Do you still read books?

[Will27]

Currently reading The Cat's Revenge by Claude Balls.

[mikebell]

14 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

I  read books each and every day, but almost always on Kindle, Project Guttenberg or another Internet source.  I haven't bought or borrowed a physical book in years except as a present to give to someone.  It's just a hell of a lot easier to carry my library on my Kindle reader and laptop.

I agree.  'Ocean of PDF' allows me to search for titles/authors to download for free!

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

 

Tat, both of you. ‘Experiencing life’…? what’s that; sitting on a barstool getting pissed everyday and boring everyone to tears? 😂

You don’t know what you’re missing. What about Great Expectations, Gamma, or some of Crichton’s stuff?For me, a good book will smash a good movie into Smithereens, and I’m a moviegoer. Fiction, non-fiction, whatever.
 

Each to their own of course, books are not for everyone (some really struggle to open up that world inside), but I do pity those that cannot handle Lord of the Rings for example. Have done it and Hobbit many times. All of A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones works) etc, other series multiple times.

Not a bookworm; probably get through on average one a month, sometimes one a week or a captivating novel in one sitting. But will go through long periods of not picking up a book, and feel all the dumber for it. Stephen King reads at least one a week, sometimes two. If you’re a Shining buff btw, and haven’t read Dr Sleep, please do so. 

Reading comprehension ... still read - NO

 

Used to read - YES   About a book a week, for 5 years, so yea, read my fair share.  Enjoy reading, IF, nothing else to do.  Had a whole wall covered with a full book shelf at my last residence in USA.

 

And no, haven't been in a bar or sat on a bar stool in about 15 years.

[jerrymahoney]

Per NY Times April 9, 2025:

A New Thomas Pynchon Novel Is Coming This Fall
Featuring a Depression-era private eye, “Shadow Ticket” will be the 87-year-old writer’s first book since 2013.

My favorite fiction writer.

[FolkGuitar]

I try to read at least two hours a day, every day.
I use e-books and read them on my iPad, and always have at least 5-10 books on it waiting to be read.
I often read 2-3 books at the same time; perhaps a philosophy book, a science book, and a novel. Two for learning new things and one for the sheer joy of reading a good book. For the novel, I usually try to find authors who write long series so I can follow the character development from one book to the next.

 

[John49]

I read many, many books in my younger years; usually borrowed from the local library.

Thereafter, I was too busy and felt that I had kind of read everything.

 

In the last 30 years, I have read just a few books that fell into my arms free of charge – found on a train, found free on a hotel bookshelf, etc. and looked interesting enough to read.

 

The 3 books were:

·        Wild Swans – Three Daughters of China

·        Interview with the Vampire

·        Alexander Hamilton

 

Amazing, they were all fantastic reads; maybe I’m missing out and should read more.

I missed out one book – a porn novel that a friend passed to me – good, but the one time experience was enough.

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Reading comprehension ... still read - NO

 

Used to read - YES   About a book a week, for 5 years, so yea, read my fair share.  Enjoy reading, IF, nothing else to do.  Had a whole wall covered with a full book shelf at my last residence in USA.

 

And no, haven't been in a bar or sat on a bar stool in about 15 years.

😋 As I say, each to their own. Do what you wanna do dude. I just don’t buy the ‘life is for experiencing’ line or I haven’t the time etc. If people are genuinely very busy with work, art, music, travel etc etc… but even then, find a great book trumps mos things. Also understand it’s easy to fall out of it, not be in the mood and not read for extended periods. 
 

Perhaps choose your favourite topic, download a well reviewed book on it and dive in; a chapter a day or whatever. You might surprise yourself. 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

I agree.  'Ocean of PDF' allows me to search for titles/authors to download for free!

Mobilism.org and Z-Library have everything for free.

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

I try to read at least two hours a day, every day.
I use e-books and read them on my iPad, and always have at least 5-10 books on it waiting to be read.
I often read 2-3 books at the same time; perhaps a philosophy book, a science book, and a novel. Two for learning new things and one for the sheer joy of reading a good book. For the novel, I usually try to find authors who write long series so I can follow the character development from one book to the next.

