Book Haven discussion

Do you think there's a growing pressure now to finish a book, then the next one, and the next one?

Has the emphasis moved from quality reading to quantity reading?

Has the focus moved from considering the meaning of what you've just read to zipping on to another opening chapter?

Book reviews, reading challenges, data on reading habits, competitions for the number of books read per annum - all can push you to read more. That's good. But do you find yourself galloping to finish a book just so you can get along to the next one; picking short books over long ones; choosing easy reads over complicated ones?

Has the race for The End come to dominate your reading habits? What do you think?

I definitely grapple with this question throughout my reading. I do definitely feel a pressure as I approach the end of a book to finish so I can get to the next one. I like to balance out my reading so if I tackle a difficult read I will allow myself to go with something shorter and easy to follow after.

I do not think there is necessarily wrong with reading a bunch of short books to meet your goal but you need to ask yourself why you are reading and what you are looking to get out of it. If you are critically reading a lot of short books and learning from them then there is no issue in my eyes.

I think personally the person who tells someone that their reading goal isn't as good because they are reading short books is leading with their ego as much as the person who brags because they read a ton of 50 page books. all depends on your intentions.

Thank you for these questions, very thought provoking.

Hi Don
Like me, I think you've read some short books that are very dense and some longer books that are are very light and airy. So, reading time has a lot more to do with content and style than number of pages. But I would say that to even start a very long book requires a greater commitment by the reader to the story or the subject matter than a short book does.
Provided they are well-written, I don't like to give up on books that don't totally satisfy me. Sometimes the reward of reading doesn't come until you've reached The End and can understand the whole purpose of a story.

Miriam

Miriam wrote: "Hi Don
Like me, I think you've read some short books that are very dense and some longer books that are are very light and airy. So, reading time has a lot more to do with content and style than nu..."

I agree, sometimes the reward won't come until a second reading even. I will say that though I understand why some people will stop reading a book that seems to repeat itself, I do like to finish each book I read as the author has a reason for including the rest of the book.

I think it is a good idea to take on a longer book with the intention of finishing it as you mentioned because it does foster a sense of seeing a book through even when you are not enjoying it. Sometimes you need to work through your initial resistance to stop a book to start to see the whole purpose of it.

In general, I believe reading challenges do help to motivate people to continue reading more which is a good thing overall despite causing people to want to get onto the next book. It seems smart to always remember though that reading is a pursuit that is never finished and it does not matter much where one book ends and another begins. If you are reading to improve your life then the goal is never achieved except through the process.