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Post by corpsecandle on Feb 16, 2011 20:24:20 GMT
Now I used to invest a lot of care and time into reading, I used to enjoy reading as a way to escape the bollocks that some people call "real life".
The thing is in the last few years I have such a small attention span I find reading quite painful. I see a book that I have half read (there are a number of them) and I feel rather sick and intimidated.
It is almost as if it creates a real sense of pain and discomfort within me but as I am a writer isn't reading something I should do as a rule?
Is this whole situation a possible by product of depression as well because that is an issue I constantly live with?
Anyone here that can relate, I understand it's possible I could just be be thick.
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Post by andydecker on Feb 17, 2011 11:19:07 GMT
Anyone here that can relate, I understand it's possible I could just be be thick. I know what you mean. If I see my shelves with too many unread books by now I often feel like the proverbial kid in the candy-store which is thoroughly sick of sweets by now. I have trouble starting big books because I know I more often than not lose interest. Maybe this is an age thing. Or the digital media world has so corrupted my attention-span because it makes everything not only avaiable, but also arbitrary. You dont buy one, you buy a bundle. So I like more a kind of comfort reading than exploring new stuff, because the new stuff is most of the time just Blah. So a re-reading of of say, a Peter Saxon or even a Agatha Christie is often more interesting then the new whatever is the flavour of the day. |
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Post by lemming13 on Mar 2, 2011 11:06:11 GMT
I think your problem is, a lot of new books really are just blah. The works of Vault companions excepted, naturally. And it seems to me there's been a trend for adult books to become huger and huger, almost as if trying to justify the escalating prices; but the material within could just about keep you entertained over the length of the average 70s pulp. Not to mention the trend for publishing endless series. Don't know about anyone else, but it really scrolls my nurd when I see all three volumes of 'a brand-new trilogy' released simultaneously, as if there is absolutely no doubt number one will be good enough to guarantee sales of two and three - or perhaps that there is no doubt the readership will be lazy enough not to bother looking for anything else even if number one is pants... My to-read pile is huge (and electronically enhanced), but that's largely the fault of the Vault exposing me to so much material worth my time, and my problem is I'm spoiled for choice on which to read next.
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Post by corpsecandle on Apr 22, 2011 17:52:00 GMT
Have to agree and even if it's a case of bad judgement I really do not enjoy what is on offer at Waterstones (but I am pleased they have a bigger horror section now).
It's probably more to do with feeling jaded but I also have a stack of old books to read, I want to finsih No Blade of Grass before something new as No Blade feels more of an important work to read.
The other thing that leaves me feeling disinterested about modern horror is the sheer amount of Vampire, Zombie and to a lesser extent Werewolf stuff on offer.
How many times and how many ways do you want to read about a zombie holocaust?
There about three different survival mannuals out now...just over kill.
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asenath
Crab On The Rampage
The Thing on the Doorstep
Posts: 32
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Post by asenath on Mar 14, 2012 12:53:06 GMT
Now I used to invest a lot of care and time into reading, I used to enjoy reading as a way to escape the bollocks that some people call "real life". The thing is in the last few years I have such a small attention span I find reading quite painful. I see a book that I have half read (there are a number of them) and I feel rather sick and intimidated. It is almost as if it creates a real sense of pain and discomfort within me but as I am a writer isn't reading something I should do as a rule? Is this whole situation a possible by product of depression as well because that is an issue I constantly live with? Anyone here that can relate, I understand it's possible I couuld just be be thick. No you aren't thick. Depression can seriously affect your focus and concentration. I have had a similar situation over the last couple years. My last job was very labor intensive (L.M.T.) and by the time I got home I was physically exhausted, sometimes too tired to concentrate on reading or writing. Over time, my concentration became worse and I developed a severe limp. My exhaustion. worsened. Decided it was time to see the doctor. After several MRI's and a spinal tap, I was diagnosed with MS. I quickly learned that physical and mental fatigue are part of the disease. Not to mention severe depression, much of it brought on by my interferon shots - I took these for 8 months hoping my MS would go into remission. Then my neurologist quit his practice, had to find a new one, then discover that first doctor had misdiagnosed me with wrong type of MS. Turns out I have primary progressive form which interferon drugs are useless against. Needless to say I waspissed at the first doctor. Those shots made me feel worse than the disease. Currently, I am reading more, trying to work on my focus and concentration. That is one of the reasons I joined this forum, to engage my brain with something I love and practice writing and hopefully thinking. (Just hang in there! It will get better)  |
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