Is there such a thing as a 'dry' reading spell?
-
I seem to have been experiencing one for the past few months. No matter how many times I try to kick-start the reading habit again by starting to read a book, it's like wallowing through thick mud and it takes me forever to go beyond the first few chapters!
I've tried reading several books but just can't seem to proceed to anywhere near mid-point. I get restless, I lose interest, and I just can't seem to proceed!
It's almost as if I cannot 'settle down' to enjoy reading! 
This is very worrisome cause I used to be a very avid reader who would keep a list of the books I read every year. I remember one year, I even managed to read more than 50 books in one year!
But last year, I didn't even read more than five books!
Just wondering, does anyone else out there get affected by this as well? -
muz get a good book.
i stopped reading for many years. recently i picked it up again..
some good authors are dan brown (thrillers), mitch albom (fiction and teaches life principles, heartwarming) and tony parsons (very heartwarming and funny).
try da vinci code. fantastic! -
i think its worse when you are so busy with your work....
-
Hello!Originally posted by shutthehellup:muz get a good book.
i stopped reading for many years. recently i picked it up again..
some good authors are dan brown (thrillers), mitch albom (fiction and teaches life principles, heartwarming) and tony parsons (very heartwarming and funny).
try da vinci code. fantastic!
Well, I did pick up a few good books from my favourite authors recently. Still, I somehow couldn't shake off the drudgery. Wondering why this is happening... and wondering if there's anything that can be done to reverse this. 
It's kinda like these days, I only have the attention span for short magazine articles and the like.
Oh, btw, Mitch Albom's ''Five People You'll Meet in Heaven'' was one of the few books I read last year.
Hmm... don't think I've read any of Dan Brown's books yet. I do love thrillers though, especially medical thrillers! I was reading Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, Richard Preston, etc way before I decided to enter nursing!
-
Hmm... I used to read on the train / bus on my way home from work. Somehow, as the years wore on, I got more and more lethargic.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:i think its worse when you are so busy with your work....
I tried to read on the bus again recently, on my way to work, but I promptly fell asleep!
And mind you, it wasn't cause the book was boring either! -
da vinci code is more like a historical/ archealogical thriller. goes behind religious theories and all the religious sects he quoted are real! and i happen to be quite interested in apologetics. used to be a christian b4.Originally posted by Rhonda:Hello!
Well, I did pick up a few good books from my favourite authors recently. Still, I somehow couldn't shake off the drudgery. Wondering why this is happening... and wondering if there's anything that can be done to reverse this.
It's kinda like these days, I only have the attention span for short magazine articles and the like.
Oh, btw, Mitch Albom's ''Five People You'll Meet in Heaven'' was one of the few books I read last year.
Hmm... don't think I've read any of Dan Brown's books yet. I do love thrillers though, especially medical thrillers! I was reading Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, Richard Preston, etc way before I decided to enter nursing!
yeah i read 5 pple u meet in heaven. i read his 1st book too. tuesdays with morrie. -
yuh. I've had such a long reading spell. Even a 245 page book takes time to read. -.-//
-
You too?!Originally posted by Quinsy:yuh. I've had such a long reading spell. Even a 245 page book takes time to read. -.-// Ah well, kinda nice to know I have company, cause that means I'm not the only one suffering from this 'affliction'. 
BUT, now, the thing is, how do we get out of this rut? I've started a few books already but they've all been put aside. Goodness, there are two or three books which I've attempted and re-attempted to read over the past year or two already, but just can't seem to make progress beyond the first few chapters!! The pages have even turned yellow from age liao! -
Hmm... I remember that Bear had a lot to say about Da Vinci Code, none of it good!Originally posted by shutthehellup:da vinci code is more like a historical/ archealogical thriller. goes behind religious theories and all the religious sects he quoted are real! and i happen to be quite interested in apologetics. used to be a christian b4.
yeah i read 5 pple u meet in heaven. i read his 1st book too. tuesdays with morrie. -
"as years wore on" lol , i'm 24 are we of the same age or close?Originally posted by Rhonda:Hmm... I used to read on the train / bus on my way home from work. Somehow, as the years wore on, I got more and more lethargic.
I tried to read on the bus again recently, on my way to work, but I promptly fell asleep! And mind you, it wasn't cause the book was boring either!
i've been reading on the way to work, when i don't read its usually because i forgot to bring a book or i haven't got any new ones
not sure if its the same for you, but for me sometimes when i get into a situation like yours its usually because my mind's too cluttered or i'm just too tired, its hard to feel like reading when your mind's not on the book, even if the book's interesting
sometimes when i really can't read on the way to work, i just try to put a day aside, when i don't have anything important to do , grab a drink and find a cozy place to relax and read my book...... usually a corner on the floor -
maybe u can read during lunch or break time?Originally posted by Rhonda:Hmm... I used to read on the train / bus on my way home from work. Somehow, as the years wore on, I got more and more lethargic.
