Reading Rainbow

[Lucky27]

I'm writing a report on the lack of the general population's interest in reading books (particularly America). All too often, I hear my peers bag on books, as if blatantly admitting to ignorance is the cool thing to do in today's culture.

I just want to get some general figures.

What I'm referring to is 200+ page books
Audiobooks are acceptable--movies are not.

I understand that not everyone has unlimited time to read books, especially if they're slow readers. but here are a couple sites to free audiobooks. Please feel free to add more sites.
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/
http://www.oculture.com/2006/10/audio_book_podc.html

[Jeff777]

What...seriously...this thread...in here? C'mon, you must be joking...

[Techno]

I almost didn't read this, because I was too engrossed in my Twwyleight bookie at the moment.

[Lucky27]

Actually, I'm not joking. Go somewhere else and be a shithead.

[Techno]

You know what?! Just because you don't recognize the genius of Stephanie Meyer doesn't mean you can be a prick about it!

[no-Name]

c6j8EiWIVZs

<3 :'D

Ahhh memories

[no-Name]

Double post

[Techno]

Son, dont be dubbl-postin, speshaly in mah books thread.

[Jeff777]

Actually, I'm not joking. Go somewhere else and be a shithead.

Woah there cowboy! We got off on the wrong foot. Perhaps it's just because you're not that new to DV or where threads that warrant serious responses go. Senseless Banter was definitely the wrong place to post this thread. That's all I meant by that. I'm sorry if I offended you. :?

[rastasteez]

i like to read, but many of my friends do not. I don't have much time to read on my own either, but i try to read as much as possible. I try and get my friends into it and point them towards some "good reads" ahah so hopefully they will listen. IN class i find myself trying to hide books instead of my texting haha. it's great.

[Cowmaster94]

I read a lot

[Sandform]

Bks? Booooks? Bs?

I would read books, but there aren't many books that turn my head. Story books aren't ever any good, and the only reason I bother to watch movies is because even if it is a crappy story, at least I only wasted an hour.

How many books I read can't be based on a monthly standard. When I was in elementary school I read so many books you wouldn't believe it! But now I just don't have the time nor do I care to read about a fantasy book.

I only read books when they appeal to me. Most stories don't appeal to me. Every now and then I pick up an informative book, but other than that I just don't care for them considering my eyesight is poor and I'm going rather blind in one of my eyes. I like reading articles on the net, although I wish I could make my screen a bit darker.

So I guess my point is...what kind of books do you mean? Should I be ashamed to admit that I find books that follow a plot to be uniformly recycled trash that just isn't interesting? I only pick up books when there is a bit of information about the world or reality I wish I knew that I do not know.

Anyway, for general figures I'm going to need a "one book a year" poll option. In two thousand eight I think I finished five books.

[Cowmaster94]

Stephen king is one of my favorite authors. I read all the popular stuff like Harry Potter and the Twilight series. I have read the Harry Potter series multiple times. I read Eragon, Eldest, and currently I'm reading Brisingir. There is also a really long and very interesting series called Redwall which I really like. I have read so many books since about first grade. The list goes on and on and on...........

[Sandform]

When I was in the fourth grade, I think, I read the first four Harry Potter books, then the fifth one came out and I think it took me a very long time to get around to reading that (but I did by the end of Jr. High I think). I don't really care what happened to Harry anymore, so I haven't read the last two books, there were two more after that right? I read Eragon in Jr. High too, but I've not read eldest, nor do I plan to. I haven't read a story book of my own desire since High School, even though I did enjoy HHG. I also read the first two twilight books, out of peer pressure from the girls I was friends with at the time, though I have no plans to read any more of them.

In 2008 I was required to read a few books, among them were: house on mango street, how to kill a mockingbird, HitchHiker's Guide to the galaxy, the perfect storm, and a few other books, I also read a few plays online. Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest, etc.

[Kael Seoras]

I started Dune a few months ago...stopped for no particular reason. I really should get back to it :lol:

I'm not a big reader but I don't mind reading either...Honors and AP English classes helped me find some good books. Among them are Lord of the Flies, Jane Eyre, Catcher in the Rye, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Sense and Sensibility. Actually, I might have read Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility on my own because of the movies, but it probably would have been later than the class I read them for.

