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Has Anyone Ever Implied (either aggressively or passive aggressively) Around You That Reading Isn't Worthwhile? And...bonus question...can you ever read too much?
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The last person that ever criticized my reading habits is dead. And I know where the body is buried...
Kidding.
In all seriousness, the people that tend to be critical of other people's reading habits also tend to be boring people that have few interests. I had a girlfriend who jumped my shit over reading too much and over what I read. She, on the other hand, watched soap operas religiously. So who's the time waster here?
And, no, one can never read too much. I wish I had more time to read and write.
Kidding.
In all seriousness, the people that tend to be critical of other people's reading habits also tend to be boring people that have few interests. I had a girlfriend who jumped my shit over reading too much and over what I read. She, on the other hand, watched soap operas religiously. So who's the time waster here?
And, no, one can never read too much. I wish I had more time to read and write.
I can't remember anyone telling me I read too much, but there have been many who have looked at my shelves (or have had a conversation with me) and exclaimed, "Damn, you read a lot!"Over the past few weeks my reading has taken a hit as the written word has taken a back seat to bicycle riding. This is THE BEST time of year to ride around here. Last month was freezing cold, and two months from now it will be over 100 degrees every day.
Barb wrote: "If you never leave your sofa because you just can't stop yourself from reading, then I'd say it might be a bit of a problem ... but I'm sure those cases are rare.Uh oh.
my daughter has on more than one occasion been reading while walking and ran into things. that is prob reading too much. i have people tell me "i hate to read" and i go "hate?" really? really?
When I used to have to take the bus home from work I would read as I was walking from teh bus stop to my house. I don't see anything wrong with that but you have to be aware of your peripherals.The only thing I get is my husband complaining about my ever-expanding book collection. He says I'm never going to read them. I tell him I will and I'm an Egyptology nerd so I think that even if I don't get to them all before I die the more books I have now, the more I'll have to take with me to the afterlife. :-)
A few months before my mom died, she griped to no one in particular about my reading. She said I was like a Chinese kid when it came to reading, always with my nose in a book (my mom was a closet bigot, just so you know).
I loudly reminded her that it was her who encouraged me to read. And that she too loved to stick her nose in a book.
ZING!
I loudly reminded her that it was her who encouraged me to read. And that she too loved to stick her nose in a book.
ZING!
Zu has been complaining about my reading, but that's because in the last two weeks I've been carrying around a succession of large hardcover books that I have repeatedly dropped on her toes. She asked if I would please read a paperback next, or switch to e-books for a while until the bruises heal.
How does one go about dropping books on some ones toes, more than once?
We have a big blanket on the couch. She's usually under it watching TV when I decide to sit and read in the vicinity. Thinking that I know where her toes are - on the ground - I toss the book onto the couch. As it turns out, they are often somewhere in the middle of the couch.
Sarah, you should do what I do. My husband's on "his" couch and I'm on "my" loveseat. :-)
but the love seat is where the lovin's are
Well, it's not like *I* have a problem with it. Just because she has delicate toes that she keeps in the wrong place shouldn't mean I need to sit on a different couch.
Jaimie wrote: "When I used to have to take the bus home from work I would read as I was walking from teh bus stop to my house. I don't see anything wrong with that but you have to be aware of your peripherals...." When I was in London in '87 I touched the Rosetta Stone. There are signs posted saying don't touch it but I didn't cross the pond to not touch it. It was black, shiny very solid and cool to the touch. In very good shape. My wife told me not to do it but I did it just the same. I don't know anyone else who has touched it.
I sometimes worry that I read too much. I'm always able to make references from stuff in my real life to things that happened in books. But lately I've been playing a lot of volleyball and receiving quite the number of blows to the head. Won't have to worry about always quoting Stephen King much longer. :P
Um, welcome to TC, Russell, you, uh, Rosetta Stone toucher!:)
New person here!I've certainly been told I spend too much money on books, and that is something I can't argue with. I used to read for a living, working at a studio making books on tape. That takes a special kind of person- a lot of people who like reading and think it'll be a great job get freaked when work life sets in and they realize what it feels like to read 8 hours a day, every day. Then I went to grad school and everybody expects you to read a lot there too...and since then, I really haven't read what anybody would call too much.
Hi Rebecca & "The Toucher."Don't hand me no lines, and keep your hands to yourself.
I've been known to have trouble with both those. And I'm sure I'd want to touch the Rosetta Stone as well.
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Strangers may remark on my reading and get ignored. My friends have accepted it; and several of my friends are big readers as well.Too much reading? Well, if you are reading for fun while you are supposed to be working, that is not fair to your boss--your are being paid to work. On you own time--read as much as you want!!!
I used to be the person saying that reading wasn't worthwhile. Sad but true. Then my cousin coerced/bullied/manipulated me into reading the Harry Potter and Twilight series. Now I am addicted to reading, to the point where an intervention and a twelve step program may be necassary.
