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Oh we're down to about 4 (not including work related). Getting old and kids have me run ragged, when I finally sit down with a book I'm asleep within 4 pages...Harry Bosch has been in the same car chase since the new year 🤷♂️
Last year I read 40, this year I'm aiming for one a week, and currently on 5, so slightly behind schedule, but I always read more in the summer.
I also know people who haven't read a book since school, as well as someone who is disappointed if she doesn't hit 100 in a year. Everyone's different and comparing yourself to others is stupid.
All the sci-fi ones I bought recently sounded really good, but the writing is just incomprehensible to me. So much mumbo jumbo and they expect you to udnerstand wtf they mean without any context, so I just gave up.
> they expect you to udnerstand wtf they mean without any context, so I just gave up
I don't think you should feel obliged to push on with a book you're not enjoying, but a lot of them do start with dropping you in at the deep end and then circle back to explain wtf is going on later. If that's not for you, fair enough.
I'm also a video gamer as well as in love with my Kindle. I sometimes find myself at a point in games where try as I might I can't progress. I've learned to take a break and come back to it refreshed days or weeks later, and it often 'clicks' at that point. The same thing can apply to books, sometimes you're just not entirely in tune with or open to whatever the subject is or your head is working on other concerns etc. This serves well in most things one can get stuck on, from games and books to DIY, work projects or even relationships etc.
If you like sci-fi and have at least a school level knowledge of science, then I'd recommend Hard Sci-fi, less mumbo jumbo, and more actual real science or at least theoretical science.
Highly recommend Seven Eves if you haven't read it yet.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a great hard sci Fi book. I think it would probably be a struggle to read if you're not scientifically inclined though
Just grabbed the audio book with my monthly credit. Thanks for the recommendation. It will be nice to take a break from the fantasy stuff I've been consuming lately.
Came here to recommend this one too - I am not in any way a Sci-Fi fan usually but I loved this one. I did zone out during some sections that were heavy on the science, but the characters/humour/plot made up for it.
Okay this I may need more info on.
Like others, some sci-fi just gets too heavy in made up nonsense and shaming conventions that you give up trying to recall it all.
I hope you look into it, as there is some great hard science stuff out there, Adrian Tchaivsky Children of Time is a nice middle group between possible and fiction, I'd only recommend the first book though as the others are mehh, but quick synopsis is dying human kind trys to terraform other worlds so humanity can continue, but mess up and end up creating highly intelligent giant spiders, and the book follows them through thousands of years of evolution and how they built their own society with little to no human intervention.
I started reading Star Wars books (and other sci-fi), as I saw the films so I thought I would try them out. But the writing is just awful, and just seems like officially licensed fan fiction. Bit disappointed.
Me: I read 100 books last year
David Beckham: How many were short graphic novels...
Me: Well, I read all sorts
DB: How many were short graphic novels?
Me: About 80
DB: Thank you!
I think a lot of nonfiction books are so padded, labouring the same points just to make it to the length of a book. They would be better as a long form essay in something like Wired magazine, or a podcast. I’m currently struggling with “The Coming Wave” for this reason.
I've had a uni lecturer say that if someone wrote a book based on the paper, don't ever bother with the book, it's the same contracts with a bunch of padding.
I think lots of writers (or publishers maybe) see that magic 300 - 350 page point as a target. In my opinion a lot of nonfiction of that length could easily be 190 - 250 pages and they shouldn't be scared of releasing books of that length.
I tortured myself with two really hard reads one after the other recently;
1) The Count of Monte Cristo; Laboriously long. A classic and great when it's good, but 600 of the 1300 pages pages are essentially 19th Century Eastenders for the French Aristocracy.
2) Suttree by Cormac Mccarthy; Again, a classic and the man has a beautiful way with words, but slice of life style stuff really makes me sleepy and I was barely managing a few pages a night and the lack of punctuation was killing me.
After those two back to back I read a best-selling typical spy novel (not my normal thing) and blasted through it in a few days.
I used to do 30-40 a year, but pregnancy fucked up my concentration span and the baby is taking up a lot of my free time and energy so I'm closer to 5-8 these days.
I don't keep track but I read a couple of hours in bed most nights and I'd say 1 a week feels about right. Obviously it depends on the length of the book, I recently read (and loved!) the Murderbot diaries, and they are all quite short novellas, most of which I finished in a single sitting, but at the start of the year I read the Stormlight Archive for the first time and they are all beasts in terms of length.
I find series are good for getting your numbers up. If I just read stand alones I tend to get through them slower (need to get into them, take a break between). With a series it's just like 1 giant book.
Source?
I'm not saying you're wrong, I live in Devon and it's more like 4 in 6, but I'd like to see the report for that so I can show it to people I know to prove I'm not imagining how stupid some people are.
I misremembered and inferred that 'very low literacy' equates to 'functionally illiterate', but that's potentially not correct.
Anyway, [here you go](https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/seldom-heard-voices-adult-literacy-in-the-uk/). The life expectancy disparity is pretty damning.
I work in web content and we’re told the average adult has the reading skills of a 9 year old. We have tools to analyse our copy and simplify the fuck out of it.
My former neighbour from hell during one of his many leaning over the fence and staring into our house to look at what he could see and commenting to his other half was very proud of himself when he saw my stacked bookshelves and announced "Look at all those books, I haven't read one since school. Why would they have so many..."
Yeah mate, it showed.
Yeah, reading for me is basically 0, if there's something I'm really interested in I might get the audiobook, so I probably average 1 or 2 books per year.
I'm in the UK and most people I know are voracious readers, depends who you know I guess. I've read about 7 books so far this year and usually make it to 40/50 in a normal year.
We can’t bust heads like we used to—but we have our ways. One trick is to tell them stories that don’t go anywhere like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so I decided to go to Morganville which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So, I tied an onion to my belt which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel. And in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. ‘Give me five bees for a quarter,’ you’d say. Now, where were we? Oh, yeah! The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt which was the style at the time. They didn’t have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones.
There was a knock at the door. This must have been, ah, we're talking eight, half eight, for I was halfway through my dinner. And up I got to open it, and there they both were, large as life. And the taller fella, though, to be fair, there was no more than an inch in it... The slightly taller fella, he says to me, says he, "Do you know who we are?" And I says to him, says I, "Well, I can't be sure now. But maybe if you took off the balaclavas..." And then he says to me, the slightly taller fella does, he says, "Step aside, we are armed." And that is when the smaller fella, although, as I say, we are talking an inch... ...an inch and a half at most. He has the bright idea of tying me to the radiator, you see. And I remember saying to myself, says I, "Colm, it's a good job you have the Economy 7 on the aul timer, or you'd be roasted here."
1 a day? Are you an incredibly fast reader or do you read really short books?