I actually read War and Peace as kind of a joke to myself since I knew it was a long book, and having seen the 1950-something movie with Audrey Hepburn which, unfortunately, was pretty boring despite Audrey's presence, I was kind of curious about how the book was...it turned out to be a very engaging read! :D

If I remember any more good books I'll mention them here.

[Bearsy]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2009/20090309.jpg

[Bearsy]

Also to actually contribute...

back when I was younger I would go to the library with my two brothers and we'd each get about 20 books.
We'd read them all in about 2 weeks and in the next 2 weeks we'd read the other's books.

Since we got cable TV, internet and much busier schedules my reading has cut down a lot.

That and having $150+ in fines cause of 12 2 week late movies.

[Zhaylin]

I used to average 1 book every week or two when I was in my teens. I LOVED Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, and... what was his name... (?) Cook. I also read a teenage witch series that I loved. My absolute FAVORITE book when I was a young teen was "Runaway" by Stephen Gresham. During my many moves I lost the book and I would LOVE to find another copy.
Oh yeah... the Dragonlance series was another of my favorites back then. I loved Tasselhoff (sp).
I also read and studied countless religious texts and books about UFO's and the Burmuda Triangle :)

When I was in my 20's, I finally read "Clan of the Cave bear" and I fell in love with it. The series by Jean Auel is my favorite to this day.

Nowadays, I read everything I can by Michael and Kathleen Gear. I still like Koontz and Cook but I don't read them as often.

Oddly enough, when I got internet and cable (1998) my attention span became MUCH shorter and it's hard for me to pull myself away from the internet or video games to read or study. I also discovered that I did so poorly in school, growing up, because in order for me to retain what I learn, I have to dictate it or copy it out (word for word) by hand.
I dictate everything now-a-days but it's so tedious and gives me a sore throat lol that I would rather not devote the time to it.
I NEED to get back in the habit though. I still have 50 books of the Bible to write out onto my iPod :?

It's off the subject, but does anyone know how to NOT get a sore throat when talking for lengthy times? I could dictate for hours but my voice starts giving out after little over an hour despite gum, water and mints...

[Amethyst Star]

When I was in middle school and high school, you couldn't find me without a book and/or notebook. I probably read three to four books or more per month, depending on how much time I had and if I was in an engaging series. If I was reading a series, I'd plow right through it. I also enjoy 400+ page books, so naturally those take a bit longer than your run-of-the-mill Harry Potter books (with its double-spaced paragraphs and simple, though no less enjoyable, style).

Last year I read all but the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia (still need to do that), HP7, a book by Francine Rivers, another book by her during Christmas, the 2nd of that trilogy in January... and that's about it for last year. When I was in college I became burned out with having to read that I didn't see it as much of a hobby unless I came home on break. I still love to read, but I don't read near as much as I used to when I was younger.

[Lucky27]

Oh man, you should get on that last Narnia book. The last 10 or so pages of that book really ties the whole series together.

In fact, I really need to re-read them again, now that I've fought through my whole Agnostic/atheist stage of life.

[Amethyst Star]

I've read them before. After I watched the Prince Caspain movie I decided to read that book again to see what differences there were between the movie and the book.... turns out just about everything is different, but I've seen worse movies :) Anyway, The Magician's Nephew only took me about two hours to get through.

I have a ton of books that I've bought or that have been given to me as gifts. I should start reading them...

[eppy]

Usually during the summer I read a lot of books and the rest of the year I only do it when I have to for school.

[Sandform]

For every Narnia reference I feel there should be a golden compass reference.

[Amethyst Star]

No one's stopping you. :) I just wasn't able to get into the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Haven't tried reading those books for a while, though...

*puts it on the list*

[Specialis Sapientia]

Around 3 books a month, but if you count reading with the computer.. I read way more than 10 books per month.

[Robot_Butler]

I don't read as much as I used to. There was a time when I would have voted 10+. Right now, I'm around 2. Maybe 3 or 4 if you include educational books and reference guides.

http://librivox.org/ is a great site for free audiobooks. They are public domain only, so if you like to read a lot, you've probably already read them all.

