In Which I Ask Questions About Your Reading Habits
So a few discussion questions for you readers out there because that’s why you’re here right? Because you love to read. Have you always read? Have you read since before you could remember or did reading come to you later in life? And are there periods in your life where reading takes a back burner?
For me, I’ve always read. I don’t remember a time where I didn’t read. My memory doesn’t go that far back. One of the first lines of my journal is, “I’m eight years old and I’ve read all the Little House on the Prairie Books.” I remember staying up late reading books, getting excited about the book fairs, begging my mom to buy me another Archie comic at the grocery store (which she always let me do), and going through the entire Steinbeck shelf at my local library in high school. And then college. Ah, college. For six years (yes, I just said six years) I didn’t pick up any books for pleasure. Oh, I lusted over my photography books that’s for sure. But fiction didn’t get read at all. And then graduation day. It’s like I gave myself permission to read again. So many books out there! But I didn’t read then like I do now. Blogging changed my reading habits a lot. I’m reading WAY more than I did before and the variety of books which I’m reading has changed as well. It’s been amazing.
So, have you always read since you were little or did it come later to you in life? My dad hated reading until he was in his fifties while I always remember my mom reading. Is reading such a big part of your life that you can’t remember a time where you’ve put them aside? Or can you go months or even years where it’s not a top priority. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep the pace that I’m reading now without serious burnout in the future. And I have a lot of other projects being neglected. While I’ll always be a reader I suspect that I’ll continue to have my ups and downs of interest.
So what about you? What type of reader are you?
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Category: Bookish Musings & Miscellany
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I have loved reading since I remember. I guess earliest were those pop up books my dad got for me and then slow progression to picture books , comics , abridged classics , then classics and contemporary.
I was the only one who complained in my school that they didn’t have enough new books for us to read
Blogosphere introduced me to lots of YA and some good non fiction too.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 amI suspect you will find that most bloggers are lifers. I have been reading since I was itty bitty, starting with Dr. Seuss and moving right up through Little House in the Prairie series, Judy Blume, V.C. Andrews, Nancy Drew, Stephen King and onward. In college, I had alot of required reading for classes (I loved most of it, except for The Odyssey and The Iliad!), so my recreational reading did slow down a little then. I went through a really long stage of murder mystery books, but since blogging, I have seriously expanded my horizons!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 4:44 amI remember loving books (looking at them, holding them, even smelling them) since I was very little but I actually didn’t start reading voraciously until about 12-13 (it also is that coming from Poland, 12 was my age when communism fell and with that censorship). Before my teens, I only had very few books approved by government available to me but afterwards I just jumped on everything that all of a sudden came our way, including Harlequin romances and Winne the Pooh at the same time (I know strange combination but Winne I read way later than regular kids here would, lol).
on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 amI’ve always read. Mostly for pleasure and of course there was the required reading for school (high school, college). It’s a life-long love affair with books *smile*
on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 amI’ve always been a reader, too. Nothing has stopped me yet – my reading did slow down a lot when I first started college, but it picked up again when I discovered LibraryThing and then more recently blogging. Blogging has also hugely increased the number and variety of books I read.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 amI’ve always loved to read and really thought everyone did for a long time. My son’s an English major and moans because he has no time for pleasure reading.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 6:15 amAlways been a reader. My mom used to read to us every night, and I picked it up before I got into kindergarten. The K teacher would send me to the grade school library alone to pick out my own books while she was teaching reading, so I wouldn’t get bored! I’ve always loved poring through library and bookstore shelves. Sometimes reading takes a bit of a back shelf, especially when I was in college, but that never lasts for long.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 amI’ve been reading all my life, but took a couple years off when my son was first born. I got back into it again a few years ago by joining a book club. At first it was a struggle to finish the monthly books for that, but now I read several other books every year. I’m rarely without a book these days.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:31 amI have always had books. I have always read books. There has always been a book on my bedside table. I can’t remember a time that I ever stopped reading. I have had times when my reading changed like when my son was born. I read baby books, childrens books, etc. almost constantly to him. I read more now than I ever have. I read two books a week on average. I have always read about 1 book a week since I can remember. It has always been my expensive habit. I have tried to use the library, but my schedule, the location of the libraries in the big cities we always lived in, etc just made that too hard. Now I trade, use paperback swap and try to win a lot of books to help with the cost.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 amNatasha just wanted to tell you that I LOVE the way you have made it so easy for folks to know how to comment, how to subscribe in a reader, etc. GOOD JOB!!! This will make it so much easier for new folks and non-bloggers like me to become involved
on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 amI don’t remember when I started reading. I know there was a time ‘before reading’ but when that was I don’t know.