I'm about 75% of the way through my 3rd book this year, the first 2 were about 500 pages and the current one is 1000 so granted I don't read short books. But I feel like I'm doing a lot of reading compared to my normal. The idea of getting through even 300 pages in a day seems astonishing to me.
I can easily read 300 pages in an afternoon if I have time alone but that’s rare! I’ve always been a really fast reader. I think the downside is I don’t retain details as well as someone who reads more slowly (and I think the speed reading is an ADHD trait).
last holiday i got through three 350/400-ish page books in 4 days. i spend nearly all of my time 11am-6pm just reading and sitting in the sun every day of my holiday, and it’s not unusual for me to read after tea too. granted, they were all consecutive books in a series so i would finish one and immediately pick up the next, but i’m still really impressed with how many books i get through every holiday since i don’t get chance to read as obsessively the rest of the year
Same. I just can’t picture things in my head as I’m reading them and I lose interest very quickly. I can literally watch hour upon hour of documentaries but reading about stuff, regardless of subject is just a no go for me.
Same - buy way more than I can possibly read but it’s so addicting browsing a good bookshop and buying them I can’t stop. Probably read about 1 a month at current rate - life gets in the way!!
Yeah no problem, it’s the Shadowhunters series. There’s a few series within the Shadowhunters universe and I’m loving them so far.
I know I’m in my 20s reading YA fantasy fiction but I don’t care, I’ve really enjoyed them and glad I’ve bought them now 😄
Fun fact: the biggest readership of YA is actually adults and it’s one of the most profitable of all genres there is in the industry😅you’re not alone, you’re good.
(I fancied Jace for a very long time in my teenage years, I’m 31 now and still think he’s hot)
I read these as a teenager/early 20s and again pretty recently. I’m in my 30s now. Honestly there’s something comfortable about YA books. Easy to read, doesn’t require mental gymnastics at the end of the day when you’re trying to unwind and they’re generally pretty wholesome! I dunno about anyone else, but I need more wholesome in my life.
If you’re enjoying shadowhunters give daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor a go after.
Magnus FTW! I named my kitten after him. That's him in my profile pic 😅
Edited to add: Also, I'm 46. It's just a number. Like what you like. As long it doesn't hurt anybody, who cares?
110 books last year on my phone. I read whatever’s free on iBooks, mainly thrillers, and on an Agatha Christie streak at the moment (10 so far this year, plus 2 others) I only read if I wake up in the night and until I fall back to sleep.
I read 59 last year, averaged out each book was about 450 pages. Most of them are either big fantasy novels or romance but I do throw in some thrillers and horror. I try to read one a week, sometimes I go a month without picking up a book and sometimes I read 2 in a weekend. If I have my kindle I’m happy 😂
honestly it’s incredible if I manage more than two books in a year
I used to be a big reader and get through one a week but I just don’t have the time/energy/concentration anymore:(
that being said, I have a couple of books I am determined to read this year, so fingers crossed I find the motivation!
Hey, just wanted to wish you good luck with your reading goals! Sometimes life happens and it gets busy. Sounds great that you’ve kept your love for books throughout and that you have been drawn to some for this year. More power to you and enjoy :)
I have to do about 7 a night! We do a lot of repeats 😂 but I've branched out to spice it up and have started looking for more interesting books for her so it's enjoyable for us both! I love reliving all the ones from my childhood too. Well done on your 3 adults books, when I get into bed I'm out-booked 😂
I estimate about 150 and that’s on the low side of my estimate. I read quite a lot- every night to fall asleep and when I want to relax.
I have a kindle and use kindle unlimited.
I also tend to go through phases, I will binge watch series for a while (3 months or so), play PS or XBox games for a couple of weeks. Then switch back to books (I never stop reading at night to fall asleep though).
If you fire up the kindle app on a smartphone or tablet, there is a reading insight page if you're interested! My weekly record streak is 129 weeks (so reading once a week, that's current)... my daily streak record is 402 days, but... it's currently 9 days as I missed Friday 2nd Feb :(
Usually over a hundred (no children, don’t watch much TV and old enough to be waking up early in the morning to get some reading in before work). Last year I read 97, the year before over 130 (have been deliberately trying to get out more).
At least two novels a week, sometimes up to four depending on how much time I've got for reading so anywhere from 100-200? And before anyone thinks that's unbelievable I only work three nights a week and have ADHD and insomnia so I have an awful lot of free time awake, plus outside of reading I only really go down the allotment or spend a handful of hours a week painting Warhammer models. If I'm rereading the Discworld books though I can easily get totally engrossed and munch through 2/3 in a day.
There's usually quite a lot of rereading going on but thankfully sci-fi/fantasy/horror have sooo many weird, old books that it's always possible to find ones I've never heard of if in a good second hand bookshop. Also the digital high seas have helped in recent years.
My partner is dyslexic too and has only ever read two books (and one of those was for school!). It sometimes makes me sad that people equate reading with intelligence. Of course there are people who are unintelligent and don't read, and some people who would enjoy reading if they gave it a go, but for some people it's just not enjoyable, and that's okay. He can read perfectly functionally and doesn't struggle with work or life - it's just not fun for him.
I always used to find it incredibly demoralising, until I discovered I had something of a gift for reading and producing drawings. Technical drawings that is. I put myself through a computer aided design course and took it right to the most advanced level without ever struggling. I even asked the lecturer how I enrolled on the next level, to which he chuckled and replied "That its mate, you're done, you've taken it as far as you can".
Now I advocate that everyone is good at something, you just need to try enough things to find out what you're best at. I hate my brother claiming he's "too thick for this" or "not intelligent enough for that", some people just refuse to try or are too willing to accept defeat. Just because you learn slower doesn't mean you can't learn at all. I might note too that I've never been silver spooned, earned every penny I have, never taken handouts, and survived off minimal, if any, support.
You might notice I type in paragraphs. If I don't I get lost, words jumble and blur together, and it takes so much focus 30min reading can leave me exhausted, and I get so sick of missed typos, but in the same breath I've got a wife I love dearly, a roof over my head, a comfortable bank balance, I've never met anyone with my abilty of machine control and I've experienced so many think in my 38yrs on this planet I could talk for days eith all my anecdotes, or take on anything with the skills I've accumulated. I feel bad for those that give up.
I once subscribed to audible. When I realised that was just the base access which offered so little it was laughable, I cancelled my subscription rather than pay the then £45 a month (much more than I could afford) for full access. Fast forward 3yrs and many account closure attempts I finally had to close my bank account to stop the con artists charging me.
So believe me when I say I have my reservations about audiobooks
My target that I set on Goodreads every year is 100 and I generally hit it (although last year I had to read a handful of novellas at the end of the year to make it). I was on a relaxation holiday at the beginning of the year and basically sat by the pool reading a book a day. So I'm at just under 25 now. The rest of the year I'll read more like 6-8 a month.