Rebecca wrote: "New person here!I've certainly been told I spend too much money on books, and that is something I can't argue with. I used to read for a living, working at a studio making books on tape. That t..."
I, too, spend too much money on books. That was actually one of my New Years resolutions--to use the library more and buy fewer books. Its hard to do but so far so good. My bank account is thanking me for this too.
Mary JL wrote: "Strangers may remark on my reading and get ignored. My friends have accepted it; and several of my friends are big readers as well.Too much reading? Well, if you are reading for fun while yo..."
Am guilty of reading at work too. Thats actually where I get most of my reading done lol. However, I only read during down time, when there are customers I do my job.
I was looking for a certain book last night amongst all my piles of books and my husband said, "I'm going to get you a Kindle".I don't know how I feel about that, beyond sheer amazement that he even knows what a Kindle is. But I take it to mean I have too many books which also possibly means I read too much?
if your husband offers to get you a kindle it means he has a problem with the number of books you own, not with your reading. there is a diffence.
::making mighty effort to keep sarcastic rejoinder to myself:: :D
let it out Mary, keeping things to yourself is unhealthy!
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I had a conversation with a friend recently in which I asked her what the most recent book of fiction she'd read was. I figured it must have been in high school. She explained that she didn't see the point of reading fiction. She was only interested in the real world. And I actually do get that - I used to be the same way. (Although for her, the "real world" is mostly self-help and interior decorating, not stuff like history, science, economics.) My ratio used to be 95% nonfiction 5% fiction. Now, for many reasons, some of them escapist, I need to read a lot more fiction.
My wife only reads non fiction. But she seldom reads.
When hubby was growing up in India, he would read anything he could get his hands on and would get in trouble for it. Reading for leisure was considered a waste of time and he would get so immersed and lose track of time.I always loved to read and often would go off by myself and bury my nose in a book. My parents didn't like when I did this and thought I should mingle more. I was painfully shy back then and am still on the reticent/reserved side.
So I guess I would say my parents probably thought my reading wasn't worthwhile unless I was reading course material,religious books, or other non-fiction.
They don't say too much about it anymore. My brother,sis-in-law,hubby and I are avid readers of both fiction and non-fiction. The rest of our family, not so much.
My sister reads to much. I know because she has to go get new glasses now that she started reading almost non stop.
Most definitely it's been implied. My husband does not read. Okay...well, if he does read, it's about a book a year...maybe two. :P But yeah, he isn't thrilled with my reading so much. However, I explained...my reading is the same as you playing video games or watching tv/movies. It's my get away.
I did have to agree that I used to do waaaaay too much reading. Can you read too much? Yes, if it's interferring with your relationships, your work, your social responsibilities, etc. That used to be me. Now I read about an hour to 2 a day (the same amount of time the family is allowed to watch tv/play video games.
And if my husband works late, he just has to understand that when he walks in the door at 730/8 my brain/courtesy/social skills/etc are done for the night, therefore my nose will be in a book.
Kristi: I loved that last sentence! When it is time to work, I work. When it's enjoyment time, I read!
Kristi wrote: "Most definitely it's been implied. My husband does not read. Okay...well, if he does read, it's about a book a year...maybe two. :P But yeah, he isn't thrilled with my reading so much. However,..."
Kristi: My mom used to like to read novels but my dad didn't. He didn't like her reading so she stopped. But he spends hours in his study/den so I say she start up again. My dad reads but his preferences are the newspaper,financial/golf/cooking magazines, and medical journals. Or he spends time online. My mom reads religious books. Otherwise, when she's not working, she does household chores or watches TV.
Hubby is a reader but I don't like when he reads. He gets completely immersed. If he's not working, sleeping, or in the bathroom, he's reading. CONSTANTLY.
He's quite well-read and has read many of the classics. He has a great book collection gathering dust back home in India that I would love to bring over here. Nobody in his family reads.
Hubby sometimes gets irritated with the time I spend here on GR so I come on here when he's at work, watching TV, or spending time with my daughter.
I agree that there is such a thing as reading too much for the reasons you mentioned.
Every once in a while I get "quiet time" when I read. Even my daughter understands quiet time but doesn't always indulge me. This morning she did and I was in heaven.
I love your last sentence too :). I don't actually mind hubby working late(anywhere from 9:00-11:00) because it just gives me more time here on GR.
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1. "I don't understand why you'd want to spend so much time in the fake world."
2. "I don't have time to waste on reading."
3. "Wouldn't you rather be doing real things?"
Now, all of these assertions are contextual, of course. In other words, I can see myself saying to my sons, who read a lot, "Listen, it's sunny out, but rain is coming later, why don't you play outside now then you can read later." But that's different.
Two questions, somewhat related. 1) Have you ever had someone aggressively criticize reading to you? Why do you think that person did so? 2) Can you ever read too much? I mean that as a serious what question.