College Students! discussion

What do you think is the hardest thing about reading a book?

I say ending a book is the hardest thing. You get attached to the characters, especially if what you are reading is a trilogy or series.

I would say being productive. You always just want to keep your nose in the book especially if it's a good read.

yeah..i'm going to agree with both of you..i hate ending a good book..and i hate the fact that i can't stop reading a book to do things i need to do!

I don't mind ending. You can always read it again. And I lucked out with the productive thing. I did studio art, so I listened to audio books while I worked sometimes. Although that can be a bad thing when you dislike the book intensely and there is a chisel handy and all you want to do is stab your eardrums out...lul, not really.

The hardest thing for me is finishing a book I don't like. A much as I may want to quit, I want to finish so I know what I'm talking about when I talk about the book.

ahh i hear you on that one abigail..i always have to finish it even if i hate it.

I would say just finding time. During the summer when I just work, I can find all sorts of time to read! But during the school year, it is really hard for me to find time. I try to read every night before I go to bed but I usually fall asleep! That's the hardest thing for me.

My trick right now is with my school schedule. I have an 8-9 class and a 10-11 class on MWF. I figured I could go back to work between them, since work is only about 8 blocks from the school. I tried that once and by the time I got situated at my desk to start on something, I had about 10 minutes to work before I had to go back to school. So, I usually have a full hour with nothing to do, so I curl up on a chair at school and read. That is if I don't need to hurry and do homework due in the next class. :)

Those last two are exactly on for me too SBG!

Tami, I'm going to have to start doing that. I commute up to the campus with my boyfriend, and his first class is an hour before mine. I'll just have to make sure all my homework is done before then so I can actually make time to read. :D

You hit the nail right on the head, Saved by Grace. I'm agreeing with all 4 of your scenarios because they are completely true! the hardest ones to me out of those are the 2nd and 4th one.
My annoying habit of having to finish frustrates me and when I'm in a really good book I hate being interrupted- I'll literally almost snap at someone if they bother me while reading, haha

Yep SBG, I agree with all of those. My problem is that I get in my "reading zone" and I don't even notice when people interrupt me! They'll be talking to me for five minutes and I won't even notice! Haha. I'm also one of those people that has to finish a book, no matter what. I can't just completely stop reading a book in the middle.

I thought I'd resurrect this old thread...

Sometimes I hate finishing the book because I love the characters and the place the book takes me and I'm just not happy about entering the "real world" again.

It's also really hard for me to juggle school and homework, which takes a long time because I just can't read very fast if I hate what I'm reading.

What about you guys?

I hate ending a good book.. like anyone else. I get so attached to the characters!

Also, I find that I read when Im really tired so I always end up falling asleep.
Suggestions?

Annie, I started going to bed earlier so I would have more time to read before falling asleep. It doesn't really have me stay awake while reading but it does ensure that I have plenty of time to read.

Like most other people I'm can completely zone out while reading. my favorite example is when I was in like 4th grade driving cross country with my mom and I was reading a BSC winter special. I was in the back seat of a van and got so involved in the whole winter thing that I pulled out a blanket and got all curled up, then suddenly the book ended and I realized that it was summer and we were driving through Wyoming and I was very very warm.

I also have a habit of reading all the end notes and thank you and extra interviews and reading guides just because I don't want to stop reading and enter the real world.

Annie, I don't know if you're a person who has a schedule, but I've discovered my mind's limits. I don't do well on homework if I stay up late to read. Period. I go to bed at 10 every night and I get up between 6 and 7. I always stop doing homework around 9 so that I can read before I go to bed at 10. If I'm flat out exhausted by 9:30, I go to bed then. But at least I'll get some quality reading time in for the day. Another option is to wake up early to read a while to start your day.

One of the very few cool things I got out of criticism was Georges Poulet who discusses total absorption in reading. Annashu's experience in the van is an example of this. (I likened it to a reading orgasm) It's not something that happens every time you read, but it's so special and amazing when it does.

The worst part about reading books for me is that I always feel like I should be doing something else rather than reading. So then I almost feel guilty if I just wanna read for a bit... unless it's when I'm trying to read in bed at night to sleep :P

I think the worst part is ending a really good book, and then trying to find another that lives up to that books standards. It always takes me a while to find a really satisfying read after finishing something great.

Anna, I completely agree!

I think it stinks when you're reading something and either something happens in the book or in real life that makes you think of another book that you'd like to read.

It's also difficult when you're thinking about something and you know there's a book about it, but you can't remember what exactly it is.

And one of the worst, at least for me, is that whenever I'm within 100 pages of finishing and I go anywhere for several hours, I have to bring like 3 books with me to choose from in case I finish while I'm there. But I guess that will change when I get a Kindle and won't have to carry around a bajillion books.

Amanda...I'm sorry to hear that...I hope your coworkers become more intelligent so you can have time to read!
I agree with so much of what you all said, but I also don't like it when people are condescending to you about what you're reading. Gossip Girl novels are my guilty pleasure (I literally only read one or two a year), and it just really bothers me when people judge someone if they read something like that. Some of the girls on my study abraod program gave me looks when I brought P.S. I Love You for a weekend away and I was just thinking, "I need a light read, I just handed in 7000 words worth of essays!"

Liz, I know exactly what you mean! Last year I was reading On the Road and I really liked it. Then I had some friends over and one of them is a real a-hole who drops titles all the time. And he said, "I can't believe you're wasting your time reading that." I was absolutely appalled that he, or anyone for that matter, would say something like that. Unfortunately, I let him get to me at the time and never finished it. (I definitely plan on it someday) It was like telling someone that their baby is ugly--you can think it, but you don't just say that!