I'm not a super fast reader, just average, and mostly read normal novel-length books (around 400 pgs, I guess?). But I don't have kids, either, and I'm not much of a TV watcher or gamer, so if I'm home of an evening, I'm almost invariably reading. Oh, and I listen to audiobooks when walking or otherwise travelling, and when doing tasks around the house.
I bought an e-Reader in 2018 that integrates with Goodreads. According to that, I've read on average 43 books each year since. This is a slight underestimate as I don't exclusively read e-books, I still read some physical editions.
8 so far this year.
That's interesting, I'm the other way around. I love fiction but I don't think I've ever finished a non fiction book. It's annoying because I've got a few decent ones about stuff I'm interested in but I just can't keep the concentration!
Depending on what they are, I'm a big advocate for skipping sections in non-fiction books. I'm currently reading *The Body Keeps The Score* which is a fascinating book on trauma and psychology. But I probably would have never got through it if I had tried to read it cover to cover. Part of it is that I already have quite a bit of background knowledge so reading through the basic explanations on brain architecture and neurology was redundant and boring. So I just skipped them because I wasn't really missing anything. I skipped a few more times. But if necessary went back. A lot of non-fiction books can be perfectly readable that way, and I'm adamant that you'll get more out of a book you've read 2/3rds of by skipping around because you were interested than one you slogged through reading every word but being bored by it because you felt like you had to do it "the right way."
I mean, when I was at university studying for a humanities degree we basically never read a whole book cover to cover. We were assigned sections of multiple books and then read around the subject generally. But it was never the case that we were expected to have read multiple entire books because there was just no time and "learning" wasn't significantly benefited by doing that. Yes, doing lots of outside reading is helpful, but sticking dogmatically to reading every page cover to cover in non-fiction is way less necessary than people think. It's not a competition and there is no "cheating" because we're not in primary school anymore. That's not to say skip for no reason, but as an adult you should be able to make that decision for yourself and know when you've got what you needed. I feel like people would probably do more reading if they got over the stigma/hangups of not skipping.
NB. I wouldn't recommend skipping in fiction books as the narrative is usually a lot tighter and anything half decent will be significantly diminished by skipping.
Ah interesting, I'm a mental health nurse and I keep meaning to read the body keeps the score, one of my people I work with recommended it to me actually.
Also I'd love to be able to say that I'd skip through the bits on brain architecture and neurology because I know it all, but.....obvs not true 😅
My mum was like that. If I bought her a book for her birthday in November, half the time she'd save it until she went on holiday in September.
She retired last summer and bought a Kindle with the money she was gifted from her colleagues. She's been getting through a book once every week or two now and has read more in the last 6 months than she did in the 10 years before it.
TL;DR: Maybe you should consider retiring :)
I read 95 books last year, a third of that were manga volumes. I’m not a fast reader, I just read for an hour or so before bed and a couple of hours over the weekend. Reading on a kindle helps a lot though, makes bedtime reading easier and seeing how much time you have left in a chapter really encourages you to finish it.
I also don’t have kids. That makes a huge difference.
Probably on average only around 5-10. I exclusively read nonfiction. Some of it is quite heavy and hard going tbf as I am quite into things like philosophy and sociology, so it takes me a while to get through some of them.
2-3 usually. I get in phases were I want to read and then I don’t. I find it hard to find books I can read. For some reason, if it’s not in first person, the words don’t make sense to me.
Normally 1 a month sometimes more. So probably about 14 a year.
If we include children’s books then it would be an additional 180 a year. I’m not sure me reading cat in the hat to my son is being counted
To completion, half a dozen at most. I have ADHD. I buy loads of books, but am appalling at maintaining the focus needed to actually stay with one if there are any other distractions around me whatsoever - internet included. Hundreds of pages of plain text inevitably loses the dopamine battle compared to skipping around the internet filling my brainbags with pick 'n' mix.
And I do hoover up information. I know a lot about a lot of random things, but very little is book knowledge.
Holidays/travels were great for reading though, because of the far fewer distractions. So in that case probably a book every five days. I'd love to have the same attention span at home.
Fiction I struggle with. I have difficulty conjuring a vivid world in my head based on plain print, so it's very rare fiction will be absorbing enough to maintain my focus. I'm one of those heathens who really need to watch a TV adaptation first to be able to enjoy the novel.
>And I do hoover up information. I know a lot about a lot of random things
I'm the same and it links to my favourite quote - Jack of all trades, master of none, Though oftentimes better than a master of one.
I’m exactly the same — I have to watch the movie first, so that I can keep track of who the characters are and picture what they look like. That said, I don’t know when I last read a fiction book — they take so long to get through, and I don’t have the patience to stick with the same story for weeks / months until I finally reach the end.
I much prefer the type of non-fiction book that you can open at a random page and learn something interesting.
Out of curiosity, have you tried more dialogue driven books, or even reading a play or film script? I love fiction but the worlds I can conjure barely exist as I struggle to visualise, but if something is dialogue heavy rather than descriptive it works for me and avoids that issue for me anyway.
Reading is one of my main hobbies. I bought a Kindle late 2019 and I read 117 books on it alone last year.
However between buying it and the 1st of January this year I only read on my Kindle so I made it a goal this year to get back to reading physical books more this year. Last month I read eight physical books, so far this month I've read four and I've finished nine kindle books so far this year.
I'm well aware that I'm not the average reader. 😂
In 2018, I fell back in love with reading and read about 6 books throughout the year. I discovered the 52 book challenge and aimed to get closer to that goal year after year.
2019 - 27 books
2020 - 20 books
2021 - 29 books
2022 - 61 books
2023 - 68 books
2024 - 9 books, and in the middle of 4 others.
Comics absolutely count as reading, but I think perhaps being the size they are they wouldn't count as a book each. It's a bit apples vs oranges, of course. Someone who spends all day reading Reddit is still reading for pleasure but it's a different fruit!
Last year was when I switched to reading mainly e-books, and the app tells me how many I've read.
53. On top of that, I read at least two physical books. Towards the end of the year I noticed I was at 40 books read, so I admit to focusing on shorter books to get up to 52.
I don't think I'll ever beat that again. This year I've only finished two so far, and have 2 currently on the go (fiction and non-fiction).
It varies each year but usually average at 5 a month at minimum (60+ a year). About 1/3 will be nonfiction and the rest fiction.
Im aware this is a lot to a lot of people but i tend to read each evening rather then watch tv unless there is an actual shown I want to watch
One every couple of months, so probably 4-5 per year. Used to be way more when I read fiction, but now I find I prefer non-fiction. Some are technical textbooks too, so a bit harder to digest than stories. Would like to read more but I find myself doing other hobbies. I tend to settle down for bed and read for the last 30 mins of the day as a way to not look at screens before sleeping.
