I'm just intrigued, that's all, because we do seem to talk about books quite a lot. I read one or two a week on average, but sometimes more if it's Christmas and it's either read a book or watch my relatives read the newspaper...
How many books do you read?
- Thread starter Hillgate
- Start date
- Status
I'm with you on the reading. I love to read. I usually have three going at once. I leave one in my car at all times. I'm not a fan of television however music is on always.
One a week, probably.
I go to the bookstore twice or three times a week. If I could live in a bookstore, I probably would. (My wife says I do anyway.) I buy a lot of books, and many I don't read, but I think it helps to just be around books, if that makes sense. I pick up a lot of tropes and things like that from reading countless dust jackets.
I'm amazed when I talk to writers and they admit that they don't read that much. (I work as an adjunct professor, and I'm also amazed that professors don't read that much from my expereience.)
There is no way -- absolute, positively no way -- that a person can write well without reading.
Reading is the lifeblood of what we do.
I go to the bookstore twice or three times a week. If I could live in a bookstore, I probably would. (My wife says I do anyway.) I buy a lot of books, and many I don't read, but I think it helps to just be around books, if that makes sense. I pick up a lot of tropes and things like that from reading countless dust jackets.
I'm amazed when I talk to writers and they admit that they don't read that much. (I work as an adjunct professor, and I'm also amazed that professors don't read that much from my expereience.)
There is no way -- absolute, positively no way -- that a person can write well without reading.
Reading is the lifeblood of what we do.
Good point: I think I meant 'for entertainment' because if it's research time then that number can treble.
I read at least 2 fiction books a week, I'm usually in the middle of some nonfiction book, and I read magazines as soon as they come in the door. I read incredibly fast and I feel naked if I don't have a novel waiting for me on my bedside table.
Clears throat..."My name is Lynn, and I am a word addict."
Clears throat..."My name is Lynn, and I am a word addict."
I keep a record of all the books I read on my book blog. 
Slow year. Only eight so far and I usually get through one hundred to one hundred and twenty in a year! Should be up to twenty or so by now...
But that's what you get for writing more often, which is a good thing.
Slow year. Only eight so far and I usually get through one hundred to one hundred and twenty in a year! Should be up to twenty or so by now...
But that's what you get for writing more often, which is a good thing.
I read in binges. I'll go a while without reading, then I'll start thinking, "Hey, self, you should read more." So I'll start reading one of the random books lying around. Then I'll have to read more and more until I realize I'm not doing anything anymore except reading.
I'm a binge reader as well. I'll go through dry spells -- usually brought on by a long writing streak or a particularly good game on the PSP -- and then I'll read a novel a day for two weeks.
I only occasionally use books for research anymore -- if what I get online is conflicting or obscure, or if what I'm researching is really central to the story, I'll dig up a primary source and devour it, but otherwise google and wikipedia are my friends.
I only occasionally use books for research anymore -- if what I get online is conflicting or obscure, or if what I'm researching is really central to the story, I'll dig up a primary source and devour it, but otherwise google and wikipedia are my friends.
I set a New Year's resolution to read at least two books a month. I'm having difficulty getting through my current read (because of work and home circumstances, and the book is heavier than I originally anticipated), but I'm getting back on track.
This year I'm going to keep a book log on my writing blog. Reviews, pages read, etc. It'll be great fun! =)
This year I'm going to keep a book log on my writing blog. Reviews, pages read, etc. It'll be great fun! =)
Not nearly as many as I used to, not nearly as many as I like. I'm a very fast reader, but I don't always have time for reading that doesn't transmute into time for writing.
I used to read three, four hundred page novels in a day. I'd finish exhilerated with throbbing eyes and it'd be a silly hour in the morning. Iloved that.
These days, I read maybe three books a week. And I always have an audio book going on my iPod when I walk to and from work, but since that's sporadic, I can't really assign that to one particular week.
But then, it's like asking an alcoholic how much he drinks. My answer, like his, is "All of it."
I used to read three, four hundred page novels in a day. I'd finish exhilerated with throbbing eyes and it'd be a silly hour in the morning. Iloved that.
These days, I read maybe three books a week. And I always have an audio book going on my iPod when I walk to and from work, but since that's sporadic, I can't really assign that to one particular week.
But then, it's like asking an alcoholic how much he drinks. My answer, like his, is "All of it."
