Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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How do you read/how much do you read a week/do you avoid tv? Various questions
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Ed
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Dec 27, 2008 09:07PM
How much do you read a day? I'm always fascinated by people who love books...want to consume them and live in their worlds..how much time each day they are able to read? Do you go for a book a week or more or less?
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I have no sort of schedule for reading whatsoever. Sometimes I'll read many books in a short period of time, sometimes I go for a few months without picking up a book. Sometimes I read a whole book in a couple of days, and some books have taken me a year to finish (like Sophie's Choice. I loved that book, but it was so horrific, I would set it down and pick it up three months later, set it down, pick it up...) I do theatre, which means sometimes I go huge stretches with oodles of free time and so I'm able to read a lot, and then suddenly I'm overloaded with work for long stretches and don't bother with it. I think if I gave myself a schedule for reading, it would feel more like school than like fun.
I read when I'm riding my stationary bike, so that's about an hour a day there. Then I also read for about an hour before going to bed. Often in the evenings, I read rather than watch television. I belong to two book clubs, plus I like to read a lot of history on my own. I keep track of what I read. This year, it looks like I'll read 77 books. Last year I read 78.
I read all the time, there is no set time. I read because I love to read, and mostly I would choose a good book over a tv show any day. I read some thing every day, but some times I will not read the same book for a week or I will read different books at one time. It is easy for me to get inside the world of one book then leave it to go to another.
It really varies depending on the time of year. I read about 75 books a year, but it can vary between 4 or 5 books a week over school breaks, and absolutely no reading (for pleasure) the week before and week of final exams. I read before bed, when I get up in the morning, and also on public transportation, which I take everywhere.
I am r eading way too many books at once but usually I read about 2-3 hours a day. I am trying for 100 books in 2009 which is 8 books a month. If I can do this then it will only take me about 8 more years to complete the 1001 to read before I die.
I read as often as possible but by no set schedule. Typically I have the most time to read prior to sleeping at night. It isn't that I avoid television, I have a few television programs I enjoy but I must admit to having an obsession with books. In my spare time if I am not reading a book I am usually reading about them.
One of the reasons why I signed up for this group is so I could put myself on a dedicated daily reading schedule. I am shooting for an hour a day to start, with more on the weekend when possible.I have a TV, but no reception (antenna or cable). Doesn't matter...I have Internet, which is MUCH worse, in my borderline-ADD opinion.
To see how many books you can read in a year depends on how big the book is!!
I LOVE TO READ. If I were an old-maid cat-lady with no life, I would read 24-7. As it is, I sometimes feel that I am caught in a war between my reading life, and everything else. Things that interfere with reading: Work (avg 50 hrs wk); Volunteerism (avg 4 hrs wk); Husband (who thinks I read too much).
I watch way more tv than I think is reasonable, but my husband is more friendly towards tv if we are both watching. If I am reading, then he thinks I'm being antisocial - in my own little world. We have read aloud together, over 18 years of marriage, only, I think, 4 books. That was fun. For me at least. But whenever I suggest, he doesn't bite, so tv it is....
I read every spare minute I can, and still only managed 40-ish books last year.
I read:
- while eating meals
- while preparing meals
- while folding laundry (yes this can be done)
- while in the ladies room
- while walking down the hall in my house
- while blow drying my hair in the morning
- while waiting: in the drive-thru lane, at the dentist/dr office, at the bank
- etc etc etc
I always have a book with me. I tend to carry one even when I know I won't have an opportunity to read it. You never know. Better safe than sorry!
Frankly, my mind is always busy - and rather than have it be busy thinking (and feeling guilty) about all the vacuuming/leaf raking/etc that needs doing, I'd much rather occupy my mind with a book. Hmmm.... I wonder if I am a book addict. Has my reading made my life unmanageable? I guess if you place a high value on Susie-homemaker-hood, than I am unmanageable. If you value revealing hidden worlds, opening doors, expanding minds, well - my life is working just fine.
So many books, so little time...
I read whenever I can (though mostly scientific articles lately, but still reading). Quite a lot during the semester (looong breaks...), plus I spend 1,5-4 hours on metro/bus.
And I'm doing manual job (20 hours per week), where I usually listen to audiobooks.
I read about 3 books a week, I just keep one with me at all times, I read in the Dr offices, during the kid's Karate classes, and generally about an hour before I go to bed. Sometimes more... I find that reading calms me down. We hardly watch any TV in our house, other than college football.
I need to turn the tv off and I think then my reading will increase. I hope to pick a week in January to turn the tube off. :) Let me know if anyone is interested in picking a particular week in January and we can share our thoughts.