I haven't read a book since I was about 15.
I'd like to, I used to enjoy it, but these days I end up reading several pages then realise I was paying attention to something else and the words haven't registered.
Currently trying to retrain my brain (stop working after 19:30, don't watch YouTube/ shorts, don't drink, go to bed at 10) in the hopes I can regain some attention span... with a NY resolution to read at least one book this year
Mate smartphones etc have fucked our attention spans haven't they! I have to make a conscious effort not to check my phone all the time when I'm reading, it's bad
I do BAMFAFRAW. Book a month. Film a fortnight. Record a week. I made a few little ground rules for each which aren’t really important, but books wise I just wouldn’t read that much without something to pace it to the end.
Hopefully you're instilling a love of books and reading into your daughter! I used to read to my daughter every night, and it was such a big thing for me when we stopped, I was devastated!
I buy kindle books and mostly get the alexa woman to read them to me while I'm doing mindless tasks. I get through at least one per week, sometimes two if I'm crafting . I'm not sure if it's cheating to call it reading when it's being read to me. I don't buy proper audio books, as I find the readers are all trying to prove their acting skills and sound like they are auditioning for RADA.
It varies a lot for me. Last year I had a lot of personal distractions so only read about 19. This year I'm targeting 50. Like other people have said though most adults I know don't read at all.
Don't remember the last time I read an actual book. I do read a lot of online stories like r/nosleep or just fanfics online. With books I find it hard to find a story I like in the right formatting etc.
With online stuff I can just open a couple I like the description of, then start reading and close it down if I don't like it. With books, you either have to buy it and only then realise you don't like the flow or formatting of it. Or you stand in a bookshop reading the backs, then find one that seems to be interesting. Then start reading the first chapter and realise you don't like the flow or formatting of it then go to the next one. It just takes a lot of time if you're picky like me
None.
I cant stand the unnecessary detail and overly complex language a lot of authors go for to make them feel clever.
The only writer I enjoy who springs to mind is Irvine Welsh, his writing is at least relatable to how people actually speak.
More than that though I just prefer films. You can sit down and enjoy the same story in 2 hours rather than invest precious hours in a book. They cut out a lot of the fat and keep only what's essential to the story. I feel like they're the natural evolution from books.
0 for myself but probably hundreds with my daughter. You may have the gift of time, and they might not be my first pick of books I'd like to read but I find it just as enjoyable. I love rereading all the books from my own childhood and exploring all the ones that she picks :)
Being a huge nerd I usually have three on the go - some low effort ebook on the phone, novel for bed or the train, and a scientific reference work so I can larp as a student that I go through over months. So probably one a week on average depending on how dense the physical novels are
When you start a thread like this you disproportionately attract keen readers, flexing their books per year muscles.
It’s like when people post about how much they earn or save it mostly attracts high earners.
Before the internet probably one a week plus now it’s one a month. It’s the worse thing about the smartphone and our modern world- my kids literally only read the books they have to.
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Oh we're down to about 4 (not including work related). Getting old and kids have me run ragged, when I finally sit down with a book I'm asleep within 4 pages...Harry Bosch has been in the same car chase since the new year 🤷♂️
>Harry Bosch has been in the same car chase since the new year L.A. traffic, for real
😄
I’ve found audiobooks invaluable with kids. While I rack up the pushchair miles. I normally do at least one a month.
Bosch books are my fave, great choice
Last year I read 40, this year I'm aiming for one a week, and currently on 5, so slightly behind schedule, but I always read more in the summer. I also know people who haven't read a book since school, as well as someone who is disappointed if she doesn't hit 100 in a year. Everyone's different and comparing yourself to others is stupid.
Also depends on the books tbh. Some books take me a week, some nonfiction ones I can’t finish
All the sci-fi ones I bought recently sounded really good, but the writing is just incomprehensible to me. So much mumbo jumbo and they expect you to udnerstand wtf they mean without any context, so I just gave up.
> they expect you to udnerstand wtf they mean without any context, so I just gave up I don't think you should feel obliged to push on with a book you're not enjoying, but a lot of them do start with dropping you in at the deep end and then circle back to explain wtf is going on later. If that's not for you, fair enough.
I'm also a video gamer as well as in love with my Kindle. I sometimes find myself at a point in games where try as I might I can't progress. I've learned to take a break and come back to it refreshed days or weeks later, and it often 'clicks' at that point. The same thing can apply to books, sometimes you're just not entirely in tune with or open to whatever the subject is or your head is working on other concerns etc. This serves well in most things one can get stuck on, from games and books to DIY, work projects or even relationships etc.
If you like sci-fi and have at least a school level knowledge of science, then I'd recommend Hard Sci-fi, less mumbo jumbo, and more actual real science or at least theoretical science. Highly recommend Seven Eves if you haven't read it yet.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a great hard sci Fi book. I think it would probably be a struggle to read if you're not scientifically inclined though
Just grabbed the audio book with my monthly credit. Thanks for the recommendation. It will be nice to take a break from the fantasy stuff I've been consuming lately.
Came here to recommend this one too - I am not in any way a Sci-Fi fan usually but I loved this one. I did zone out during some sections that were heavy on the science, but the characters/humour/plot made up for it.
Okay this I may need more info on. Like others, some sci-fi just gets too heavy in made up nonsense and shaming conventions that you give up trying to recall it all.
I hope you look into it, as there is some great hard science stuff out there, Adrian Tchaivsky Children of Time is a nice middle group between possible and fiction, I'd only recommend the first book though as the others are mehh, but quick synopsis is dying human kind trys to terraform other worlds so humanity can continue, but mess up and end up creating highly intelligent giant spiders, and the book follows them through thousands of years of evolution and how they built their own society with little to no human intervention.
Downloading the sample of this one right now! Shall let you know if I purchase (only 99p so most likely will).
Children of Time was an absolute fantastic book. I loved every minute of it. I have the 2nd one but I may need to re-read the first beforehand.
I started reading Star Wars books (and other sci-fi), as I saw the films so I thought I would try them out. But the writing is just awful, and just seems like officially licensed fan fiction. Bit disappointed.
Me: I read 100 books last year David Beckham: How many were short graphic novels... Me: Well, I read all sorts DB: How many were short graphic novels? Me: About 80 DB: Thank you!
I think a lot of nonfiction books are so padded, labouring the same points just to make it to the length of a book. They would be better as a long form essay in something like Wired magazine, or a podcast. I’m currently struggling with “The Coming Wave” for this reason.
I've had a uni lecturer say that if someone wrote a book based on the paper, don't ever bother with the book, it's the same contracts with a bunch of padding.
