now that it is out, it won't come out in paperback for a few more months. Gag.
Putting it aside to get some sleep.I only read when I go to bed, usually three or four chapters but when a book is really good I don't wanna put it away. And usually end up with hardly any sleep.
hardest is to choose what to read (and buy) next :)
I think the hardest thing is deciding which one to read. I have so many unread books on my shelf. The next hardest thing is the books with tiny type. I tend to procrastonate when it comes to starting those books.
Being interrupted or only being able to read a page at a time. Just enough breaks so I can't get the flow started again is really aggravating!Also, for me it is really hard to read without falling asleep! I get so relaxed when I read that I don't even realize my eyes are closing. My husband likes us to read in bed together but forget it - I'll be out in 5 minutes. Even if I'm sitting straight up I can fall asleep and it's so frustrating because all I want to do is read!
The hardest thing for me is in step with so many others here, choosing what to read next, especially after finishing a book that I loved.
Ha: I hear you with the "tiny type." My eyes are strained enough from being a programmer, let alone trying to find the light to read small print. These new reading devices, and even the etext books have font adjustments. Tom
The hardest thing for me was trying to find a place for me to read and be left alone. I have no problem reading while noise is being made but I get so into the book that I don't want my name to be called. To get away, I always went into my walk-in closet. Well, just recently for an anniversary present, my boyfriend transformed one of the corners into a reading area. It has a small cushioned bench, and tons of pillows with a lamp attached to the wall. I love it so much! He even made a sign to hang on my closet door that says "Reading in Progress".
The hardest thing for me is to figure out what to read next. I have so many books lying around the house that I haven't read, that I want to read.... I can't decide!! Oh the choices!!!!
How do I refrain from acting as editor? When faced with blatant errors (anything from changing the time of day to the name of a character in the book, not just histoical inaccuracies which might be deliberate)?
I have to agree with the person who said reading a book everyone raved about and you're half way threw still wondering "am i missing something" and you just keep reading waiting for the "WOW , they were right ..AMAZING BOOK!" but next thing you know its the end and your thinking"thats it?!?!?"... 2. Also when a great book is about to end..reading the last 50-30pages, trying to save it but also wanting to finish to know the ending.
3. When you're busy and KNOW you have other things to do and having to put down a great book. I will admit I have stayed up all night reading a book and ending up downing so much coffee just to stay awake during the next day..I guess its nights like those i have to confess ; Yes I'm an bookaholic =)
The hardest part is finishing the book...There are some I don't want to end, so I'm taking it slow with them...can't do that with library books though.
I with you on that one Just. I sometimes have trouble finishing a book because I don't want it to end. Especially with series and trilogies. I'm half and half. Half of me wants to finish it and the other half doesn't . That is a disadvantage with library books...sometimes you just don't get enough time.
I think the hardest thing is deciding when to stop reading a book because it turns out not to be what it says it is or just isn't very good.Also when the book has good reviews or other people who I think have good reading taste like a certain book/author (eg, Atonement which I stopped reading after 100 pages), I will probably keep reading longer because I'm waiting to see what is in it that other people find worthwhile even though whatever that is may never reveal itself to me.
I think for me it is actually starting the book.