Let's talk about ... The Pressure of Reading

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

I have a motto when it comes to reading and I'm going to share it with you all.
Read what you want to read. Read when you want.

I've noticed that these days, several books are raved about and hyped up to the majority of readers. A lot of time people tend to tell others
-You have to read this book!
-You won't regret this!
-It's the best decision you'll ever make!
-How can you not have read this book?
-Where have you been all this time?

I feel as though this puts a lot of pressure on readers to read all these raved books, in order to be 'up-to-date' with the latest and greatest books.

But I feel as if it shouldn't be this way. Yes, books will always be raved about and hyped ... and usually for good reason, but I feel as though we should just read what we feel like reading, rather than reading to be up-to-date with the latest, amazing books.

NOTE: I am not saying there's anything wrong with books being raved and hyped. I'm merely discussing the pressure it can put upon many to read a certain book/ series because so many others have.

What do you think in relation to this topic? I hope I got my point across ... I'm not sure if I stated my opinion clearly.

[[deleted user]]

Hmmmmm... I get what you mean. I just don't know how I feel about it yet.

*will ponder this in my sleep*

[L]

I know exactly what you mean. There is a lot of pressure put on reading books that are hugely popular...for instance the hype surrounding something that is new out and suposedly the next BIG thing in fiction. Especially also in regards to YA books like Twilight or the hunger games, and those books that are also being made into movies.

I love being able to suggest and recomend books to friends, and people who i think would really enjoy something. Also, when you have read the most brilliant book it is hard not to say how good it was - in a review, post etc. However, i would always recomend and the only pressure to read something is what you put on yourself.

At the end of the day, if you are desperate to read a book that sounds spectacular then YOU will make the descision on whether to go ahead and read it or not. It can be a bit disheartening if everyone you know has read {a hyped up book} and you haven't as yet...but there are so many new books coming out all the time, it is hard to keep 'up-to-date' all the time with ever changing bookshelves.

Good topic!

[Kristin]

I try to not take what people say to heart when they find out I haven't read a certain book. I just love that people get so passionate about books. Mostly, I'm quite aware I do the same thing, myself :-).

If I try to read because I'm being pressured to read a book, I simply can't make it through. So when people rave about books to me and tell me I simply MUST read it, I tell them I shall put it on my to-read list (they don't need to know just how long that list is :-P).

Every person reads differently, in many different ways. Sharing is wonderful, but we have to have respect with it. I'm happy as long as they're reading anything, most of the time :-)

[Olivia]

I agree. I think it's great that books get attention when they deserve it, but I also thing that putting pressure on someone to read a particular book or series can take the joy out of reading. It causes it to become more of a chore than you just wanting to read the book because it fascinates you.

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

^ Some great discussion going on! :) :D

[Janussa]

I've been on both ends, people have told me about amazing books that I HAVE to read but I have also been one to try to push certain books onto people. I completely understand your point and I'll have to keep thinking about it.

[Sarah]

I tend to sign up to too many challenges and only finish one book. I started to feel like reading was becoming a chore, and around that time it was the beginning of Lent. So I decided to give it up, because I was kinda getting stressed out over completing and reading all the books. Like the Book Thief, I was suppose to read that for two of my challenges. Never finished it, I tried reading that book twice! I even watched the movie, but I just couldn't get into the book. It was kinda slow:P I absobutely get the super-hyped books like Cinder, Throne of Glass, The Selection, Percy Jackson, etc. Its annoying not being able to talk about those books with people. I am a slow reader, and ,unfortunately, get bored easily. Sorry, I kinda started rambling:P I am NOT trying to offend anyone.

[Rachel]

Yeah I suffer from tending to tediously force my school friends to read my books... They don't regret it tho. So far they've loved my forceful recs but I have stopped being so "forceful."

On goodreads I'll usually say hey I think you should read this!! But I don't keep badgering people. It gets annoying when people do that :/

[Aurora, Co-Moderator]

I like the book recommendation function on Goodreads because it's like a gentle sugestion. A 'Hey I enjoyed this and I think you will too but no pressure if you don't read it straight away.'
I just add it to my to-read list and relax, knowing I'll get to it someday.

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

Aurora wrote: "I like the book recommendation function on Goodreads because it's like a gentle sugestion. A 'Hey I enjoyed this and I think you will too but no pressure if you don't read it straight away.'
I just..."

That's so true! :)

[Gavin]

Yeah, I can see the danger of falling prey to it. Because the most raved about books this days are usually YA, people can get caught up only reading that if they follow the hype train too much.
My philosophy for reading is much like yours, I don't really care about being 'up to date' with the current hyped books just to know what everyone's talking about. The TBR list exists for a reason: if I'm interested in any of those books, I'll add it and eventually get to it.

[[deleted user]]

H99 wrote: "Yeah, I don't read books that are that popular unless it's a book that I'm just interested in and would have read, hype or no hype. Honestly, with all the hype surrounding a book, my expectations a..."

I do the same thing when I buy/ check out books.

[Nenia]

I always read the negative reviews of a popular book before making a decision because at least then I know what I'm in for. If there are no/few negative reviews, I am suspicious. It makes me think that the reviews are either fake or part of a very aggressive street team.

As an author who reviews with brutal honesty, I tend to get a lot of flack from people who don't think I should say anything mean about other authors' books. But I blogged for about four or five years before publishing so I'd feel funny giving all that up since a lot of my friends added me just because they enjoyed my reviews.

[[deleted user]]

I enjoy hearing other people tell me what to read. They must adequately defend their reasoning though, otherwise I won't pick it up! I like to hear why they think reading this book or that one will "change my life" or "blow my mind." It's always fun to debate!

[Rebecca]

I'm most often on the receiving end of reading pressure. I love to share books with others!! But I understand that not everyone's tastes are the same. I have read several really good books that I might not have read if a friend did not pressure me into reading them!! But I have also forced myself to read book just because it was a friend recommendation, and not because I actually liked it.

I think the worst part about the pressure is feeling like I have to finish the book. Most of the time, if I'm not enjoying the book, I don't finish it. There are just too many other books to read to spend time on books I'm not enjoying!!!! But when I'm reading a friend recommendation, and am not enjoying it, they often tell me it gets better, or wait until you read blahblahblah part. So I feel like I have to finish the book to defend my position!

[Jazzy]

Any time I've felt pressured into reading a book the people who were pressuring me have always turned out correct - books that will "change my life" or whatever actually end up doing that, such as Lord of the Rings, which was recommended to me to the point of blackmail by my family members. LOTR ended up being my favorite books of pretty much all time. Therefore, I never truly feel pressured, just getting accosted via book recommendations.

[L]

When something is popular (like a lot of hype over the latest fad..), then there is like so much pressure to read it!

It's like a competition.. yeah, hunky dory!

Why can't people just LIGHTEN UP?! So what if you've not read the latest thing, or your old-fashioned and prefer to read Byron -- does it matter?

I think it's awesome to join-in with everyone else [i.e Harry Potter series], as reading something that you can discuss with others/ involve with others who are part of a 'clique'] is so cool and honestly do you wanna be a loner. Well, even if ur the guy who stands out as the one who hasn't kept up to trend with whatever the flavour of the month is - he stands out, duh!

Some authors are carpetbaggers' and wanna get ahead. I would say why not read what you wanna read?. Does it really matter if you are unpopular or different? There is so much pressure on being well-informed, yes it's good, but whatever you choose to read -- let it be for you!

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

I always think there's always that need to be first on the book train for a really popular book.