 

Same. Often have a few open across subjects. Usually make notes and copy quotes etc for later recaps / come back after extended periods. Been on Brian Greene’s Elegant Universe for years.

 

For ebook sources, someone mentioned PGutenberg. Anna’s Archive is also handy. Then there’s Amazon for Kindle, iBooks for iOS etc, where many classics are now in the public domain and free. 

[KhunLA]

21 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

😋 As I say, each to their own. Do what you wanna do dude. I just don’t buy the ‘life is for experiencing’ line or I haven’t the time etc. If people are genuinely very busy with work, art, music, travel etc etc… but even then, find a great book trumps mos things. Also understand it’s easy to fall out of it, not be in the mood and not read for extended periods. 
 

Perhaps choose your favourite topic, download a well reviewed book on it and dive in; a chapter a day or whatever. You might surprise yourself. 

Yea ... my life is much better living, than reading about someone else's, or worse, fiction.  

 

No book is better than simply walking around and taking in life, especially as we age, and the clock is ticking.  

 

I did buy a book here, in my retirement, just couldn't get pass chapter one.  Just thought to myself .. "why am I sitting reading a F'g book, wasting time I'll never get back"

 

Much rather do something with the kid, wife or dog.  Or go exploring for wildlife to take a photo of, or make a vid, fly a drone.  Anything but being sedentary, reading pages in a book, of someone's idea of a fictitious life.  Really does nothing for me, unless I'm learning something, which now, I can watch a vid and have someone show me or explain it better.

 

Even sitting at coffee shop or on a bar stool with a view is a much better option, as life strolls by.

 

The most reading I want to do is on AN, and I wonder why sometimes 

 

With that, dog staring at me, so must be time for my morning scooter ride to the park or surfside, and my morning walk.   What would I do without her ...

 

... saved again ❤️

[cjinchiangrai]

16 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Heavy Textbooks.

 

Fiction is for fools.

Yet you still post fictional questions constantly.

[dddave]

17 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Yes.Phillip Kerr is my current author 

Kerr is one of my all time favorites.  I hated finishing his last book as he had passed away a few years ago so there will be no more.   "Berlin Babylon" a Netflix series is very similar to the Kerr books.

If you like really literate espionage books set in that period, may I suggest Alan Furst.  Not his last 4 though, just going through the motions but "Night Solders", "The Polish Officer", "Dark Voyage" and "The Foreign Correspondent" are all excellent. 

[save the frogs]

For fiction, I'd rather just watch a movie. Even movies can be too long. There are short films, animations online. 

 

I read mostly books like philosophy or some other topics to learn stuff. 

[hankypankee]

Best way to clear a street in Thailand, organize a book drop. 😆

[dddave]

I usually read a book a week, usually on a Kindle but if I see a stack of books for sale or loan, I may pull a few out.

 

To those of you with Amazon Kindle, if you don't know about "BOOK BUB" (https://www.bookbub.com/)  check it out and sign-up  for their daily newsletter.  Always about 10 different books listed every day, usually no more than US$3, some 99 cents, some free. Usually a pretty good variety and some well known authors. 

 

I've been enjoying T. Jefferson Parker and Harlan Coban novels lately.  Great writers.

[jerrymahoney]

From Mr. Dylan:

Ah, you've been with the professors and they've all liked your looks
With great lawyers you have discussed lepers and crooks
You've been through all of F. Scott Fitzgerald's books

You're very well-read, it's well-known

But something is happening here and you don't know what it is
Do you, Mr. Jones?

[Baht Simpson]

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

I agree.  'Ocean of PDF' allows me to search for titles/authors to download for free!

You can't hug a PDF.  😀 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I did buy a book here, in my retirement, just couldn't get pass chapter one.  Just thought to myself .. "why am I sitting reading a F'g book, wasting time I'll never get back"

 

so you don't watch movies either then?

check out Lord of the Rings. It's worth a watch. Don't bother with the books. 

