Simple: Do you read for pleasure? If so, how often? If not, why not?

I can only read what i want to read and when i want to so i read like a couple times a year.

Of course I read for pleasure... Why not? Always try to read about a least 45 minutes a day, right before going to bed mostly. Or when I'm in the train or bus, perfect opportunity to read. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I love to read. However, I have the problem where I buy a book and it lasts me about an hour (because I read very fast). I don't have a lot of money, so I don't often get the chance to buy books, therefore I don't read as much as I'd like.

<font color="cadetblue">Why not pay a visit to your local library?</font>

<font color="cadetblue">Why not pay a visit to your local library?</font></font>[/QUOTE]I have. Many times. The library near here is pretty small, though, and I've pretty much gone through all the books that I thought would be interesting, and a few that I discovered. If I were at school still, it'd be a different story, 'cause the library there was huge and I read all the time there.

Me and my sister are complete opposites when it comes to reading. She barely has any books in her house (that don't have pictures) other than a few romance novels. [img]graemlins/2puke.gif[/img] On the other hand, I have two bookcases full, borrow most of my mom's books, and read on-line. I haven't gotten a library card since I've moved, yet. It would have cost me $60 to get a one year card while I still lived outside the city limits.

i read for pleasure, but being in college i don't really have enough time. I'm you know busy reading things like Two memiors of renaissance florence.

I read for pleasure.

I like to read, but I generally do my reading in phases. For example, I'll read several books in only a couple days span, and then not read anything for a few weeks.

Now that I am out of school I read for pleasure. Not unless I have some coarse to do at work.

Right now I am reading the Others by Tad Williams

I read every day. When i take a bath, and before i go to sleep.

I read every day, though I read fast which in a way sucks. I will buy a book, have it read within a few days and friends will already be borrowing it. I will take theris and be finished in a few days.

But I often read short stories to keep me happy, if they count.

I stopped doing that, my friends always bring the book back in bad shape. I'm always very careful with books and i refuse to let others ruin them for me. They understand. :D

I love reading just before going to sleep, but now also read quite a bit as I nurse my daughter, so I'm going through books nearly one a day (for a bookworm, that's heaven).

I read books, but not novels as such. I try and learn from the things I read. I've read books on chemistry, physics, biology, geography and history, for example. I find novels a little pointless in that they don't really teach you anything. They do serve as an outlet sometimes, and they can take you on wonderful journeys, but that's about as far as it goes.

[img]graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img]

All I can say is either you have been reading the wrong novels, or you didn't really understand them ;)
My goodness...

Oh Mack_attack, I hope you mean "Otherland", not "The Others" ;) Been seeing too many movies lately? :D

And yes, I read, every day. My flat is stuffed with books, all kinds. Mostly literature (English, with some French, Dutch and German), anthologies, lit crit, poetry, drama, a bit of fantasy, books on nature, history and biology, lots of books on calligraphy, books on Pre-raphaelite art, Aubrey Beardsley...

I'm also a member of the local library.
To those who can't read a lot because they can't afford it: Since I fell ill I have had to live on a very meagre allowance from the state, so I do know what it's like. The way I go about it is becoming a member of a decent library, buying second-hand books only (try book markets and local bookshops). If you have any books you really don't like, trade or sell them. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Books I don't like? Selling books? I would never do that to one of my babies! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 11-21-2002, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Lord Starshadow ]

Melusine, seriously, I've read heaps of novels and they have interested me, and often been entertaining, but I honestly prefer a book that will really teach me something. People use books in different ways. For those who want a brief escape from the real world or just something light to pass the time, your average novel is fine, I've read a lot of them myself. I'm just saying my personal preference goes out to something educational. I admit I'm quite insatiable when it comes to learning in that way; I've read atlases and studied encyclopaedias, on top of books about the aforementioned subjects. I really feel that I've come out a more knowledgeable person at the end of the day. Since when is that a bad or surprising thing?

:confused: :(

[ 11-21-2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Arledrian ]

Books I don't like? Selling books? I would never do that to one of my babies! [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]LOL, neither would I, I LOVE my books :D
But I don't know... some people have less of an attachment to books ;)

I definitely believe that you came out as a more knowledgable person and I certainly commend you for getting so much factual information. I never said it was a bad thing, did I? [img]smile.gif[/img]
I actually enjoy atlases, encyclopaedias, non-fiction scientific books as well.
What I objected to was your statement that books don't teach you anything.
Your description of novels as sources of simple entertainment to me sounds an awful lot like the description of a fantasy or romance novel. Most of those DO provide nothing more than easy entertainment.
Literature however is absolutely PACKED with information about the widest range of topics imagineable. I certainly would not say that its first purpose is simple entertainment. Enrichment is a much better word. The books I read gave me a world of information about anything from the life of Indian immigrants in London, the anthill-building practises of red ants, the social position of women in the 16th century, Jungian psychoanalysis, Greek mythology, the lost works of Aristotle, a Canadian murderess from the 18th century, the dilemma entailed by the conservative belief in predestination, the order of Templars... I could go on and on.
Also, reading major works, like Shakespeare, Dostojevski, Voltaire, Sartre, Nietzsche, Plato, Petrarch and loads of others IS a source of information in itself. That's what I meant [img]smile.gif[/img]

Arledrian - Honestly, if you look for it, just about everything you read can be educational; even comics. Or at least inspiring. Some of the books I've read inspired me to read more mythology and do reasearch on other things just to see if the book was somewhat accurate. Some can inspire people to draw or paint. I have to admit that a little can even be learned from those disgusting romance novels. You just have to really open your mind to it.