Re: read. I read a good deal more now that I've bought a Kindle and it is always with me. I recently changed domiciles, giving me a chance to drop TV which I did gladly, so I could spend more time reading. I'm retired, and feel as if I need to catch up. There was 20 years with only mystery reading, then 20 years of constant, but mostly job-related reading. I suddenly feel the need eclectic.
I read 1-3 books a week. Love it. Have to take breaks for work, sleep, family, but otherwise am reading. Always carry a book with me. Have started reading more than one at a time, but am normally tightly focused on only a single book. We have tv, I can go days without turning it on. Love to read. Love reading about other people "loving to read", because I meet so few bibliophiles in my real life. Delightful.
Stephanie "Jedigal" wrote: "I LOVE TO READ. If I were an old-maid cat-lady with no life, I would read 24-7. As it is, I sometimes feel that I am caught in a war between my reading life, and everything else. Things that..."
Have you ever tried multitasking with AUDIOBOOKS? Having a bunch of kids with all that entails, I feel your pain. Audiobooks are a marvelous alternative while cooking, cleaning and driving . . . the best part: no guilt! Some books are particularly well-suited to this medium, especially when read by the author. The Kite Runner is a striking example; Eat, Pray, Love, another. John Grisham is great for passing the time on a long road trip - like TV w/out the pic!
I average about 5 books a week. I read all the time. I leave for work an hour early so I can read in my car for a while. I take my lunch hour in my car so I can read. I read for a few hours when I get home, usually from the time I get home until the time I go to bed. I read books online at work - it's slow going and I think the books are pretty boring, but it's still reading!
I have to carry several books around with me and keep a few in my car because I blow through them so quickly or change my mind about what I feel like reading.
I'm another who reads all the time. I keep short stories at the office to read at lunch. I keep poetry on the coffee table to read when time is short. And I always, always have a novel that I'm reading. Sometimes I read more than one at a time but I prefer to stay with just one. There is not much on television that I feel is worth my time, so I'd much rather curl up with a good book.
I try to read say ever 2 to 3 and I try to read between say 20 some to 40 some pages. I dont aviod TV I watch most of my tv from around 9pm till 12am
I read alot! my goal for the year was to read at least 100 books, and I don't think it's going to happen. I've read 89,and I am in the midst of 5 right now. I read every available moment especially right before bed as it soothes me, and usually right before I go for my morning run. During my finals (right before Christmas) I wasn't able to read as much for leisure, but I'm catching up now. I had almost forgot the guilty pleasure of spending a whole day finding yourself engrossed in characters and a certain period. I finished 3 books this weekend - Once Upon a Day, Confessions of a Nervous Shiska (both were easily forgettable) and,The Spy Who Loved Me (loved it) and I am still plowing through I am Charlotte Simmons, Shake Hands with the Devil, Fat Girl, The Woman Who Walked into Doors, and Lolita. I'm re-reading What is the What for my book club, and I finished The Namesake, and The Absolutely Ture Diary of a Part-Time Indian 2 weeks ago. I work full time, and I'm a full time graduate student. I don't watch much TV at all - when I am not volunteering I am reading, sleeping or studying - not much time for anything else.
I can't do anything else when I am reading.OK that is not strictly true I can but I won't because it totally ruins the pleasure of getting 'lost in a good book'.
When I read about the only things I remember to do are breathe and blink. Frequently limbs fall to sleep because I forget to move them. I can miss meals and become dehydrated if my family doesn't make me eat. Frequently I 'surface' from a book to find the whole room smiling in my direction. They have been talking to me and I was totally unaware.
I would love to be able to read while travelling but my most common form of transportation are cars and buses both of which give me chronic travel sickness. However I do read a lot while waiting at bus stops and while waiting in general.
I have kids and yes I do the audio book thing, as one other lady brought up. Even and especially when I am on the computer, or making something like beading, sewing etc. I would go insane without them! I don't read on a schedule except I go to the library every week so I am probably reading at least a book a week, sometimes more.
not counting the audiobooks, which are great for "lite reading". There just isn't enough time to read the more serious/deep etc books AND some just for the fun of it.
If the books are non fiction which I read quite a few, I take notes. I also tend to read in groupings. Like a few books on one subject, then move to another subject. Although I do return to my fav subj regularly
mel
I turn on the tv and then read and pay no attention to the tv.
Lisa wrote: "I turn on the tv and then read and pay no attention to the tv."Doesn't that always happen? Can anyone resit the temptation of a good book over a drag tv show? :)
Your description of consuming a book and living in its world sums it up nicely. I like to take my time while reading a book. But if there is ever time in which I can read, I will immerse myself into what I am reading. As a result, it could take me a month to read some books but then only a few days to read other books. The important thing is involving yourself in the book and feeling satisfied when you finish it.
