An Embarrassing Confession?

[stratman]

I find reading very hard work. Even if a post on the .org is more than a couple of sentences long I loose my concentration and struggle. Books ore out I am afraid.

[brokencross]

fao Doug Country please do not waste any more time reading this post.

To everyone else, thanks for responding. It would appear I am in a distinct minority being a non-reader so I intend to rectify this.

My problem is definitely a lack of concentration and a short attention span. My wife and daughters can sit and continue to read while a converstaion is going on, or while the TV is on, or if someone walks in the room..not me, I lift my head to see what is going on. I am going to hide away in the dining room with no distractions or interruptions.

When I did read, I enjoyed autobiographies so I would be extremely grateful if someone could suggest a nice light hearted one to start me off.

[Torvaig]

For years I devoured books and at my peak reading time I could read two hardbacks in one day! This was during the school holidays and when I had all the time in the world (where did these days go?).

Then much later in life I found that due to several factors, I, like brokencross and stratman, lost the ability to concentrate and so the inability to read a book. The local papers were difficult enough!

I have clawed my way back and now enjoy reading again. Concentration is still a problem in that I have about four books on the go just now. When I am reading a fictional book I can keep with it to the end but anything else is as the mood takes me.

Good luck to those who have lost the art of reading. I hope you find your way back soon.

[squidge]

I devour books too and my mum once caught me reading int he shower!!!!! at my peak i can do two a day as well, sometimes more if they are liughtweight ie: patricia cornwell, ian rankin... I like them but they can be read in two hours.

A couple of years ago i was on holiday at my parents and in two weeks i read 24 books!!!! If i am unhappy or miserable i can lose myself in a book and forget my worries, if i dont understand something i can read about it and start to understand it, if I havent been somewhere i can read a book and get a feel for it.... books have been so much a part of my life that i couldnt imagine being without them.

[Angela]

I devour books too and my mum once caught me reading int he shower!!!!! at my peak i can do two a day as well, sometimes more if they are liughtweight ie: patricia cornwell, ian rankin... I like them but they can be read in two hours.

A couple of years ago i was on holiday at my parents and in two weeks i read 24 books!!!! If i am unhappy or miserable i can lose myself in a book and forget my worries, if i dont understand something i can read about it and start to understand it, if I havent been somewhere i can read a book and get a feel for it.... books have been so much a part of my life that i couldnt imagine being without them.

Have to agree with you - for two weeks holiday I take a dozen books with me, and it's never enough, I have to rely on swopping....
I never feel bored with a good book and hopefully it's something that I'll still be able to enjoy when I'm old and grey

[_Ju_]

Does anyone else tend to carry a book around with themselves all the time, sometimes put it down on that shelve in the corner out of the way in the kitchen and then go into a panic when they cannot find it......?

I have always loved reading and tend to go through 4/5 books a month. I cannot go into a charity shop, because I always leave with a half a dozen books in hand. Considering that I have been here for 3 years and now need two 6 foot shelves.......does anyone have any for sale?

For a very good and exotic read try some spanish writers: Isabelle Allende (The house of Spirits, Sepia Portrait, Paula, etc, etc) or Gabriel Garcia Marques (Love in time of cholera, a hundred years of solitude). I've also recently started reading some chinese authors: Wild sawns:Three daughters of china,

Jules Watson writes historical novels located at least partially in Caithness and the Islands, so I enjoyed reading her "White Mare" and "Dawn stag" alot.

My most recent discovery is Monica Ali (English speaking author) with Brick lane and Alentejo Blue (my favorite).

[dirdyweeker]

having a look at this website www.bookcrossing.com - or taking a selection along to brokencross!

this is a new site to me and I have now registered. Have more than enough books and if I keep them to decorate a room there would be no room for any new ones.
What is 'brokencross'?

[gleeber]

When I did read, I enjoyed autobiographies so I would be extremely grateful if someone could suggest a nice light hearted one to start me off.

I dont read many autobiographies but one that I did was Dickie Birds the retired test umpire. I would highly recomend it.
My own reading comes in spasms and at the moment I am dipping a lot. I didnt read a book until my early 30s but got the bug after discovering John Stienbeck.

[Angela]

What is 'brokencross'?

If you go back to the start of the thread you'll see brokencross sent the first post

[_Ju_]

I'd suggest keeping them ("books do furnish a room"!), giving them to friends you think might enjoy them, donating them to a charity shop of your choice, having a look at this website www.bookcrossing.com - or taking a selection along to brokencross!

Or.......if you can bear to part with your books ( I find it hard), try www.readitswapit.co.uk It is free+postage

[robynaus]

2 covers pages in the middle must be a book therefore MUST be read!! subject not important fact or fiction don't ever run out there's a library with an endless supply and they will get any book you want for you. my books I keep and share with friends and read again and again. Even if it's not my kind of book it usually interesting. especially like murder and conspiricy and spies and biography and autobiography and craft and gardening and ................
well just everything regards robyn

[dunderheed]

i usually have 3 books on the go at any given time too, at the moment i've just finished "redemption song" the biography of the clash lead singer joe strummer, also just finished "top boys" by cass penant (nowhere near as good as his rolling with the 6.57 crew) and "murder capital" (again) by reg mckay.
i shall next be starting "humble pie " the gordon ramsay book. anyone got any other suggestions?