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 126
- Reaction score
- 7
- Location
- Winona, MN
- Website
- www.jaandersonhouse.com
I probably average two novels per week. However, if I'm writing, sometimes I have to force myself to take a break. It's too easy to curl up on the couch with a good read rather than put bic and write.
Good lord, not as many books as you lot. I average 2 per month maximum. I'm a slow-ish reader and when I'm not reading, I'm at work, when I'm not at work I'm writing, when I'm not writing I'm cooking, when I'm not cooking I'm doing laundry, when I'm not doing laundry I'm helping my kids with their homework, when I'm not doing homework... well, you get the idea. Busy, busy. And I do <cringe> like a bit of television every now and again.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2006
- Messages
- 4,527
- Reaction score
- 1,182
- Location
- Ottawa, Canada and Spring City, PA
- Website
- janetursel.com
I guess I average two or three a week. That's not counting re-reading... which I do with a lot of them.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2005
- Messages
- 424
- Reaction score
- 46
For entertainment only, about 2.5 books per month, mostly novels. Research reading is on top of that, as needed. I usually have a book in progress in the kitchen, by my chair in the livingroom (for those long breaks between show segments called commercials), at my desk, and by my bed. I really have no idea how much I read, just that I'm doing it all the time.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2006
- Messages
- 524
- Reaction score
- 81
- Location
- the backwoods of North Carolina
- Website
- CrustyPolemicist.blogspot.com
At any given moment I've got going:
- two on my night table (one French fiction -- trying to learn the language -- and one regular)
- one stuffed into the cushion of my comfy chair in the living room. Tend to alternate between a fiction and a non-fiction. Right now I'm re-reading Camus' "The Rebel."
- one in my desk at work, for lunchtime reading.
I find I struggle between making time for reading vs. making time for writing. Sometimes writing wins, other times reading wins. If I could win the lotto and never have to work again, I'd have time for both.
- two on my night table (one French fiction -- trying to learn the language -- and one regular)
- one stuffed into the cushion of my comfy chair in the living room. Tend to alternate between a fiction and a non-fiction. Right now I'm re-reading Camus' "The Rebel."
- one in my desk at work, for lunchtime reading.
I find I struggle between making time for reading vs. making time for writing. Sometimes writing wins, other times reading wins. If I could win the lotto and never have to work again, I'd have time for both.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2006
- Messages
- 4,284
- Reaction score
- 3,060
- Location
- Surrey, United Kingdom
- Website
- expressiveworld.com
I read one or two books a week usually but it can be less or more depending upon the lengths of said books and the style in which they're written. I also might read less if I have some sort of project going around the house or something that takes up a lot of time.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2006
- Messages
- 1,380
- Reaction score
- 288
I used to read a LOT back in my High School days. At least three books a week. Now that I'm in English studies, I read a lot less (ironic, isn't it?). Still read some 20 books a year but not for entertainment and not because I want to. I actually read one book just for fun yesterday, it felt sooooo good! I hadn't spent a day reading for pleasure in some two years (excluding Harry Potter day of course ).
I honestly miss it.
Who'd 'a' thought that the more you have to read in school the less you want to read?
). I honestly miss it.
Who'd 'a' thought that the more you have to read in school the less you want to read?
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 364
- Reaction score
- 89
Fellow binge reader, here.
When I'm in the midst of a binge, I usually have a minimum of three books going at once: one fiction and one non-fiction for me, and a third (fiction) that I read to the kids. But then sometimes I go for weeks at a time without reading anything. I don't know why that happens.
When I moved to a town with a fantastic, and huge library I started off borrowing 6 books a month. This has dropped significantly in the last year....just too busy.
Always have a book on the go at bedtime though....which is about the only time I get to read fiction at the moment.
Always have a book on the go at bedtime though....which is about the only time I get to read fiction at the moment.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2006
- Messages
- 124
- Reaction score
- 9
Schools slows me down. I get maybe one every two weeks. Being a lit major, though, I read for most of my classes.
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2006
- Messages
- 8,015
- Reaction score
- 3,138
- Location
- Junior Nation
- Website
- cynthia-bronco.blogspot.com
Not nearly enough. Please send me gift certiifcates to Barnes and Noble because I'm at the bottom of the pay-scale for my profession. Don't ever go to work for people who take a Vow of Poverty. Never. Ever. They think minimum is extravagant.
- Status