Another thing is that I have a list of books which I am determined to read, but I would rather pick which book I will read next than read them in order.
Natalie, good idea with the audiobooks. So far, I have not done this very often. I tend to get easily distracted, and also, I am both cheap and a tad picky about my "reading" material, so that makes the audiobooks not great for me. I know the library has them, but I am a bad library returner. I am better at returning books to human (friends, coworkers) lenders than to the library. Also, I usually listen to another passion - my local NPR station - when I am doing "manual" chores.Esther, I can't read while riding in a car, bus or train either. Doesn't it stink? I used to, but in my 30s I started to get motion sickness sometimes. Definitely reading triggers it. Only an airplane seems smooth enough to allow for reading.
I read about two or three books a week depending on its length. I've devoured several books last year and was glad that I actually kept my new year's resolution! And to think that I used to loathe reading. Actually, loathe isn't the correct word because I didn't really have enough time and also did other forms of entertainment. I'm proud to say I'm a bookworm now and will hopefully continue to be one for the rest of my life.
I love to read, and mostly choose reading over TV. I have my favorite shows, but I usually end up reading during commercials. I don't have cable, only rabbit ears, so I don't have that many options anyway. My boyfriend watches a lot of movies, and he doesn't understand when sometimes I choose to go into another room to read instead of watching with him. Sometimes I feel guilty when I read instead of spending time with him. I always have a book with me, you never know when you're going to have a few extra minutes. I don't have any specific goals, I just want to read all of the time!
I am spending the year in Europe, where I have tended to live in places without television. My reading has more than doubled over my average for the past couple years--of course, I also have no big house to clean, and fewer friends around. I also commute to work on the bus, rather than driving...another hour of reading a day right there. Not only have I read many more books, but the quality of book has gone up--more classics, fewer mysteries and thrillers that I used to read by the dozen. It has made me realize that when I move back to the states I need to make some adjustments to priorities, so that I keep up at least some of the good reading habits.
If I don't make time for reading, I start to feel sort of "off" and stressed out. Usually if I'm not reading it's because I have a lot going on at work or at home, but I know that if I can get a few solid hours of reading in I would avoid stress. I generally have a minimum of three books going at any time: one from the list, one less challenging book, and an audiobook in the car. (yes, an audiobook counts as reading the book - I never would have finished Atonement otherwise!) Sometimes I pick up a young adult book or a romance paperback that I'll read in a day just for fun to settle me. I'm not a book snob - it all counts as reading. There are times when I just can't bring myself to slog through a brilliant but heavy tome. With those caveats, I read 126 books last year (Sept 07-Sept 08). I don't think even half were on the List, so take it for what it's worth.
MELISSA WROTE: I do the audio book thing ... which are great for "lite reading". There just isn't enough time to read the more serious/deep etc books AND some just for the fun of it. I'm in total agreement with you, Melissa - thank goodness for books on CD! With a 40-minute, one-way commute to work each day, this is when I get ALL my reading done lately! However, although fiction is easier to follow when watching the road, I also throw in non-fiction, young adult, children's literature, etc., for variety! Otherwise, time to read from the printed page is VERY limited and often puts me to sleep ...
For those who read a book a day...how do you read so quickly?
I read whenever I don't have to be doing something else. I almost always have a book with me when I go somewhere because I hate missing those spare minutes here and there when I could be reading instead of just waiting for something or someone. There are three or four tv shows that I watch regularly but, in general, I'd rather read than watch tv. One of the few things that takes precedence to reading is tickets to an Isotopes game.
My basic reading schedule is whenever I can fit it in. I am another of those people who read more than one book at a time. I usually have a bed book, a car book, a chair book, and a computer book. Like Stephanie *Jedigal*'s husband, my husband feels that reading is anti-social and should be done only when you are alone. However, he has recently gotten on board with the "reading a book together" idea, so now we usually read for about 20 minutes to each other before we go to sleep at night. As for TV, I find that I enjoy TV almost as much as reading, especially when I can discuss the shows with my husband and son afterwards (or sometimes during). The good thing is that I am retired, so I have a lot of time to both read and watch TV.
How many books, do I read? I used to read about a book a week or week and a half, but in the month of May I read 6 books, so I am definitely picking up the pace. My current reading schedule has been:
--An hour when I get up in the morning, although if it is a particularly good book I will have trouble stopping.
--I also usually leave early for appointments and spend the extra time reading.
--While I am waiting at school for my son to get out (usually about 1/2 hour since I try to get there before the parking is bad).
--20 minutes at night with my husband.
--In addition, my son, his girlfriend, and their best friend are all writing books and are actually quite good, so I try to help edit for them by reading about 20 pages a day of one of their drafts.