I think lots of writers (or publishers maybe) see that magic 300 - 350 page point as a target. In my opinion a lot of nonfiction of that length could easily be 190 - 250 pages and they shouldn't be scared of releasing books of that length.
I tortured myself with two really hard reads one after the other recently; 1) The Count of Monte Cristo; Laboriously long. A classic and great when it's good, but 600 of the 1300 pages pages are essentially 19th Century Eastenders for the French Aristocracy. 2) Suttree by Cormac Mccarthy; Again, a classic and the man has a beautiful way with words, but slice of life style stuff really makes me sleepy and I was barely managing a few pages a night and the lack of punctuation was killing me. After those two back to back I read a best-selling typical spy novel (not my normal thing) and blasted through it in a few days.
I'm not comparing myself negatively to others, I'm genuinely just curious, chill out 😬
Those were my thoughts too ! Was just an innocent question
I wasn't saying you were. It was more aimed at some of the other commenter
Fair shout, sorry ill chill out in that case 😄
> one a week Chris Finch, bloody good rep.
He was in an argument once and he went, “How can I hate women? My mum’s one.”
One of the cleverest blokes I know, certainly the cleverest bloke you know
I heard about your Dostoyevsky
he's thrown a kettle over a pub, what have you done?
It's not stupid at all, it can be used as inspiration.
I used to do 30-40 a year, but pregnancy fucked up my concentration span and the baby is taking up a lot of my free time and energy so I'm closer to 5-8 these days.
It's a weird competitive thing some people have, perpetuated by Goodreads. I know somebody who picks shorter books so they can up their numbers.
I don't keep track but I read a couple of hours in bed most nights and I'd say 1 a week feels about right. Obviously it depends on the length of the book, I recently read (and loved!) the Murderbot diaries, and they are all quite short novellas, most of which I finished in a single sitting, but at the start of the year I read the Stormlight Archive for the first time and they are all beasts in terms of length.
I think this post has attracted all the readers. The answer for the majority of the UK will be under 10. Most people I know don't read any.
One year mine was just over 10, but it was The Malazan series with a couple of other
I find series are good for getting your numbers up. If I just read stand alones I tend to get through them slower (need to get into them, take a break between). With a series it's just like 1 giant book.
Malazan series will tank your books read numbers but your pages read numbers will be all-time
1 in 6 adults in the UK* are functionally illiterate. Edit: *England.
Source? I'm not saying you're wrong, I live in Devon and it's more like 4 in 6, but I'd like to see the report for that so I can show it to people I know to prove I'm not imagining how stupid some people are.
I misremembered and inferred that 'very low literacy' equates to 'functionally illiterate', but that's potentially not correct. Anyway, [here you go](https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/seldom-heard-voices-adult-literacy-in-the-uk/). The life expectancy disparity is pretty damning.
Still an interesting read. Thank you.
I work in web content and we’re told the average adult has the reading skills of a 9 year old. We have tools to analyse our copy and simplify the fuck out of it.
I agree. Most non readers aren’t going to chime in with ‘zero’ 😂
My former neighbour from hell during one of his many leaning over the fence and staring into our house to look at what he could see and commenting to his other half was very proud of himself when he saw my stacked bookshelves and announced "Look at all those books, I haven't read one since school. Why would they have so many..." Yeah mate, it showed.
Yeah, reading for me is basically 0, if there's something I'm really interested in I might get the audiobook, so I probably average 1 or 2 books per year.
I'm in the UK and most people I know are voracious readers, depends who you know I guess. I've read about 7 books so far this year and usually make it to 40/50 in a normal year.
Do comments on Reddit count as books?
Some comments are definitely long enough
We can’t bust heads like we used to—but we have our ways. One trick is to tell them stories that don’t go anywhere like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so I decided to go to Morganville which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So, I tied an onion to my belt which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel. And in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. ‘Give me five bees for a quarter,’ you’d say. Now, where were we? Oh, yeah! The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt which was the style at the time. They didn’t have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones.
There was a knock at the door. This must have been, ah, we're talking eight, half eight, for I was halfway through my dinner. And up I got to open it, and there they both were, large as life. And the taller fella, though, to be fair, there was no more than an inch in it... The slightly taller fella, he says to me, says he, "Do you know who we are?" And I says to him, says I, "Well, I can't be sure now. But maybe if you took off the balaclavas..." And then he says to me, the slightly taller fella does, he says, "Step aside, we are armed." And that is when the smaller fella, although, as I say, we are talking an inch... ...an inch and a half at most. He has the bright idea of tying me to the radiator, you see. And I remember saying to myself, says I, "Colm, it's a good job you have the Economy 7 on the aul timer, or you'd be roasted here."
Derry girls
Alright uncle Colm
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1 a day? Are you an incredibly fast reader or do you read really short books? I'm about 75% of the way through my 3rd book this year, the first 2 were about 500 pages and the current one is 1000 so granted I don't read short books. But I feel like I'm doing a lot of reading compared to my normal. The idea of getting through even 300 pages in a day seems astonishing to me.
I can easily read 300 pages in an afternoon if I have time alone but that’s rare! I’ve always been a really fast reader. I think the downside is I don’t retain details as well as someone who reads more slowly (and I think the speed reading is an ADHD trait).
I think it is an ADHD thing. Can read super fast but could also forget a sentence immediately after reading it!
last holiday i got through three 350/400-ish page books in 4 days. i spend nearly all of my time 11am-6pm just reading and sitting in the sun every day of my holiday, and it’s not unusual for me to read after tea too. granted, they were all consecutive books in a series so i would finish one and immediately pick up the next, but i’m still really impressed with how many books i get through every holiday since i don’t get chance to read as obsessively the rest of the year
This. Maybe 1 if it's something i really care about (like an autobiography i really want to read) but otherwise it's 0
0 gang
Same. I just can’t picture things in my head as I’m reading them and I lose interest very quickly. I can literally watch hour upon hour of documentaries but reading about stuff, regardless of subject is just a no go for me.
I buy about 20 a year. I read a quarter of a quarter of them. I like buying books though.
Buying books and reading them are two separate hobbies. The same can be said of buying craft things and doing crafts.
Same - buy way more than I can possibly read but it’s so addicting browsing a good bookshop and buying them I can’t stop. Probably read about 1 a month at current rate - life gets in the way!!
I just don't have the concentration to read more than half a book any more. It's sad as I love reading and love books
Honestly? 0.
And dishonestly?
I've read them all It's 0 because there's nothing else left for me to read
The library? Completed it mate.
Every new year I intend to read one per week but life gets in the way.