Considering how much I read now, it’s surprising that I went a few years where I might have read one or two books. Those were the dark days of my early 20s.
I am worried I’ll burn out as well.
My mom is a great reader. I always remember her with a book.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 amI’ve always been a reader as well. Even before I could read my parents were reading to me. I love it.
However, since I’ve started blogging, the amount of time I’ve spent reading has really jumped. There’s just so many goo
on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 amI’ve always been a reader as well. Even before I could read my parents were reading to me. I love it.
However, since I’ve started blogging, the amount of time I’ve spent reading has really jumped. There’s just so many good books.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 amI read a lot when I was a kid. Used to go to the children’s room at the local library with my parents and check out picture books all the time! They used to read Hardy Boys books to me. Then I got hooked on Matt Christopher sports books. Loved Roald Dahl and the occasional fun stuff like Choose Your Own Adventure. I used to love writing stories in elementary schools.
My reading for pleasure took a serious dive when I was in high school though. I don’t really remember enjoying many books that I read then. Even in college I didn’t do much.
Now I’m hooked again though. I read a lot of non-fiction, I think because I’m just curious about the world and feel like I want to understand it before I get old and gray!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 amMy family moved to Florida after I’d been in first grade for six weeks. So I started out in a new school not knowing anyone and in a special reading group, by myself alone, at the very bottom. I had never read a word in my life while the rest of the class was reading chapter books, or so I thought.
Run, Spot, run.
I haven’t been without at least one book since. I took to reading like a fish takes to water.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 amI’ve always been a reader — taught myself to read before kindergarten (a big deal in the 50s) and pretty much never stopped. I read straight through college and my master’s and doctoral programs (where are those semester breaks now? I could use one or two). Now I read for a living and I read for fun…. Books, can’t live without them.
I’ve always been an eclectic reader and I’m not sure that my reading habits have really changed since I started blogging. What has changed is that I used to jot down a few notes; now I write out a review.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 amI, too have always been a reader but I also identify with that no fiction in college experience! I remember I had to read a memoir for one of my classes and I couldn’t put it down much to the annoyance of all my friends.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 amLike most everyone here, I’ve also always been a reader. My sisters and I always were, but I was the most crazy-addicted. Aunts knew to get me books every birthday and Christmas, while my siblings and cousins got toys. New school friends would always be surprised to see our house so full of books (mostly mine).
The only time my reading time went considerably down was when I started working and got married and had babies. I simply had no time. Later, when we migrated to Canada and I became a stay-at-home mom, I just went back to the old ways, reading as much as I can.
Unlike others here, though, blogging has cut down my reading time. Blogging and bloghopping has taken so much of my time this year, which is why I’ve recently decided to cut down blogging time in favor of more reading.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 amMy mom read to me constantly as a child and my older brother taught me to read when I was about 4. I’ve never stopped reading – or stopped reading children’s books. I remember checking out massive stacks of picturebooks, all reading levels of chapter books, adult mysteries, fantasy, and nonfiction from the public library when I was a teen. Always knew I was going to be a librarian too – I started my own lending library when I was a teen! I was a literature major in college, so I didn’t slow down a bit, just added a few more books to the stack!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 amI have been a reader for as long as I can remember. I loved books even though I struggled with learning to actually read when I was young. I would just look at the pictures and make stories up if I could not read them. My best friend when I was a real young girl used to make me promise I would not read to him when I came over to play. (He was younger than me and I would try to make him sit and listen to me read to him. I guess he did not think it was very much fun.)
on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 amI do go through phases of high reading time. The last year was one but I have slowed way down since I had my third kid. Right now the only chance I get to read seems to be while I am feeding the baby. I am always reading, it is just the amount of time each day spent reading that changes from time to time.
I’ve been a reader for forever as well, but I’m always impressed by those who discover their love of reading later in life. I think it might be a little bit harder, but probably a lot more rewarding! (I’ve been encouraging some of my non-reader family members, and some of them are discovering the time for and the love of books.)
Even though I was a physics-astronomy major (undergrad) I made a point of taking random English classes so I could at least read books for a grade. Of course I read plenty while I was getting my library degree
on November 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 amShona – It’s so great that your dad supported your reading habits. I think that is key for a lot of kids. Blogging introduced me to YA too. I didn’t read it as an adult prior to blogging.