--Then whenever else I feel like it.
Haven't tried audiobooks yet, but I hear they are great. My son's girlfriend is blind and listens to audiobooks all the time, as well as reading Braille, and she raves about them. I will have to try them soon.
I just entered into this group and hope to use it for book recommendations. I'm always interested in broadening my horizons but pretty much plan on reading whatever I want before I die:) I read daily. I just feel the ability to be able to read is such a gift.
Like everyone else, I read whenever and as much as I can. I agree with someone else who said the internet is the most distracting for me. It's about the only thing that keeps me from not reading. I use audio books for when I'm doing chores around the house or playing tetris online or sometimes when I go on long walks. I always keep a book with me. One of the reasons I've gone to bigger purses is so that I have room for a book. I read every night before I go to bed. I've done this for as long as I can remember and I have trouble sleeping if I don't. When I do watch television, I'll usually have a book with me to read during commercials or if the show is just too boring. My T.V. has become more of a noise box for me. It's there so the house isn't completely silent.
I don't have tv. I read a lot like even 3-4 books per week.
I would say I average between 1-4 books a week depending on the size of the book. I am currently looking for a job so I get lots of reading done. I usually give myself a list of things that need to be done then do about half then settle down a read a couple of chapters before completing the rest then back to reading. I don't watch much TV especially during the summer,the only show I watch regularly is Grey's Anatomy. I read all over, on the bus,on my bed,I try to read in the living room with my boyfriend since he says I read too much but sometimes I get distracted.
A book a day, basically. That is, assuming they're mostly shorter novellas. I don't watch any TV, except for jazz or classical concerts.
Lyn wrote: "My basic reading schedule is whenever I can fit it in. I am another of those people who read more than one book at a time. I usually have a bed book, a car book, a chair book, and a computer boo..."Lyn-
I know these aren't part of the 1,001 list, but I HIGHLY recommend the audio version of The Book Thief and The Secret Life of Bees. These are beautiful audio books, and will get you hooked! (Besides, you can listen to them while you are driving to school to pick your son up!)
Jenni wrote: "Lyn wrote: "My basic reading schedule is whenever I can fit it in. I am another of those people who read more than one book at a time. I usually have a bed book, a car book, a chair book, and a ..."Thanks - I have been wanting to read The Secret Life of Bees. I also decided that audio books would be good while I am doing my crochet and/or stitching projects.
I tried reading The Book Thief and couldn't get into it. Maybe I will like the audio book better.
I read for at least an hour and a half a day. I wake up 30 minute early each morning so that I can start my day with a book and a cup of coffee. I take my Kindle everywhere, and read at lunch at work. I read for half an hour (at least, depending on how engrossing the book is) before I go to bed. I encourage my boyfriend to drive wherever we go so that I can read. I love sports, but read while they are on because watching sports never seems to require much attention. I have a 1-hr commute to work each way, and do audiobooks in the car. I have a list of books I want to read, with 1,806 left to go, at least until I find more to add! My goal is 75 books per year, but it took me a month to get through Middlemarch, so I'm flexible.
I don't watch TV except sports, and random re-runs of Frasier or Family Guy. If I watch TV for longer than 20 minutes I start to feel that I'm wasting my life away - I never feel like that when I'm reading.
I read every day to and from work on the train and a chapter or 2 before bed. Sometimes on the weekend or a day off, I can literally sit and read all day, often times finishing an entire book, possibly 2, in one day. I'm not a big tv watcher so I often sit down with a book for about 2-3 hours after dinner. However, that's not an everyday thing. Some days if I'm caught up on work, I also read during lunch.
I read a lot. In buses, trams, waiting in a long queque. I don't have tv in my flat in Cracow, so books are also to fill the time.
I usually get through a book every few days, and I only read them one at a time. When I was in high school, over the summer I would read a book a day... my mother would laugh at me because I would read while eating! Still do...
I'm usually reading two or three books at the same time, most from the library, until the due date is looming and I'm forced to sit and finish one. I thrive on deadlines, hahahaha. Now that I'm knitting and crocheting more again I've been doing more audio books lately on public transportation and sometimes at work. But I do take my Palm Pilot with me everywhere, so there are always 5 to 10 titles available there; some downloaded from the library some from the public domain, all free and available whenever I'm waiting and have nothing to do. I'm sure the Kindle reads a lot more like a real book, but I love the portability of the Palm TX and the fact that I have lots of card games and trivia games and other distractions available, as well as emergency internet access (comes in handy on vacation to check work email without having to haul along a laptop). I really enjoy reading from the Palm, especially laying on my side at night with the auto scroll on. It's not so good in the sun though.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
Eat, Pray, Love (other topics)The Secret Life of Bees (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