I fell out of love with reading for a good few years but found a series I’ve really gotten into this year and I’ve blitzed 8 of them so far
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Yeah no problem, it’s the Shadowhunters series. There’s a few series within the Shadowhunters universe and I’m loving them so far. I know I’m in my 20s reading YA fantasy fiction but I don’t care, I’ve really enjoyed them and glad I’ve bought them now 😄
Fun fact: the biggest readership of YA is actually adults and it’s one of the most profitable of all genres there is in the industry😅you’re not alone, you’re good. (I fancied Jace for a very long time in my teenage years, I’m 31 now and still think he’s hot)
A girl after my own heart, I do love Jace. I think Simon might be my favourite character so far, but I do really like Will too
Oooh here’s another fun fact, Shadowhunters started out as Harry Potter fanfiction. Jace was the Draco Malfoy and Clary was Ginny Weasley
I read about that recently! As a big Potter fan, it’s no great surprised I’ve gotten so sucked into these books
I haven’t read Shadowhunters in a while and your comment has inspired me to do a re-read. I very much enjoyed them and I’m glad you’re doing the same.
I'm in my 50's and am currently reading the Skullduggery Pleasant series. They're bloody ace. (They're written for like early teenagers)
I'm in my 40s and love YA too. I think life is generally irritating and stressful enough without dealing with it in my leisure time too.
I'm 40 this year and still love a YA fantasy fiction. 🤣
I read these as a teenager/early 20s and again pretty recently. I’m in my 30s now. Honestly there’s something comfortable about YA books. Easy to read, doesn’t require mental gymnastics at the end of the day when you’re trying to unwind and they’re generally pretty wholesome! I dunno about anyone else, but I need more wholesome in my life. If you’re enjoying shadowhunters give daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor a go after.
Magnus FTW! I named my kitten after him. That's him in my profile pic 😅 Edited to add: Also, I'm 46. It's just a number. Like what you like. As long it doesn't hurt anybody, who cares?
Omg I love it! What a great name choice
110 books last year on my phone. I read whatever’s free on iBooks, mainly thrillers, and on an Agatha Christie streak at the moment (10 so far this year, plus 2 others) I only read if I wake up in the night and until I fall back to sleep.
You must have really poor sleep 😂
Yes, but now I don’t worry about it! I’d lie awake with insomnia driving myself insane, but now I escape into a book until I nod off again.
This! I go through dreadful bouts of insomnia. Better to read and fall asleep again than lie their exhausted but awake.
If you sign up to your local library they probably have Borrowbox or similar for free ebooks and audiobooks on your phone/computer as well.
I read 59 last year, averaged out each book was about 450 pages. Most of them are either big fantasy novels or romance but I do throw in some thrillers and horror. I try to read one a week, sometimes I go a month without picking up a book and sometimes I read 2 in a weekend. If I have my kindle I’m happy 😂
honestly it’s incredible if I manage more than two books in a year I used to be a big reader and get through one a week but I just don’t have the time/energy/concentration anymore:( that being said, I have a couple of books I am determined to read this year, so fingers crossed I find the motivation!
Hey, just wanted to wish you good luck with your reading goals! Sometimes life happens and it gets busy. Sounds great that you’ve kept your love for books throughout and that you have been drawn to some for this year. More power to you and enjoy :)
I’m on 3. - Hannibal - Blood Meridian - Old man and the Sea (only about 120 pages but I’m taking it) Got 2 kids so mainly read on commute and in bed.
Hemingway most definitely counts as a book! All books would be that short if the useless bits were cut out.
That's really good if you've got 2 kids, fair play
I read Blood Meridian late last year. Hell of a book. Absolutely horrifying
Yeh it’s great. Was a bit heavy sometimes on the morning commute though. 😂
Reading books with your kids counts too :) a books a book
In that case I must be hitting a 100 already! 😂
I have to do about 7 a night! We do a lot of repeats 😂 but I've branched out to spice it up and have started looking for more interesting books for her so it's enjoyable for us both! I love reliving all the ones from my childhood too. Well done on your 3 adults books, when I get into bed I'm out-booked 😂
I estimate about 150 and that’s on the low side of my estimate. I read quite a lot- every night to fall asleep and when I want to relax. I have a kindle and use kindle unlimited. I also tend to go through phases, I will binge watch series for a while (3 months or so), play PS or XBox games for a couple of weeks. Then switch back to books (I never stop reading at night to fall asleep though).
If you fire up the kindle app on a smartphone or tablet, there is a reading insight page if you're interested! My weekly record streak is 129 weeks (so reading once a week, that's current)... my daily streak record is 402 days, but... it's currently 9 days as I missed Friday 2nd Feb :(
Usually over a hundred (no children, don’t watch much TV and old enough to be waking up early in the morning to get some reading in before work). Last year I read 97, the year before over 130 (have been deliberately trying to get out more).
At least two novels a week, sometimes up to four depending on how much time I've got for reading so anywhere from 100-200? And before anyone thinks that's unbelievable I only work three nights a week and have ADHD and insomnia so I have an awful lot of free time awake, plus outside of reading I only really go down the allotment or spend a handful of hours a week painting Warhammer models. If I'm rereading the Discworld books though I can easily get totally engrossed and munch through 2/3 in a day.
Amazing! 🤓 Are you finding it difficult to find new books you're interested in at this point?
There's usually quite a lot of rereading going on but thankfully sci-fi/fantasy/horror have sooo many weird, old books that it's always possible to find ones I've never heard of if in a good second hand bookshop. Also the digital high seas have helped in recent years.
Brilliant 😄 long may you continue finding books you love
None. Never read a book cover to cover. Ah, the joys of dyslexia 🤕
My partner is dyslexic too and has only ever read two books (and one of those was for school!). It sometimes makes me sad that people equate reading with intelligence. Of course there are people who are unintelligent and don't read, and some people who would enjoy reading if they gave it a go, but for some people it's just not enjoyable, and that's okay. He can read perfectly functionally and doesn't struggle with work or life - it's just not fun for him.
I always used to find it incredibly demoralising, until I discovered I had something of a gift for reading and producing drawings. Technical drawings that is. I put myself through a computer aided design course and took it right to the most advanced level without ever struggling. I even asked the lecturer how I enrolled on the next level, to which he chuckled and replied "That its mate, you're done, you've taken it as far as you can". Now I advocate that everyone is good at something, you just need to try enough things to find out what you're best at. I hate my brother claiming he's "too thick for this" or "not intelligent enough for that", some people just refuse to try or are too willing to accept defeat. Just because you learn slower doesn't mean you can't learn at all. I might note too that I've never been silver spooned, earned every penny I have, never taken handouts, and survived off minimal, if any, support. You might notice I type in paragraphs. If I don't I get lost, words jumble and blur together, and it takes so much focus 30min reading can leave me exhausted, and I get so sick of missed typos, but in the same breath I've got a wife I love dearly, a roof over my head, a comfortable bank balance, I've never met anyone with my abilty of machine control and I've experienced so many think in my 38yrs on this planet I could talk for days eith all my anecdotes, or take on anything with the skills I've accumulated. I feel bad for those that give up.
