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Tuesday 25 June 2013

How do you read?

 

Recently I realised that I’ve changed how I read. I’m currently reading:
  • A paperback novel: Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan
  • Several novels on my Kindle
  • Research books for The Painting
  • A how-to book on writing
I don’t seem to be able to read one book at a time anymore. Some of this has to do with being a writer, but current lifestyle is also probably a factor.
 
When I was a child, everyone in my family would watch the same programme on television. There were only three channels until Channel 4 arrived in 1982. I remember the day well; the first programme was Countdown and getting a new channel was so exciting. There was no remote control then, so we’d watch one programme from beginning to end, including the adverts. Now if a programme doesn’t grab our attention within minutes, it’s easy to upgrade to something better. It’s the same with music. With records and cassettes we were more likely to listen to an album the whole way through. Now with CDs and MP3 players, it’s possible to switch songs in a second.
 
The increase in use of computers, tablets and smartphones also means our attention is rarely focussed on one thing for long.
 
When I read an e-book, I find myself flicking to others on the list I’ve downloaded. Sometimes I can’t wait to start a book I’ve heard about on Twitter or read about in a magazine/newspaper etc. Last month I decided to focus on one book at a time for a while and read two paperbacks from beginning to end: Peaches for Monsieur le Curé by Joanne Harris and Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd. I found it easier to get lost in the world of these books this way.

I tend to stick with one book on holiday when my mind is clear and I'm away from technology. I’ve already started to download books in anticipation of this year’s summer holiday. I’ll be flying with a Kindle for the first time, so [hopefully] my suitcase won’t get one of those Heavy stickers at the check-in desk like it usually does!
Do you find it easy to read one book at a time?
 
More on e-books:

28 comments:

  1. Hi Anita, Memories of Channel 4's introduction reminded me of Brookside which I loved back then and I remember the buzz of having my own portable TV and not being stuck in front of my mum and dad's choices.
    With reading, I can only concentrate on one fiction book at a time but I'm happy to dip in and out of non-fiction. I haven't got a Kindle and although I can appreciate all the benefits, especially for travel, I haven't yet been tempted.
    Enjoy your holiday! :)

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    1. Hi Helen, thanks for visiting! I'd forgotten all about Brookside. Couldn't imagine being without a Kindle now. I love being able to download a book whenever I like, although as I said in the post this means I have loads of unread books which I tend to read simultaneously! I use my Kindle for editing as well. At the moment, I'm emailing my WIP to my Kindle daily-I pick up different things when reading back on Kindle from on paper for some reason (and I can pretend it's a real book!).

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  2. Anita it's so funny you should bring this up. I have lots of apps on my ipad for young children,my nearly two year old granddaughte and nearly three year old boy I look after can both work the ipad themselves and lately they will not stay on an app for more than 2 mins this has now moved onto to painting or baking ,specially with the nearly three year old he wants to do something for a minute then move on.It's not good,it's awful but as you said it's because of all those high tech games and the ability to move from one to another at the touch of a finger. When you then set up painting or playdough or baking and they are fed up very quickly that's when you notice it.
    I have always had one book in my bedroom and one downstairs and read them both at the same time but since kindle and ipad I do flit between books if a book doesn't grab me right away so really I am no better than the children.
    Like you when I am on holiday I stick to one book and read it straight through,hmm food for thought I shall have to ponder.

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    1. Hi Anne, lovely to hear from you-thanks for commenting. I'm a bit mean with my iPad and don't let the kids near it that often. They do play computer games, sometimes for too long and I think it makes them a bit moody. Hopefully they'll always love their books as computers seem to be taking over, even with school homework-text books aren't used as much and they tend to do research on the internet.

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  3. I have definitely changed the way I read and, yes, this is down to the Kindle. Numerous books at my fingertips, wherever I am - I even have the app on my phone so I'm never without reading material. I thought I was the only fickle one who flicked from one book to another. It's a sign of our impatience in a fast moving world. Yesterday, I actually bought a paperback and am really excited about just holding it and turning the pages, it's something of a novelty. Am wondering if I will enjoy the experience more.
    Sue
    x

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks for commenting. Glad I'm not the only one reading different books at the same time-it's worrying how impatient we're becoming because of the technology around us! Sometimes I have to remind myself to focus on one thing, like when I read those two paperbacks recently. Enjoy your paperback!x

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  4. I'm usually reading one paperback and one ebook at the same time. I like using both so it's a nice balance. :)

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    1. I like the option to read both too. Thanks for commenting Kelly.x

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  5. My pattern was to read when I went to bed, a book or Kindle (fiction or memoir) and it seemed to take ages to finish a book. (I have this stack of books next to my bed high enough to kill me if there's an earthquake, plus a bunch on my Kindle.) And then I joined two book clubs six weeks ago. Since then I've finished THREE books and I'm halfway through another. Holy moly! I just needed permission? deadline?

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    1. Hi Rossandra, thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment. I also have a pile of books by my bed, which isn't as high as it once was now I have a Kindle. Amazing what a deadline can do!

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  6. I normally still only read one book at a time, although sometimes two if one is non-fiction. My problem is I keep buying books even though my TBR pile could keep me going for a long while! Hope you have a lovely holiday when it comes x

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    1. Hi Elle, thanks for your comment. I'm the same, if I see a book that I've heard is good or by an author I like, I have to buy it! Thanks-looking forward to hol!x

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  7. I usually try and read one book at a time. Although, I am doing a Read the Bible in One Year challenge through my church at the moment, so am juggling 2 books at a time this year.

    I find this quite difficult, because I only read before bed and when I get into bed really late I don't usually have time for my fiction book once I've got through the day's Bible passages. But, I'm slowly making reading more of a routine now.