I tried to read on the bus again recently, on my way to work, but I promptly fell asleep! And mind you, it wasn't cause the book was boring either! -
Wow... yet another person who has experienced a dry reading spell!Originally posted by oldbreadstinks:"as years wore on" lol , i'm 24 are we of the same age or close?
i've been reading on the way to work, when i don't read its usually because i forgot to bring a book or i haven't got any new ones
not sure if its the same for you, but for me sometimes when i get into a situation like yours its usually because my mind's too cluttered or i'm just too tired, its hard to feel like reading when your mind's not on the book, even if the book's interesting
sometimes when i really can't read on the way to work, i just try to put a day aside, when i don't have anything important to do , grab a drink and find a cozy place to relax and read my book...... usually a corner on the floor Now, I don't feel so abnormal anymore!
I've definitely erm... 'along in years', compared to you. 
Hmm... I think you're right... my mind has been extremely cluttered for a long time now. It's making me skittish, making me forgetful, careless and restless.
There have been times when I'll read a page, then suddenly realise with a start, "Eh... WHAT have I been reading??!!" and then, I'll flip back to re-read the portion again. It happened so many times that I kinda got fed-up and then I threw the book aside.
I'm wondering if the internet and computer games are to be blamed too though. I certainly led a healthier lifestyle before I had my PC! -
Too many disturbances and due to the nature of my ol' job, I didn't manage to get a break at all for the whole day!Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:maybe u can read during lunch or break time?
Now, I'm in-between jobs but got loads of stuff to handle so still very restless and kinda 'fidgety'.
Hmm... I get what you're trying to say... squeeze time to read, right? But it won't work unless you're 'settled' too, I guess.
Anyways, kinda comforting to know that a few of you have experienced this before too. -
I guess you've heard of Writer's Block? Where a writer simply doesn't seem to have the mood to write anything?
Maybe what you're suffering from is Reader's Block. -
Try some interesting and exciting book. I don't know which kinds of books you read, but books for women are a damn good tranquiliser, betters then valium (same as women's magazines, I hate also books for women).
But there is one exception - "He's just not that into you" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. This books makes me smile when reading it. It's like tao te ching for women.
I have got it from one nice and funny friend from overseas. -
I say, if a book can make you wake up, that book is a good one.
-
oh is that so? hmm i tot it was a good book. heh... maybe he has different views regarding the theories bah.Originally posted by Rhonda:Hmm... I remember that Bear had a lot to say about Da Vinci Code, none of it good!
i wonder if those theories are true.. -
I think you have to read Da Vinci's with a pinch of salt
Just read it like you would a novel then for the theories behind it
Anyway I do suffer from bouts of 'dry' reading spells....and I find that changing the genre I am reading helps... -
LOL! The only way to cure this "affliction" for me is to force myself to read it. After a chapter or two I'll get the hang or reading already.Originally posted by Rhonda:You too?! Ah well, kinda nice to know I have company, cause that means I'm not the only one suffering from this 'affliction'.
BUT, now, the thing is, how do we get out of this rut? I've started a few books already but they've all been put aside. Goodness, there are two or three books which I've attempted and re-attempted to read over the past year or two already, but just can't seem to make progress beyond the first few chapters!! The pages have even turned yellow from age liao! -
well, i love controversial theories, esp regarding apologetics. imagine if what da vinci code said is really true and they have found evidence to back it up? meaning all christians and catholics are believing in the wrong thing!Originally posted by elindra:I think you have to read Da Vinci's with a pinch of salt
Just read it like you would a novel then for the theories behind it
Anyway I do suffer from bouts of 'dry' reading spells....and I find that changing the genre I am reading helps...
er. have u read already? -
how about roald dahl, short stories for examples?
i read those when i am impatient with long ones, for example, 100 essays from Time -
Read it long ago.Originally posted by shutthehellup:well, i love controversial theories, esp regarding apologetics. imagine if what da vinci code said is really true and they have found evidence to back it up? meaning all christians and catholics are believing in the wrong thing!
er. have u read already?
Anyway, the theories it presented is controversial but it's like a fiction book so I cannot take it seriously. Honestly if it was presented like some thesis or something than yes, maybe
-
used 2 read his books when i was in sec sch. darn funny.Originally posted by laurence82:how about roald dahl, short stories for examples?
i read those when i am impatient with long ones, for example, 100 essays from Time
i am currently reading deception point by dan brown. i'm quite stuck to it liao lol.. -
b4 u start on reading e book, there is a note in front saying that the priory of sion does exist and all theories exist.Originally posted by elindra:Read it long ago.
Anyway, the theories it presented is controversial but it's like a fiction book so I cannot take it seriously. Honestly if it was presented like some thesis or something than yes, maybe
-
I read that as well but the thing is that, once it is fiction based, you don't know how much they change or twist the theories to fit the plot.Originally posted by shutthehellup:b4 u start on reading e book, there is a note in front saying that the priory of sion does exist and all theories exist.
That is why I said you should read it with a pinch of salt.