Some difficulty simply enjoying reading at all...

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xghostsniperx

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I'm one to need to have all of the action going on in my mind. However, as of late, it's all text to me. Does this ever happen to any of you?
 
Sometimes. It simply means you need to take a break from reading so much, do something else to engage your imagination for a while - maybe comics, or write a story for a change (doesn't matter if it doesn't seem very good at first) and generally take or of life for a bit and cool off.
 
Definitely. As much as I love to read, sometimes I just have to take some time and do something else.

Of course, then there are the times like recently, when I haven't had much time to read and so find myself grabbing a few minutes with a book whenever I can.
 
Yeah that happens. Actually I havent had the energy to read for months now. Its funny cos for a few weeks i went through the motions of going to the library and hiring out books, never to read them :D I picked up 'The Scar' by China Mieville, and I didnt even read the first chapter. :eek: Maybe its cos im just not motivated or my studies have saped all my energy *SHRUG*. When Im really into it I can just about do a book a day. (Or I
used to when the days were long and life didnt take up so much time *sigh*)
Prehaps its just one of those lulls when the books I really want to read arent on the shelf yet :)
 
I actually didnt mind the first 20 pages or so and the descriptions of the ocean and what have you - "They decay on their long journey down. Nothing will hit the black sand at the bottom of the world but algae-covered bones."

Its beautiful, but i just sort of lost interest cos i had other things to do. I'll go back to it at some point though.
 
Must get around to Meiville one of these days. Perdido Street Station and The Scar are both laying unread on my shelf....

Every now and then I get the same way, having no desire to read. My trick is usually a switch of genres, as Lace says. Something quick and easy, usually. Or else I read a book I really really love - To Kill a Mockingbird, Stardust, the entire ASoIaF series (that last one is only for dire straights, though)....
 
That's my self defense mechanism too - if I can't get into a book or muster the enthusiasm to start one, I skip the shelves for an old classic - sometimes I go for one of the short novels from my youth as they're usually fast paced and enjoyable. :)
 
I break up chains of novels with a graphic novel/trade paperback every other book, or after two books or so, for this exact reason. Breaks things up a bit, gets your head into something else, etc. After a really long novel it's especially good, because it allows you to go through several full stories in a short period of time, a welcome change from a 1,200-page doorstop. After reading A Storm Of Swords, for instance, I had to read about three graphic novels to clear all the "epic" out of my brain and catch my wind.

Every now and again, when in the actual act of reading, I become aware that I'm reading. I'll generally put the book down and go do something else then, because nothing is worse than being pulled out of the text and realizing that it's all ... text.
 
If I get stuck I go and do something else entierly, like go for a walk, play on computer, watch TV, house chores etc...
 
I go to the pub have a game of pool couple of pint a bit talk about stuff then next day I always fancy a read but the worst thing in the world is when you think about the words instead of the story and you just looking at the txt I glad everyone has mentioned this coz I thought it was only me that happened to no of my mates are big readers
 
I know exactly what you mean! If I am seeing the text, and not experiencing the story, then I am not enjoying the book.
 
I know what you mean too. If I'm distracted by too many things going on in my mind and I don't focus, I read words only and I miss the story. It bothers me to not be able to concentrate. I feel like I am insulting the author in a way, and so I rarely put a book down for good. But sometimes, it's the book, the story and not me. When I realize that, I can move on. And when a book grabs me, I'm a fool for it. Beautiful prose, poignant phrases, great imagery, compelling action - the combination of those aspects never fails for me.

When I write, I try so hard to put as much emotion into my world, my characters, for that very reason. I want to capture the reader and make them want to read. World building requires description, and that can get tedious for a reader sometimes, as it does for me at times. But in fantasy, it's necessary, and I always worry, struggling for the right balance between description and narrative. The best compliments I get on my books, the ones that make me feel the most fulfilled, are emotional. When a reader recognizes the passion that I write with, then I feel as if I have accomplished what I hoped to.
 
Isn't it so often about mood? A book you put down in disgust last week can be one you pick up and thoroughly enjoy this week. In reality there are very few effortless reads out there - reading is an effort (as opposed to Xbox or the television), but one that repays so well. It is all too easy to simply not read and so many people slide off in that direction. A previous comment here is all too common: I used to read books but now I just don't have the time.
 
Wow Neal. You taking a break from the writing at the moment? Thats two forums I've seen you on now;)
 
I never seem to not want to read,sometimes I can't concentrate for more than a couple of chapters at a time when this happens I force myself not to pick up the book for a day or two this always sorts out the concentration problem
 
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