I used to read books

[RikuoAmero]

I'm just writing this because something strange has happened to me. I no longer read books.

LE GASP!!!!

When I was younger, I was a phenomenal reader. I had learned to read by age 2 or 3, and by the time I STARTED school, I was reading encyclopedias for funzies. Okay, my reading skills weren't perfect, I read 'determined' as 'Deeter-mine-d', but still...

I've just noticed that since I started work four years ago that my reading habits have changed. I read about two or three newspapers in work every day, but when I get home, I'm on the computer; reading blogs, news articles, fanfictions, watching video files or playing games. Just about a month ago, I read a 450,000+ word fanfic in about two or three days (I had a week off from work).

However, when it comes to reading books, I just don't do it anymore. Just last week, I bought the entire Wheel of Time series, to re-read at least once or twice before the last book comes out. I'm currently on New Spring, the prequel novel. Back in my glory days, I would have finished it in about a day. I started the book on Wednesday and so far I'm only on page 68. I should be ashamed of myself! I sincerely hope I don't accidentely travel into the past and meet myself: he'd kill me for abandoning books!

So, has this happened to anyone else, or have your reading habits stayed more or less the same?

[† Talena Mae]

I am a fanatical reader, I will read any book that takes my fancy (mainly romance/fiction, sci/fi and fiction.

I remember one time at school the teacher asked me to stand in front of the class and read out a chapter.

I did so turning bright red, but (as was uncommon at the time) I used different voices for the characters/narrator/describing. The teacher was so impressed that I did that she wanted me to read more >.>

She even sent a letter home to my mother that the way I read and expressed the different characters was something she had only seen people in collage do.

I tried to tell the teacher that it was only because I loved reading that I get fully drawn into a book that I do it.

But to this day I still (when reading aloud) use different voices for each person in the story.

I love books and I can not see a time that I don't have one cradled under my arm or I am sitting down snuggled up to someone reading.

[† RazorDan]

im 15 and get you. i used to be able to read 700+ page books in a day when i was 10/11 but now it takes me 2 or 3 days to read a 400 page book. instead of reading i play games, go out, play sports and watch loads of anime but i miss books :/

[RikuoAmero]

I think actually having an income is one factor into my changed reading habits. I was from a poor family and I rarely actually bought books first hand. I did use a second-hand book shop quite a lot; often returning books I had bought from them! I even went to that same book shop on my Catholic Confirmation (no longer a member of an organised religion, just so ya know) and bought over ten books. I was also an avid member of the local libraries. When I would go, I would always take out the maximum, twelve for three weeks, and stuff them in pockets or carry them if I didn't have a bag.

When I started work, I thought my reading would explode, because I would be able to afford more books. However, the opposite has happened. I had been wanting to read Sun Tzu's Art of War my entire life, and a friend gave me a copy on my last birthday. Still haven't read the whole thing, just a bit of it.

Just writing this response is proof that my reading habits have changed, as I still haven't picked back up that New Spring, to continue on from page 68!

[Nero D. Ace]

well, i never had his problem. up until 9, all i read was basic fairy tales. it was at the age of 10 that my mom bought me a copy of "Harry Potter and the PHILOSPHER'S Stone." (U.S version is Harry potter and the SORCEROR'S Stone.)

so, those level of books i read till i was 13ish. then, my dad suggested that i should stop reading kiddy books since they weren't increasing my vocaublary.

so, just to show him i could, i tried reading one of his books. (he's stored every book he read as a child in a cupboard upstairs. (THREE WHOLE CUPBOARDS!!)

so, i started reading "The Bourne Identity" and i was stoked, cause it was the first time i read an action story in book form but what's more, i could follow through with what was going on in Bourne's mind.

after that, i read through every single one of Ludlum's book my dad had.

when i finished that, i was introduced to P.G. Wodehouse, a guy who wrote REALLY FUNNY stuff, and my dad got his books for something like 1 dollar in those days.

By the time, i finished the Wodehouse series, i had just turned 15, a friend came along and brought my attention to this new guy who had self-published his book.

he had been searching for something to read when he came across "Contest", a kind of movie book, in which the author, Matthew Riley took action to a whole new level.

so, my world of books is always evolving. i discover new types of books everyday so i don't think i've ever lost interest in them ... except for those stupid vampire love novels that seem to be spreading like rabbits.

seriously, why do some girls find vampires so ... appealing?

[idl12]

Well I've been reading a long time, since I was about 4 or so, back then the stuff that really got me into reading was the Hardy boys series, then I started reading all kinds of more mature stuff like the Stone War, then of course, one day I read a victoria secret magazine and then became what I am now, but that's another story. I also don't read much these days either, since, 1) Harry Potter is finished 2) It seems Christopher Paolini has given up on Eragon 3)I can't find the rest of the Deltora quest books anywhere and 4) I've pretty much read two whole bookshelves of books and honestly, I can only bring myself to read something extraordinary now, sadly, one can oly re- read lord of the rings so many times.

[Max465]

I think the Internet has personally been the downfall of my reading days. I used to do nothing, but read. But then the computer came to my attention somewhere in the late 90's and ever since I wanted to base my career around computers I just haven't found the need to read books. I'd say the only books today I still read are manga and the occasional book that catches my eye.

[jampot]

i have to admit i don't read asmuch as I used to or would like to, i grew up around reading unfortuantly not the kind of books i like now otherwise i would have alot more at my disposal, i do still read more than the average person i would say some of the things i have found that if i actually set out to read i get distracted easily.

But if i just start reading and manage to get interested i don't stop till i have finished the book, i still go through about 3/4 books a month but not alot compared to when i was going through 3/4 a week.

[LegendaryGirlA]

2 or 3 years ago when I was 12/13 I used to go through 1-2 books a day depending on the length. I loved reading and I still do but I probably used to read a lot because I had all the time in the world and didn't do any school work. HAHA Now, even though I read a broader range of books and read really really fast, I simply don't have the time to sit down and enjoy a book any more because I'm in my last year of high school. It's quite sad, really. LOL

[† poetictragedy]

I try and read as much as I can. Though I've recently found other things to occupy time, and with school, I'm usually reading boring textbooks. However, during the summer when we go camping, where there's no internet access and rarely a television signal, I read a lot. I enjoy reading, and I wish that I had more time for it.

[seirachan]

I'm not much into reading, I have 3 books of some D&D thing I bought a year ago but I still haven't read. But when I haven't drawn in a long time. My sketch book for over two years now is only half way done when I used to fill them like mad when I was in school. Sometimes I think I'm worse at drawing now then I was a few years ago. There's a lot that doesn't inspire me anymore. Knowing I gotta work in an hour doesn't help.

[lokisminion]

Leisure reading has taken a back seat to games, video, blogging etc. New information is created so fast there is no way to keep up and people now have to worry about sensory overload. The good thing about reading is the ideas it implants in your head that can be pulled out whenever you want. I've read thousands of books in my life and now I can sit for hours at work recalling the memories while half ass doing my job.