[Sandform]

How long is an audio book for say...a 250 page book?

[Cowmaster94]

I also read the first two twilight books, out of peer pressure from the girls I was friends with at the time, though I have no plans to read any more of them.

In 2008 I was required to read a few books, among them were: house on mango street, how to kill a mockingbird

I also read the Twilight series after being told about it from some girl friends. Still, it is a pretty good story.

Lol it's "To Kill a Mocking Bird" not "How To Kill a Mocking Bird". That is one of my favorite books.

[Sandform]

Oh yeah, so it is, I didn't really care for it. I sped read the last three or four chapters so I have some vague memory of how it ended...something like darkness and a tree stump and boo radley. I'm being a little more vague than I actually remember it to keep from spoiling anyone else's experience with the book.

[Ne-yo]

Probably 1 to 2 books per month. I like reading but I don't get as much time to sit back with a good book the way I used to.

[Kael Seoras]

wow, how could I forget to mention His Dark Materials earlier?!

Yea, that's a good series. I read the whole series for the second time a few months ago...first time was a few years ago.

[Cowmaster94]

wow, how could I forget to mention His Dark Materials earlier?!

Yea, that's a good series. I read the whole series for the second time a few months ago...first time was a few years ago.

I tried to read the first book but I got really bored and it seemed to drag on

[tnemrot]

tl;dr

[Zhaylin]

The book I had the hardest time with was "It" by Stephen King. I got to the about the middle several times and just couldn't push through it.

And hey- I think I just remembered the name of that other author I like: "Robin Cook". That doesn't look right though. *blah*

I never was big into Non-fiction. But mostly because I felt stupid that I could never remember what I read. Now that I learned HOW I learn, I'm trying to broaden out some. I checked out a book called "Body Language" and a couple other similar ones and it's been quite a nice read.

I always hated Romance novels with the exception of "Flowers in the Attic" by V.C. Andrews (I believe) which I guess had more of a mysterious content than romantic one. And once when I was grown and had to move back in with my folks I was desperate for reading material and gave my moms books a try. Daniel Steel surprised me and I was going through a book every other day.

Oh yeah... Orson Scott Card (?) "The Seventh Son" was another favorite of mine when I was a young teen. I never could get into any of his other books though.

[Kael Seoras]

The only book by Orson Scott Card I've read is Ender's Game...I liked it.

Personally, I felt that Lord of the Rings just drags on and on and on. I swear at one point it's going for pages describing a hill. I don't know how I made it through the whole series...I guess I liked the story enough.

[mysterious dreamer]

The only book by Orson Scott Card I've read is Ender's Game...I liked it.

Personally, I felt that Lord of the Rings just drags on and on and on. I swear at one point it's going for pages describing a hill. I don't know how I made it through the whole series...I guess I liked the story enough.

Imagine having to read Ana Karenina where the guy described scything for an entire chapter!

Anyway, I used to read alot when I was younger. Then I got a PC. I still like to read from time to time, mostly historical books.

[Kiza]

You guys are silly. I read, like, 5 or 6 books a month. Because that's just the way I roll.

[ClouD]

penis?

Actually, I'm not joking. Go somewhere else and be a shithead.
And you can calm down, if you meant for this to provoke serious/non-joking responses, then PM me and I can rearrange and delete -- you shouldn't have put it in SB if that's so, as Jeff said.

I only really read online any more, instead of many hours of reading paper it's turned into browsing DV and reading ebooks in the background.

[drmrgrl]

im a nerd
i love reading!
i red the 7th harry potter book in less than a day!
it was a nice day =]

[Kael Seoras]

Imagine having to read Ana Karenina where the guy described scything for an entire chapter!

Ah,Tolstoy :lol: yea he can go on describing stuff for pages and pages too...I actually found War and Peace to be a very engaging read though. Haven't gotten around to Anna Karenina yet.

[pyroguy305]

I have a bad habit of picking out really long books to read. So they take me a while. I'm finishing up The Count of Monte Cristo for the second time (at 1462 pages). Next on my list is Stephen King's The Stand. I also really enjoyed (so far) the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. The first three books have page lengths of 800, 1000, and 1200 pages roughly, respectively.