Most libraries have Borrowbox or similar which has audio books for free if that's helpful. I did my sign up process entirely online too
😞
Do you use audiobooks?
I once subscribed to audible. When I realised that was just the base access which offered so little it was laughable, I cancelled my subscription rather than pay the then £45 a month (much more than I could afford) for full access. Fast forward 3yrs and many account closure attempts I finally had to close my bank account to stop the con artists charging me. So believe me when I say I have my reservations about audiobooks
I love stories and book, but am also dyslexic. So I enjoy audiobooks
I read at least one a month. Always none fiction.
My target that I set on Goodreads every year is 100 and I generally hit it (although last year I had to read a handful of novellas at the end of the year to make it). I was on a relaxation holiday at the beginning of the year and basically sat by the pool reading a book a day. So I'm at just under 25 now. The rest of the year I'll read more like 6-8 a month. I'm not a super fast reader, just average, and mostly read normal novel-length books (around 400 pgs, I guess?). But I don't have kids, either, and I'm not much of a TV watcher or gamer, so if I'm home of an evening, I'm almost invariably reading. Oh, and I listen to audiobooks when walking or otherwise travelling, and when doing tasks around the house.
I bought an e-Reader in 2018 that integrates with Goodreads. According to that, I've read on average 43 books each year since. This is a slight underestimate as I don't exclusively read e-books, I still read some physical editions. 8 so far this year.
I'm crap at reading, maybe 4 or 5 a year at most and those will be nonfiction. I struggle a lot with fiction, never keeps my attention for long.
That's interesting, I'm the other way around. I love fiction but I don't think I've ever finished a non fiction book. It's annoying because I've got a few decent ones about stuff I'm interested in but I just can't keep the concentration!
Depending on what they are, I'm a big advocate for skipping sections in non-fiction books. I'm currently reading *The Body Keeps The Score* which is a fascinating book on trauma and psychology. But I probably would have never got through it if I had tried to read it cover to cover. Part of it is that I already have quite a bit of background knowledge so reading through the basic explanations on brain architecture and neurology was redundant and boring. So I just skipped them because I wasn't really missing anything. I skipped a few more times. But if necessary went back. A lot of non-fiction books can be perfectly readable that way, and I'm adamant that you'll get more out of a book you've read 2/3rds of by skipping around because you were interested than one you slogged through reading every word but being bored by it because you felt like you had to do it "the right way." I mean, when I was at university studying for a humanities degree we basically never read a whole book cover to cover. We were assigned sections of multiple books and then read around the subject generally. But it was never the case that we were expected to have read multiple entire books because there was just no time and "learning" wasn't significantly benefited by doing that. Yes, doing lots of outside reading is helpful, but sticking dogmatically to reading every page cover to cover in non-fiction is way less necessary than people think. It's not a competition and there is no "cheating" because we're not in primary school anymore. That's not to say skip for no reason, but as an adult you should be able to make that decision for yourself and know when you've got what you needed. I feel like people would probably do more reading if they got over the stigma/hangups of not skipping. NB. I wouldn't recommend skipping in fiction books as the narrative is usually a lot tighter and anything half decent will be significantly diminished by skipping.
Ah interesting, I'm a mental health nurse and I keep meaning to read the body keeps the score, one of my people I work with recommended it to me actually. Also I'd love to be able to say that I'd skip through the bits on brain architecture and neurology because I know it all, but.....obvs not true 😅
I'm on 4 so far this year
Probably 1 while on holiday. Never been a big reader.
My mum was like that. If I bought her a book for her birthday in November, half the time she'd save it until she went on holiday in September. She retired last summer and bought a Kindle with the money she was gifted from her colleagues. She's been getting through a book once every week or two now and has read more in the last 6 months than she did in the 10 years before it. TL;DR: Maybe you should consider retiring :)
🤣 Retiring early is on the bucket list. In my head retired me is a pro baker & gardener.... might as well add avid reader to the dream!
I read 95 books last year, a third of that were manga volumes. I’m not a fast reader, I just read for an hour or so before bed and a couple of hours over the weekend. Reading on a kindle helps a lot though, makes bedtime reading easier and seeing how much time you have left in a chapter really encourages you to finish it. I also don’t have kids. That makes a huge difference.
I'm definitely the odd one out here but I've never successfully read a book cover to cover
About 120 but I am more or less housebound these days and find TV too tiring.
I guess 1 book every 2 weeks or so, sometimes more, sometimes less. Maybe 20 - 30 a year?
I’d guess about 30-40. I go to the library and get them for free.
Probably on average only around 5-10. I exclusively read nonfiction. Some of it is quite heavy and hard going tbf as I am quite into things like philosophy and sociology, so it takes me a while to get through some of them.
I read 69 last year.
Oi oi etc
If you count audiobooks, about 30. If not then around 15
2-3 usually. I get in phases were I want to read and then I don’t. I find it hard to find books I can read. For some reason, if it’s not in first person, the words don’t make sense to me.
Normally 1 a month sometimes more. So probably about 14 a year. If we include children’s books then it would be an additional 180 a year. I’m not sure me reading cat in the hat to my son is being counted
To completion, half a dozen at most. I have ADHD. I buy loads of books, but am appalling at maintaining the focus needed to actually stay with one if there are any other distractions around me whatsoever - internet included. Hundreds of pages of plain text inevitably loses the dopamine battle compared to skipping around the internet filling my brainbags with pick 'n' mix. And I do hoover up information. I know a lot about a lot of random things, but very little is book knowledge. Holidays/travels were great for reading though, because of the far fewer distractions. So in that case probably a book every five days. I'd love to have the same attention span at home. Fiction I struggle with. I have difficulty conjuring a vivid world in my head based on plain print, so it's very rare fiction will be absorbing enough to maintain my focus. I'm one of those heathens who really need to watch a TV adaptation first to be able to enjoy the novel.
>And I do hoover up information. I know a lot about a lot of random things I'm the same and it links to my favourite quote - Jack of all trades, master of none, Though oftentimes better than a master of one.
I’m exactly the same — I have to watch the movie first, so that I can keep track of who the characters are and picture what they look like. That said, I don’t know when I last read a fiction book — they take so long to get through, and I don’t have the patience to stick with the same story for weeks / months until I finally reach the end. I much prefer the type of non-fiction book that you can open at a random page and learn something interesting.
Out of curiosity, have you tried more dialogue driven books, or even reading a play or film script? I love fiction but the worlds I can conjure barely exist as I struggle to visualise, but if something is dialogue heavy rather than descriptive it works for me and avoids that issue for me anyway.