    Currently reading Julian Barnes's A Sense of An Ending on my E-Reader, and loving it. There are just so many books I want to read and not enough time!!

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    1. Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment. Sounds challenging. I've got the hardback of A Sense of An Ending in a TBR pile by my bed-I did start it a while ago and got distracted by another book, then forgot about it. Will have to get back to it!x

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    2. I highly recommend it -it's very readable, you will fly through it:)

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  8. I've always been a bit of a multi-book reader but I do it even more now! I sometimes have 1 book on my kindle, one on my iPod, one in my backpack and one by my bed and sometimes one at work on my desk. I do tend to abadon books more often too - although not too often :)

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    1. It's so easy to do Jemi! I always feel bad abandoning a book-sometimes when I try again I find I enjoy a book I didn't get on with initially. Thanks for visiting and for your comment-hope to see you on Facebook!

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  9. Hi Anita, I can relate to a lot of what you say - not particularly for me as I'm still a one book (paperback, not kindle) at a time girl and on the rare occasions I do watch TV the only thing I'd do simultaneously might be to iron (under duress) and I've always done that. I'd certainly not check my phone/ FB/ Twitter etc - I recognise it in my children and find it a bit sad but then I'm just an old luddite. At 14 and 13 they both have (school enforced, herumph) iPads and my eldest cannot watch a film without 'dual screening'. The youngest might flit about on the iPad if she's watching rubbish but if it's something half decent, she's glued to the TV. It doesn't seem a coincidence to me that my youngest will rave about an even vaguely thoughtful film and the eldest will shrug and say it was alright. Of course it was only alright, she's missed half the plot! The thing is, they are both adorable (I'm know I'm their mum but I really don't think they or there friends are in any way lesser characters than any of us were as teenagers) so maybe it's just different and not doing them any harm. I can only hope.
    Great question, great blog!

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment Jackie! What you describe seems to be becoming the norm. Kids don't seem to be as interested in TV as we were-I remember being told off for watching too much TV, but computers etc seem to have taken over. See you on Twitter!x

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  10. Interesting post, Anita, as ever. I'm a one-book-at-a-time reader too. I find it too distracting to have more than one on the go, although I will dip into poetry or magazines while reading a novel. But I read just one novel at a time. I read real books, haven't yet dipped my toes into Kindles. For me a big part of the pleasure of reading is the physical sensation of the book itself.

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    1. Hi Louise, thanks for your comment. Although I have a Kindle, I still enjoy reading paperbacks and don't think I could convert completely.

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  11. Hi, Anita. This is really interesting. My Kindle has definitely changed the way I read. I usually read two things at a time, one novel on the Kindle and a different paperback. I think it's because with the Kindle I miss the feel of paper. I still need books in my life and the Kindle is no substitute. It just encourages me to spend more because I usually have a Kindle version and then buy the paperback too! Lovely post, as always.

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    1. Hi Michelle, lovely to hear from you! When is your book coming out? Can't wait to read it. I don't think I could ever let go of the paperback. Thank you for visiting and for your comment.x

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  12. Another interesting post, thanks. I prefer reading one book at a time and really losing myself in the story, but now I have a Kindle holding so many books, I'm a little spoilt for choice and can move from one book to the other.

    I love travelling with a Kindle and having a lighter suitcase, as well as never having to worry that I might run out of books to read.

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    1. Hi Georgina, thank you! The Kindle is also so slim and light, that it doesn't weigh my handbag down either-always have the latest version of my WIP on it to work on in cafes and loads of novels waiting to be read...

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  13. Hi Anita, I could have written that post. My reading habits are very much the same as yours, with the addition that I also listen to audio books.

    They have become my new best friend, in this crazy fast paced world, I can listen while I walk on one of these 'playaway' devices our library lends out. Basically, an MP3 player with one book on it. Or, I'll download something onto my iphone, and listen on the speaker while I'm relaxing in the bath. I think its a sign of the times. Currently I'm reading,

    A Dangerous Inheritance - Alison Weir - On the Playaway

    Vampsov - Daniel Ribot - Paperback beside my bed

    2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love - Rachel Aaron - On my Kindle in the kitchen

    Writers Forum Magazine - In the car

    Women's Weekly Magazine - In the lounge

    BBC Good Food Magazine - In the lounge

    I am also besieged by a huge 'to be read' book pile in the spare bedroom! Aren't we all?

    I bought a Kindle somewhat reluctantly, feeling disloyal to the traditional paperback, the main advantages I thought at the time, would be 'no more books cluttering the house' and the ability to enlarge the print as my eyes have deteriorated, I thought the Kindle would help me.

    Three years on, I prefer Kindle reads, it does cut down on clutter, and is good for my eyes, however, I probably have about 40 books unread on the Kindle!

    I am a book addict! There, I've admitted it now.

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    1. Hi Maria, thanks very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and interesting comment! Glad it's not just me reading loads of stuff at the same time-had forgotten about magazines and newspapers of course,
      ; and blogs....hope you're enjoying the lovely weather we've been having.

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  14. Not looked in before, but found you listed on Debs Carrs blog ...
    How do I read? Several books on the go at the same time, usually a couple non-fiction and several fiction. As a writer of non-fiction, I tend to read around things that I will be writing about, so social history looms large and that is currently Gentry by Adam Nicolson. As for fiction I'm currently reading Kathleen Tessaro's The Debutante and re-reading a very early Rosadmunde Pilcher novel (one that is so old - published 1957 - that it's not even listed on Abe!) which I read as a young teenager, a delicious summer read of memories of long-ago, for a lot of memories are associated (well, they are for me) with certain books and the times in which I read them.
    Margaret P

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