Book Club

[AngelPuppy1]

I don't know what's wrong with me lately.  I don't want to blame it on "getting old" --- HA!  It seems like more and more I tend to use this as a reason why I do dumb things or the reason why things are happening to me in my body and/or brain --- but maybe this is another one of those things that falls under "getting old."

Any how ---- I love to read!  Love it!  It is one of my most favorite things in life to do.  But lately, any time I start a new book, I feel --- how do I describe it?  Kind of annoyed or kind of like --- oh, here goes a new book that I have to figure out which character is which or should I try to remember what the significance is of this or that, etc.  I mean, if I find a book which I really love --- which is rare these days --- I get so invested in it, that when it ends I am sad and want it go on and on!

Then, I must decide the next book.  If, at the beginning, there a lot of characters, I find that bugs me.  I constantly have to flip back and see --- who is this --- who is that?

Also --- if I don't really start liking a book in the first couple of chapters --- I want to just forget it and start on something else.

I never was like this before.  Even if I thought a book kind of stunk or was sooooo slow, I would finish it no matter what.  Sometimes it was worth it and sometimes it wasn't.

Maybe, now that I am "getting old", I don't want to waste time on books that don't seem very interesting.  But I might be missing out on some really good reads.  

So many books, so little time!

Anyone else have similar feelings or other reading quirks!

Thanks for your posts! 

[Sooner]

You aren't reading the right books!  Switch up your choices, try some new things, READ THE CLASSICS!

I think you are reading the same kind of books, and know the formula too well.  Try reading something like Washington Irving's little story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow!  His use of the language is delightful from the first few words.

Read Pride and Prejudice lately?  That's another wonderful read.

Dickens?  How can you not love Dickens? Agatha Christie?  Check out lists like Nobel Prize Winners,  Booker Prize and others.

To me reading has always been so much more than a story.  It's the wry turn of a phrase or the vivid descriptions I love!

How about a fascinating biography?  Read a biography of a President you DON'T like or someone who made a difference to the world, the space race, David McCullough's wonderful books about people and events.  

Shake it up girl!  You are right, you ARE missing something wonderful by not reading! 

[qualitygal]

Climb on board the train.  In time, more things will become apparant to you and you'll learn and understand what the heck is going on.  It sounds like the next chapter of your life is getting underway.  It's not the caboose, so have fun on the ride.

You probably will just want a new type of book to read.

[debic]

The weather maybe?  How about getting older, not old necessary. ;^)

I have a lot of quirks.   Mostly I like series that have the same characters in them. 

If there's a lot of books from a new author by the time I get to the middle of the series I'm wondering if they'll ever end.  I still continue them tho, and by the end I'm let down because they're over.  I want to read more.    And I have a hard time starting a new series because of it. And I generally have to commit to keep reading as it takes awhile to get into it.   

I'm eclectic in my tastes as well.   After a hard core mystery or fantasy, I'll do a cozy mystery to lighten things up.    As a rule I don't do romance, but I'll even read a few of those.

Another thing I'll do is reread a book immediately.  I see things the second time more clearly.

[dsw503]

I love to read too and have been thinking the same things as you said. I don't have the patience anymore to keep reading a book I don't like--I will make the exception (sometimes!)  if it is for book club.

I have always loved books with lots of characters but lately have the same feeling about always having to think about who is who and why they are significant.

Not being able to follow all the characters and plot is really annoying to me. There are a number of things I'm willing to attribute to aging, but this isn't one of them. I think it is due more to the writing style that's become popular now. I don't know what to call it but it feels different.  There are so many times I wish that there was a chart in the front of the book that showed how the characters connect. 

I often wonder if I should start looking for older books to read.  If anyone knows of a place to find recommendations for books from 10-20 years ago, I like to know about it. 

[jaxs mom]

I've always had to read whatever I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I'll start reading a book and while I like it, I feel drawn to something else. So I put it aside and go back to it later. I don't finish books I really don't like. I've always felt free to not continue a book where I don't lke the writing style. Their is nothing wrong with rereading a book you love, I've done it my whole life. 

[FranandZoe]

I read a good bit but I'm much the same way.  If I don't love a book from the get-go I can't be bothered wasting my time.  I'm the same way with movies.  

My advice is to not try and figure out what's going on in a book or remember the characters - just read - enjoy.

And I agree - maybe you just need to switch to a differrent genre.  I read mostly best sellers.  I try to read the books of an author who I really like - I've read all of Stephen King for example.  Two books I really enjoyed lately were First Women (about different first ladies)  and The Residence (about the White House staff.)  I like non-fiction as much as fiction.

I like reading and re-reading the classics as well.  I just downloaded the complete works of Jane Austen to my Kindle - only 99 cents.  I have Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens complete works also.  There are a lot of cheap and free Kindle books.  I have an app on my tablet too.  Very handy.  

[SWEET]

I used to be able to read a book for hours w/out stopping w/out any problem; now I get distracted by Facebook, etc. and read 10-50 pages before I stop and sometimes I'll go back to it and sometimes I won't no matter how good the book is or how familiar the author is to me. Then there are times where I'll just plow through a book. 

I just chalk it up to my own reading habits now that I have the time that I'm retired and have more time to savor it.  I just go w/the flow and say whatever, I'll get back to it whenever I feel like it and no pressure to read it.

[KathyM23]

@dsw503

Try going to the library and finding books by Taylor Caldwell.  She is now deceased, but her books are wonderful.  She is a born storyteller.  Go back and read Ann Rynd's Atlas Strutgged.  Read Sue Grafton's series beginning with"A" for Alibi.  Julia Spencer's mysteries about a woman minister former military heading up a small town church and involved with the sheriff.  Too early in the morning for me to thilnk of more - I stayed up reading til 2 a.m. last night!  Just finished Dorthea Benton Frank's new book Same Beach, Next Year.  She has many books taking place in South Carolina Lowcountry.  I too do not like many of the new authors style of writing although I am always on the lookout for new ones I can get in to.  Let us know what your type of books you like and I will think of more.

[AuntG]

@AngelPuppy1, what you said could describe me too.  It could be an aging issue, but I think social media and my tablet distract me.  It used to be the TV that I had to turn off when I read, now it's this device that brings me the whole world in a second.