 

[dddave]

13 hours ago, connda said:

I actually bought a tablet computer to read books.  I can see the text much better with the tablet.  Declining eyesight is an issue with age, but the tablet is better than a book inho - at least for me now.  When eyesight wasn't a problem?  Yeah, I liked books.

Since you mention eyesight issues, an e-reader will be easier on your eyes than a tablet in the long run.  The tablet screen cycles 50 times a second and though you may be consciously unaware of it,  your eyes aren't.  E-reader displays are static, they don't cycle and thus are easier on the eyes.  Additional advantages are smaller size, lighter weight and longer battery duration.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

so you don't watch movies either then?

check out Lord of the Rings. It's worth a watch. Don't bother with the books. 

yea, saw the movies, just OK, 6-7 / 10 ... IMHO  Only watch movies, TV series (torrents) between 8pm & 11pm.  Doing something the rest of my waking hours.  If bored, or need a break, I'm on AN or internet, reading, but not books.

 

@daveAustin as stated, 70 now, clocks ticking.  Though same thought @ 45 yrs old, when I got here, along with prior to having too much down time at work.  Really had to fill those 5 yrs in with something, and books were quite nice, and enjoyed reading all of them.

 

Prior to that (those 5 years), I think I only read a few, and mandatory for school, all excellent.  Only one after school, was Jaws, and I read that in one sitting.   That was awesome.  Read his next book, then stopped till that need of killing time at work thing.

 

In between 18-45 yrs old, it was none stop working, prepping for retirement.  Really no time for reading, as least priority I can think of.  Sex, drugs and R&R much more interesting.

 

Here's easy way to understand my thinking ...

 

So doc, what's the prognosis ?

.... you got 7 days to live, your pacemaker will stop, you die, as they are back ordered for more than 8 days 

My options ?

... get the F out of my office, and enjoy life, what's left of it.

 

Top 50 things to do this week ...

... 1. spend time with daughter

... 2. spend time with wife

... 3. spend time with dog

... 4. repeat

... 50. thinking

... 51. read a book ... oh HELL NO 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Yet you still post fictional questions constantly.

 

You mean questions about fiction?

Very rarely.

 

But, just for you: What is the most important central theme running through the fiction, both novels and short stories, of Kafka?

 

So, there is a question for you.

And, I see nothing wrong with my questions.

 

[StreetCowboy]

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Yet you still post fictional questions constantly.

Ever in the search of the fictitious truth.  Some of us have a goal at the end of our wandering, some a gaol.

 

[newbee2022]

Yes.......Facebook 🥰

[cjinchiangrai]

28 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

You mean questions about fiction?

Very rarely.

 

But, just for you: What is the most important central theme running through the fiction, both novels and short stories, of Kafka?

 

So, there is a question for you.

And, I see nothing wrong with my questions.

 

Don't read Kafka, don't care. I do not read your made up Thai stories either, care even less.

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

so you don't watch movies either then?

check out Lord of the Rings. It's worth a watch. Don't bother with the books. 

 

Lotr is kids stuff

[philipsharpe]

60 to 90 minutes of my Kindle every night,

[georgegeorgia]

20 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Seems to be a dying art. I read a bit here and there but not much.

 

 

 

20 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Seems to be a dying art. I read a bit here and there but not much.

 

 

Running out of topics to post Grandpa?

Sitting in that 21sqm room 

 

I read a great book "Get a life " 

 

[Harrisfan]

Just now, georgegeorgia said:

 

Running out of topics to post Grandpa?

Sitting in that 21sqm room 

You're much older than me pops

[georgegeorgia]

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

You're much older than me pops

Oh please there's no need for age discrimination,im nearly 91

 

 Getting back to the topic please !

 

I must say as I get towards my Centenary years im inclining more towards those AUDIBLE books , especially good when I'm on the treadmill with my walking frame listening to a book....

 

Still I have a hard time finding a good audible book website 

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

33 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Don't read Kafka, don't care. I do not read your made up Thai stories either, care even less.

You probably would like that book "How not to give a F <deleted> " 

I was surprised that was a bestseller,I did read it and made no sense of it