Books

[purplelena]

I was reading jeuwn's journal today, and he was talking about reading, and about what a large role books play in his life. It made me wonder what happened to my passion for reading. I used to read so much. I think there are a few reasons why I don't read so much anymore

Comments

[angrymonotreme]

What a rant!

You should read more...thats my summary!

[cyron]

Good solution :)

Re:

[purplelena]

What can I say! I'm a whiny bitch! :)

[cyron]

Sometimes you disturb me. You seem to really have some of the same problems that I identify in myself, and your thoughts and responses to them remind me of myself. Reading through this, you basically sum up my own feelings on reading. I have left it behind, not only for 'easier' forms of intertainment, but for forms of entertainment that really only need to grab me for short periods of time. I can walk away from the computer, save my game or stop browsing the web or whatever after only 10 minutes or so. But sitting down to read a book for less than an hour really doesn't seem worth it. I feel robbed when I have to stop in mid chapter, or when I can't wait to see what happens to the character. Like a movie, it is to be done in large sittings, or not at all. Walking away in the middle of things spoils the entire experience

Re:

[purplelena]

haha, I don't mean to disturb you ;)

I definately know what you mean, books are something to commit yourself to for longer than 10 minutes! You need to get into a different space while reading them, and that takes time!

I actually found that when I was working in Vancouver, I got quite a bit of reading done during my hour long commute to work each day. Nothing to do but sit there and read, it was really nice! Plus I didn't really know anybody in town, and didn't have the internet, so I did a lot of reading at home too. I miss that! :)

[cyron]

Heh heh. That's where I do my reading now. The 30 minute bus trip to and from work. It's not quite long enough, but it's better than nothing...

[kisai]

I've been watching anime on the computer, because it's convienent, but I actually had a long gap where I didn't watch any. So I just keep rotating between, books, anime on the computer, other stuff on the computer, books... etc. I don't buy any, my dad buys enough. I don't like half of them though, some are too technical/detailed and lose my interest quickly, others are just... well boring to me.

It could also be because my dad always seems to buy books about disasters (usually caused by humans...)

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[purplelena]

Disaster books? Are they true stories or fiction?

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[kisai]

Fiction, but not totally absurd fiction, more like "possible, but it's stretching it a little."

I've even read one that took place in BC (called "The wave", circa 1970-something) that even briefly mentioned where I used to live before it was washed away in the book. ^_^

Last two I read, one featured a hijacked plane, another featured a multinational company that was buying up all the worlds water resources.

[tspiritd]

sometimes i like to go out into the first and be completely isolated and read. the best places are in lynn valley forest. you can walk for about 30 mins from the parking lot and not be able to hear, see or smell any part of the city. yup. its really nice. unfortunatly its not quite as serene during the winter.

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[purplelena]

oooh, that does sound nice :)

But you're right, it's probably not as nice on cold pouring rain winter days like today! :(

Book lovin' fool

[jeuwn]

So many good books, and a few bad ones.

I do go through the phases your talking about. I was brought up on Fantasy, and Science fiction, and I always feel like those are pick me up books if I’m in a slump, and need something to vegetate on and not have to think about as much. Don't get me wrong the genre is no less um... intellectual then others, but basically it usually does just come down to a story.

I have been reading very thoughtful books lately, and I find I am not as happy with myself after reading them for some reason. Maybe they are just too serious and more often make me reflect on who I really am, and where life is taking me. Anybody thinking about those things to much is going to be disappointed because life is not a fairy tale.

So... It all depends on what kind of books you like on the whole, or what mood you are in, orrrrr... what kind of mood you would like to find yourself in with the help of a good book.

Re: Book lovin' fool

[purplelena]

Yeah, maybe it's time to revert back to the good old Fantasy books! I've still got the finish the Shannara series.

Maybe part of my problem is that I have "The Fountainhead" and "A History of God" sitting beside my bed, neither of which are very light reads.

Hrmmm, that's unfortunate that the books you're reading are making you feel less happy with yourself. Maybe you need to alternate between thinking books, and fun books! (Like Piers Anthony... hehe. Xanth novel, non Xanth novel, Xanth novel, non Xanth novel ;)

Xanth

[jeuwn]

To many puns, makes my head want to expload. Besides my brother collected these and I had read them all by the time I was 10. :(
Your right though, time to read some more uplifting books.

I've bever read The Fountainhead, or the History of God. Good reads?

Anything in my opinion is a step up from reading the Gulag Archipelago. I think it was about this time life became very hectic for me (was last august/september). Strange Maybe the books I read control the fate of the entire earth *insert mad chuckling*. Errr... Ya, better find something good then.

Re: Xanth

[purplelena]

I only used to read Xanth when I was younger because I thought it was entertaining keeping a "panty count". The guy would use the word "panties" like 16 times on one page! I only brought Piers Anthony up because he seems to alternate between writing totally brainless books, and books which actually have some thought put into them.

I read most of the Fountainhead many years ago, and it was good. A little above me at the time though, which I guess is why I never finished it. Basically I think it's an attempt by Ayn Rand to get across her objectivism philosophy in the form of a novel. Haven't gotten far enough back into it yet though to know if I like it or not!

A History of God is just a history of the three major monotheistic religions. I decided I wanted to figure out what all the arguing was about, and it might help to see where they're coming from ;)

Hehe, funny how it seems like the world revolves around you sometimes isn't it? :) What's the Gulag Archipelago?