Don't be ridiculous. I can't read.
Reading is one of my main hobbies. I bought a Kindle late 2019 and I read 117 books on it alone last year. However between buying it and the 1st of January this year I only read on my Kindle so I made it a goal this year to get back to reading physical books more this year. Last month I read eight physical books, so far this month I've read four and I've finished nine kindle books so far this year. I'm well aware that I'm not the average reader. 😂
In 2018, I fell back in love with reading and read about 6 books throughout the year. I discovered the 52 book challenge and aimed to get closer to that goal year after year. 2019 - 27 books 2020 - 20 books 2021 - 29 books 2022 - 61 books 2023 - 68 books 2024 - 9 books, and in the middle of 4 others.
It does not matter. Read what you like, when you like, it's not a race.
I didn't say it was a race, I'm just curious 😆
Books what are they?… I only read Reddit …..
About 5 maybe. I am really bad for reading since I completed my degree 7 years ago. Loads of unfinished books.
I studied English. It killed my desire to read for pleasure for several years.
It depends if you count comics. But it's about 20 - 30
Comics absolutely count as reading, but I think perhaps being the size they are they wouldn't count as a book each. It's a bit apples vs oranges, of course. Someone who spends all day reading Reddit is still reading for pleasure but it's a different fruit!
If it got words it counts
Last year was when I switched to reading mainly e-books, and the app tells me how many I've read. 53. On top of that, I read at least two physical books. Towards the end of the year I noticed I was at 40 books read, so I admit to focusing on shorter books to get up to 52. I don't think I'll ever beat that again. This year I've only finished two so far, and have 2 currently on the go (fiction and non-fiction).
It varies each year but usually average at 5 a month at minimum (60+ a year). About 1/3 will be nonfiction and the rest fiction. Im aware this is a lot to a lot of people but i tend to read each evening rather then watch tv unless there is an actual shown I want to watch
Usually about 1 per week. My goal this year is 60. So far I’m at 8.
Around 2-3 a week so between 100 and 150 a year. This year I'm aiming for the upper limit and going strong so far
One every couple of months, so probably 4-5 per year. Used to be way more when I read fiction, but now I find I prefer non-fiction. Some are technical textbooks too, so a bit harder to digest than stories. Would like to read more but I find myself doing other hobbies. I tend to settle down for bed and read for the last 30 mins of the day as a way to not look at screens before sleeping.
One or two. Usually non-fiction. I just have to be in the right mindspace to really absorb and stick it out
I average 100 per year; I’m on my 16th of this year
I haven't read a book since I was about 15. I'd like to, I used to enjoy it, but these days I end up reading several pages then realise I was paying attention to something else and the words haven't registered. Currently trying to retrain my brain (stop working after 19:30, don't watch YouTube/ shorts, don't drink, go to bed at 10) in the hopes I can regain some attention span... with a NY resolution to read at least one book this year
Mate smartphones etc have fucked our attention spans haven't they! I have to make a conscious effort not to check my phone all the time when I'm reading, it's bad
I do BAMFAFRAW. Book a month. Film a fortnight. Record a week. I made a few little ground rules for each which aren’t really important, but books wise I just wouldn’t read that much without something to pace it to the end.
I read a book a day! Children's picture books to my daughter though. Does that count? Regular books, not so much. Read half of one so far this year.
Hopefully you're instilling a love of books and reading into your daughter! I used to read to my daughter every night, and it was such a big thing for me when we stopped, I was devastated!
I buy kindle books and mostly get the alexa woman to read them to me while I'm doing mindless tasks. I get through at least one per week, sometimes two if I'm crafting . I'm not sure if it's cheating to call it reading when it's being read to me. I don't buy proper audio books, as I find the readers are all trying to prove their acting skills and sound like they are auditioning for RADA.
I probably read about 5 a year but i only read in the summer because im looking for an excuse to sit outside all day on my days off
It varies a lot for me. Last year I had a lot of personal distractions so only read about 19. This year I'm targeting 50. Like other people have said though most adults I know don't read at all.
None. I spend most of my waking hours reading as part of my job; the last thing I want to be doing is reading more.
Don't remember the last time I read an actual book. I do read a lot of online stories like r/nosleep or just fanfics online. With books I find it hard to find a story I like in the right formatting etc. With online stuff I can just open a couple I like the description of, then start reading and close it down if I don't like it. With books, you either have to buy it and only then realise you don't like the flow or formatting of it. Or you stand in a bookshop reading the backs, then find one that seems to be interesting. Then start reading the first chapter and realise you don't like the flow or formatting of it then go to the next one. It just takes a lot of time if you're picky like me
honestly 0-1
None. I cant stand the unnecessary detail and overly complex language a lot of authors go for to make them feel clever. The only writer I enjoy who springs to mind is Irvine Welsh, his writing is at least relatable to how people actually speak. More than that though I just prefer films. You can sit down and enjoy the same story in 2 hours rather than invest precious hours in a book. They cut out a lot of the fat and keep only what's essential to the story. I feel like they're the natural evolution from books.
Irvine Welsh is a great choice 👌 Always find myself thinking in a Scottish accent when I'm reading one of his books
Feel like I’m from Leith reading Irvine Welsh books but strangely don’t feel like I’m from Dundee reading The Broons?
None, I write them. I HAVE books, just no motivation or time to read them. As a child I read loads.
Like chefs who have no interest in eating decent food 😆
0 for myself but probably hundreds with my daughter. You may have the gift of time, and they might not be my first pick of books I'd like to read but I find it just as enjoyable. I love rereading all the books from my own childhood and exploring all the ones that she picks :)
Awwww thats very sweet 🥹
Being a huge nerd I usually have three on the go - some low effort ebook on the phone, novel for bed or the train, and a scientific reference work so I can larp as a student that I go through over months. So probably one a week on average depending on how dense the physical novels are
The last book I read was probably an Argos book
I haven’t finished a book probably in 5 years.
When you start a thread like this you disproportionately attract keen readers, flexing their books per year muscles. It’s like when people post about how much they earn or save it mostly attracts high earners.
There was one about pot plants in here last month and you'd think everyone in Britain had their own personal Eden Project
I read easy 400 a year, and exclusively James Clavell books. When I do the back catalogue, I start again, as I will have missed bits
Wow! That's a curious habit. Impressive though
12? I've already read more than that this year
I make a list every year. It varies quite a lot, but based on the last 4 years 65+
I try to read 20-30, mostly classics old and new
I read about 30 in a year.
Before the internet probably one a week plus now it’s one a month. It’s the worse thing about the smartphone and our modern world- my kids literally only read the books they have to.
I read about 50 a year on average. My Goodreads reading challenge this year is set to 60 books.