Awww, I'm sorry. That does stink. I didn't get let those girls get to me becuase one of them has been a complete jerk (I could use stronger language, but I'll refain) to me all year.
One thing I forgot to post earlier--I hate when you're trying to read something like a classic and you know that the plot is enjoyable but you stuggle because of the writing style.

Liz, I don't know why I allowed him to influence me like that. He had always been a jerk to me. I think it had to do with me being very self-conscious around them all the time because they were more well read than I. As much as I love the classics, I completely understand what you mean about struggling with the writing style. And sometimes the sheer volume of words they use (ahem Dickens!) gets to me, but I know that many of them were paid by the word, which explains their writing.

I really hate when I let other people's opinion put a damper on what I'm reading. Sometimes I let myself feel intimidated by those who are more well read then I. And I just hate that people have to judge what other people are reading. The last time I checked..I read for pleasure and because it's enjoyable to me..and therefore I read a variety of books that appeal to me. I don't know why anyone should be made to feel bad for what they read..at least people are reading. It's a personal preference as to whether you prefer classics or fantasy or chick-lit. It shouldn't matter!

I have a problem sitting down an starting a book. Sounds weird but there are time where I cant read because I have other things going on in my mind that I have to do. After a while though I get stuck in the book and I normally don't stop reading till I finish the book or fall asleep because I am so tired from reading so long.

I dont really get bothered by other peoples opinions on books that I am reading. Some of the books that I read are books that most people wont read so I am not bothered by it. If I am enjoying the book and someone comments on it I really don't care.

I really had to get used to this with my fiancee, he is a book snob in a way. The books he reads I would most likely not pick up and read on my own, I just read what I want and could care less what they think.

I have this obsessive compulsive thing where if I start a book I have to finish it. And this is very hard to do if the book is very boring!!!

Silvia..I am the same way! I have to finish because I keep hoping that it will redeem itself at some point.

The only book I stopped reading was The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold..which was sad because I LOVED the Lovely Bones!

Jamie wrote: "I really hate when I let other people's opinion put a damper on what I'm reading. Sometimes I let myself feel intimidated by those who are more well read then I. And I just hate that people have t..."
I totally agree with that! Next time someone gives me a look for reading a Gossip Girl novel, I'll say, "As the venerable Jamie says..."
Siliva, I'm like that too! I hate it! I did give up on Give Your Heart to Hawks because I remember that it was good for a few chapters and then it by about page 90 it turned into an epic struggle to get through a 10-20 page chapter...LOL...

To those of you who finish every book you pick up (even if it is difficult or boring): I used to feel the same way. One day my coworker reminded me that life is too short to force yourself to finish a book and you will never run out of books to try. That was the day I started a "didn't finish" shelf on my good reads. I was tired of forcing myself through and putting other potential good books on hold. :)

It is true! Life really is too short to read a book that I don't like..especially when there are sooo many books on my tbr list!

I have to campaign for one of my favorite books of all time. The Gargoyle. I HATED the beginning! I am so glad I kept at it and finished. It takes about 5 or 6 chapters before it got interesting, to me anyways. So, I use that as a reason to finish all books I start. There may be more out there.

I have to admit that the thing that I find hardest about reading oftentimes is finishing a book. When I'm reading a book that I absolutely love, I don't want it to end! So I end up slowing way down and it takes me forever to finish.

For me the hardest thing about reading a book is starting one! Only because it takes me so long to decide what book to read. I finished my last read on Sunday and still haven't started another book because I keep changing my mind.

I have the same problem, Jen! I always think that I want to read something else when I finish my current read and then by the time I finish, I don't know what the heck I'm in the mood to read!

That's how I feel! It makes me mad too because I could have had another book finished by now or at least a pretty decent chunk read.

Every time that it's near the end of the month, I automatically start planning what I want to read the next month and I'll have 5 to 6 books lined up. It never pans out though, because I'll hear about an interesting new book or I'll get really into a series that I have to immediately read all the books of or a number of other things and my reading list basically just gets thrown out the window. No matter how much I try to put a dent in my TBR list, it always ends up longer than it was the month before.

As for those who talked about people influencing how they thought about the books they read, I have the same problem. If I'm reading a classic, I have no problems carrying it around with me everywhere and reading it in public places. But if I'm reading something like a paranormal romance, I'll usually just keep it in my room and read there, not wanting to risk getting "those looks" if I read it in public. I'm trying to change my ways though and sometimes I will carry a YA fantasy around with me, but I admit that I often hide the cover when I'm reading it.

Right now the hardest thing about reading a book for me is finding time to read one before I lose interest. I've started several this semester, but my reading time is so scarce that I just get distracted and the spark that made me want to read it in the first place is gone.

I've tried thinking of ways to remedy that. The best I can come up with, aside from no more sleep and building a machine that will create more hours in the day, is reading poetry or short stories, so that I can at least finish something.

I agree with Lori, I have trouble finding time. Especially during school. I love reading but whenever I sit down to read I keep getting distracted by thinking about what I need to do for school. I try to read before bed but I can only get through a few pages before I get tired. Usually I can get through books in a reasonable amount of time even so, but when I'm trying to read something a little longer or denser it takes me so long sometimes and I start losing interesting.

Ugh, I really need to find some time to get reading done!