Sandy – You are probably right. Bloggers are lifers. What did you study in college?
Lilly – How interesting! And how wonderful that the censorship didn’t kill your interest. Harlequin and Winnie the Pooh are strange combos!
Mary – I liked about half of the required reading during high school. I couldn’t stand to read on a schedule. They were so slow.
Meghan – I see some bloggers in school and reading like crazy and ask myself how in the world do they do it!
Kathy – I didn’t have time for pleasure reading in college either. That was a long dark period.
Jeane – Isn’t the best part of visiting the library is poring over the shelves? Glad to know that it took a back shelf for a little bit too. Makes me feel better.
Julie – I found that I read while I was nursing but I watched a TON more movies and TV series instead. I was always too tired to do anything else.
Rebecca – When my last one was born I read a lot of books about parenting too. Sleeping habits, etc. Two books a week on average is great! I’m a library user myself but have always frequented thrift stores where I can pick up books for $1 to $2. And I’m so glad that you find it so easy to comment here! I still get a thrill with every comment.
Chris – That’s like me. In college I didn’t read anything substantial. I’m sure I read during my summers but I don’t remember. Glad to know that you had dark days as well.
Melanie – That’s the problem with blogging! I’m being exposed to all these books that I didn’t know about before. Know I wish I could do nothing but try to get through that TBR list.
Tyler – I loved the Hardy Boys! I’d like to reread a few. Oh – and Choose Your Own Adventure. I loved those too! You just made me remember some books that I forgot about.
CB James – Oh, how sad. But so great that it motivated you rather than giving up!
Beth – I’d love to get my little boy reading before kindergarten because I definitly feel the pressure. I know he’s behind his peers but since starting preschool he’s doing much better with his letters. How in the world did you manage to read straight through college and your programs? Amazing!
Amy – I didn’t take any classes that required me to read any fiction. All of my reading in college was non-fiction mostly photography which I enjoyed. But I missed that fiction.
Claire – I’m not sure how I increased my reading time in addition to doing the blogging time. Well, actually I do know. I’m neglecting some other projects that I’d like to get done. Like scrapbooking and my journaling!
Jennifer – Oh fun to have your own lending library! I need to do that now with my books to the gals in the neighborhood. Would make me feel better about having as many books as I do.
Jeanette – My little boy makes up stories to his picture books and it is so cute to listen too. I like how you say that you are always reading but it’s just the amount of time. I think that’s what I was originally trying to say but you hit the nail on the head.
Melissa – My mom is so proud of my dad. He reads every day now and he did not do that at all before. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I saw him with a book. I didn’t take any random English classes but what a great idea!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 amI’ve loved reading since I can remember, though I did have a long dry period in my 20s. In school I read mostly SF books and avoided anything carrying the stigma of ‘Literature’ like the plague.
As a result I didn’t really discover writers like Steinbeck, Faulkner, Hemingway, Camus, Voltaire till I was in my 30s. I’ve always regreted that I deprived myself of these treasures for so long.
Now that I’m in my 60s I can mix and match, and have found so many new authors, of all genres, that I can hardly keep up. To young readers, I would say, don’t get caught up in one type of reading. There’s so much available, spread out and enjoy.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:25 pmI’ve been a reader since I was about five or six years old. I’ve always had a book in hand since then. But there has been times when I’ve felt burnout with reading and stopped for a few months. I always go back.
Nowadays everything except for family is second to reading. Even school. I make sure to do my homework and everything but reading is my passion. It’s the reason why I’m in school. I love learning about places and people who are so different from myself.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 pmThe sad thing for me, is that high school completely killed my desire to read. When I was little you could always find me with a book. And then I got to high school and I hated being forced to read things just for the sake of reading. What I hope most is that this doesn’t happen to my own kids. I want them to continue loving books all the way to old age.
Now I love it and I’m back to that place where you never see me without a book. I love it and I love that my life has taken me to all sorts of books I would have never thought to read. Although, I still have a love for a good young adult fiction, I find more pleasure in reading all kinds just because they’re there.
