The Book Thread Book • Page 30

I can't get myself to listen to audio books. I zone out. I love the smell of library books so I'll prob never make the switch to audio. I'll always have a physical copy.

 

Yeah, exactly. I'm working on novel #2 right now and trying to get novel #1 published (querying is the worst and pitch wars has terrible mentors for my novel, but I'm gonna try anyway) and I've found I write better if I'm reading more. Gotta invest in the craft and all that.

Also, 10/10, 5 stars, highly recommending coloring and listening to audiobooks.

 

Yeah I'm working on novel #1 and script #2. I definitely feel stagnant when I'm not reading, it really does help a lot. More than any other exercise I've found. Congrats and good luck btw!

Hahaha I'll give it a shot.

 

That's insane. My goal for this year was to read at least 12 books, which I may or may not get to. I don't have that much free time (and I choose to watch movies or whatever most nights) and when I do read I have a short attention span so I zone out and have to reread sections a lot

 

Thanks! Best advice on novel #1 is to not allow yourself to second guess until you've completed a first draft. It took fifteen people telling me that to get it in my head, so figure I'd pass it along.

 

Oh yeah, every piece of advice I've read includes that haha. Though like you said, it takes a bit to really let that sink in.

 

My wife is a pretty quick reader and can do this. Me however, I have to basically have complete silence in order to actually read and get into it. My wife can read and watch TV simultaneously and I just can't

 

Yeah I can't even read with music playing

 

If anyone has had their eye on Dan Simmons "The Terror" the kindle version is 3 bucks right now

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PAAH3A/?tag=absolutepunk-20

 

I read Gone Girl before I knew there would be a movie. I loved it until about the last 50 pages or so, and it was just a complete let down how it ended. The movie, I thought, was absolutely terrible. That's one reason why I have not watched Girl on the Train. I thought the book was pretty good and don't want to mess it up with the movie. Live by Night is another example by LeHane, loved the book but the movie was a huge letdown for me.

 

Haha, this is the same exact thing that happens to me. I feel like I make a bunch of progress only to find out 40 pages is all my work has done. Drives me absolutely crazy.

 

I can read pretty fast if I have to, but I find if I read a book too fast I don't retain/absorb it as well as when I slow down a bit and take my time.

 

I've read 105 books this year and 6 graphic novels. The goal was 150 books. Should get there.

It's been two weeks since I've finished a book thanks to work being a madhouse and traveling a lot for it. That's the longest time span in years that I've gone without finishing a book and it's driving me mad.

Having a gf also doesn't help since that eats up so much time and reading is a solo activity.

 

good god guys how do you do it. I've read 15 books this year and for me it's an absolute record. I usually read a bit before and after work, but it always depends on the book, how much engaging it is. And I listen to audiobooks as well, when have some routine work to do. And I rarely watch anything at all. though I feel inspired now thanks to your stories!

 

111 thus far my word. I was feeling good at 38.

 

Just finished my first Erik Larson book, Isaac's Storm, started out a little slow but ended up being very entertaining.

That was my 14th finished book this year. I haven't even read 100 books in my life, let alone finish that amount in 6 months, good on you though.

 

Guess I should give up on reading and hurl myself down a well

 

Looks like I'm at 12 actual books for the treat and that's good for me. I can go years without reading one

 

Stephen King once said that great writers should read 70-80 books a year and that's just a lot of books.

 

please don't! there are so many great books to read!

 

If you can read 30 pages a day you'll be surprised how many books you can get through in a year.

 

That's hours of reading for my slow self

 

People just need to go at your own speed. Don't compare yourself to others. If you enjoy it, prioritise it. Doesn't matter if it's 30 minutes before bed or three hours every morning before work - whatever time you have, use it. Whatever works for you, do it. Whether it's 15 pages or 150 pages, be yourself. Read, enjoy, learn, grow.

A slow reader who manages a book a month achieves just as much because you're doing what you can. You're alive, you're reading, you're being true to yourself. Don't give up! Keep going!

 

Love / hate relationship with Hemingway and finally going to finish A Moveable Feast and it's almost a total hate.

When the best part of your semi-autobiographical book is about another person entirely (F. Scott Fitzgerald) you've done something terribly wrong.

I also can't tell if Hemingway actually liked Fitzgerald because holy shit the amount of embarrassing things Hemingway writes about Scott and Zelda in here. It's like goddamn TMZ from the 1920's.

 

I think they both envied the other very much