Thanks for the question, it was nice to think about this and remember why it’s so important to spread the love we have of books. Especially to our children.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pmI’m definitely getting burn out. But now I have a compulsion to keep reading!! I go through a month with 9 or 10 books and then the next is 15-20 again. So I’m also struggling. I hope we all figure out how to balance!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 2:27 pmI’ve always been a reader. I biked to the library every day during the summer to get books. I read in bed, under the covers with a flashlight. I loved loved loved Nancy Drew and still like good mysteries. I’m fearful that I won’t be able to read enough to make a dent in my nightstand stack. My boys were readers and now my granddaughter can sit with books for hours. I’m blessed with books!
on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 pmI’ve read my entire life, from well before kindergarten to now. There has never been a point in my life where I didn’t have at least one novel on my nightstand at any point in time. Reading is what gets me through the days and helps me relax at night. Blogging has only added fuel to the fire and has definitely helped broaden my horizons and choices of what I read. Where did I get this voracious appetite for books? My dad probably influenced me more than anything. He is forever reading his professional journals or has at least one novel going at any point in time. As I got older, we started talking about what we read, and we started reading some of the same books. It definitely brought us closer together. It’s also something I hope to foster in my own children. So far, my son is just as avid a reader as I am. I feel it is the one thing I’ve done right as a mother.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 pmAlways, always, always. When I was 3 1/2 and my dad got tired of me reading aloud all the letters on the newspaper as he was trying to read it, my mom broke down and taught me to read. Haven’t stopped since.
on November 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 pmI was always a voracious reader. As a kid, reading was where I escaped to most of the time, from an unhappy house, to school, you could always find me reading.
That was true up until I went travelling, and met the ex, and suddenly I didn’t read, and I didn’t read for about 7 years. There was just too much other stuff going on in my life. The only books I got at that time were cookbooks.
Once I came home again, and settled a bit, and broke up with him, I found myself again, and that meant starting to read again. I haven’t stopped since, and I don’t really intend to stop again.
on November 4th, 2009 at 5:07 amI actually can’t remember not reading. As a child I read picture books or had my Mom or Grandma read to me, and as soon as I could read – let’s just say as soon as I was at “high school” (the school system here in Germany is a bit different, what I mean is school after 4th grade) my Mom and I went on regular trips to a bookstore not far away from school every other week. We bought stacks of books that still didn’t get me through the two weeks, because I would read on the bus to and from school (or do my homework, depending on whether I had finished my current book on the way) and at school, during breaks – wherever I went, I had a book. And it still is like that. Right now I carry around a 750 page book wherever I go – university, work, the train, subway, etc.
on November 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pmI can’t imagine not reading!!!
I’ve always loved to read. But like you, it took a backburner while I was in college (and to some extent, during high school). When I moved to Texas, I went to the library and wandered aimlessly around trying to find something to read. That’s when I started reading book blogs – I couldn’t figure out what to read! Now I have more books than I could ever know what to do with.
on November 4th, 2009 at 4:20 pmI have ALWAYS been a reader, but my reading really took off when we moved from Oklahoma to California. It was over Christmas break so I didn’t know anybody right away and I was in 1st grade, so I made friends with my books. That’s when I became obsessively a reader. Ah, Bobsey(sp?) Twins and Boxcar Children..
on November 4th, 2009 at 4:47 pmI never read until about 7 th grade, but even then I read only Nancy Drews and a couple of books here and there. In college, like you, I didn’t get time to read, but that was also the ‘Mills and Boon’ phase in my life. I read a lot of those. Then I graduated to Nora Roberts, Sidney Sheldon, Robin cook, Mary Higgins clark and others. Now I read a lot more and a lot diverse than I did before. Blogging has broadened my reading too and I’m obvioulsy very glad about it
on November 5th, 2009 at 4:46 amI’ve always been a reader. When I was very small, my parents read aloud to me. As soon as I could read to myself, I began devouring everything I could get my hands on. I haunted the school library. I looked forward to the Scholastic book catalogues and my school’s yearly book fair. I participated in every reading challenge my school offered.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a down point in my reading, but I am slowing down a little. I reached what I suppose will be my reading peak back in 2007, and I’ve become increasingly frustrated with myself over the past two years as I fail to read as much as I did then. I still read a great deal, though; I always have a book with me, and I read for at least a few minutes every single day.
on November 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am[...] ~ Natasha at Maw Books Blog asks questions about your reading habits and history. [...]
on November 7th, 2009 at 1:08 amI remember the first book I read on my own–I was six and it was Bunnicula. I read it in one sitting. But even before that I liked to stare at the books on my mom’s bookshelf and imagine all what sort of stories might be in them. So I guess I’ve always been a reader.
I used to read A LOT more than I do now. When I was a kid, I read 1-2 books a day. Now I’m happy if I read that in a week.
on November 10th, 2009 at 11:28 pm