The Price of Reading Too Much?
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- Here to talk through two related (and contradictory? maybe?) problems I've been having now that I read a lot more than I used to (like a LOT)
Videos Mentioned:
-Am I falling out of love with reading? from Mercedes @ MercysBookishMusings: • am I falling out of lo...
-Do I read too much? from Neil Griffiths: • Do I read too much?
Books Mentioned:
-Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
-Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Find me on Twitter: / insertlitpun
Find me on Goodreads: / jennifer
This is not a sponsored video, and unless otherwise stated, I bought all these books myself. 
Развлечения
I've read more this year than I have in past years, and I've had similar thoughts recently, i.e., "The more I read, the harder it is for any one book to really impress me or lodge itself in my heart." At the same time, I try to find value in reading that doesn't hinge on every book becoming my new favorite (otherwise, most reading would end in disappointment!). I think there's a lot of value in reading to broaden your worldview, to increase your knowledge about a particular topic, or to become better versed about literature in general. I can understand why you maybe want to take a break from contemporary fiction, but I also think your interest in things like the Baileys and Man Booker Prizes is awesome, and it seems to help you discuss those prizes/the state of contemporary fiction in a very deep and knowledgeable way.
And yet...I totally understand that underlying fear of increased exposure to books numbing your senses a bit. This isn't totally related, but I like to hike a lot and was in Yosemite this summer and found myself thinking at certain points, "Eh, this is just okay," and I was horrified to think that other, perhaps "more awe-inspiring" hikes had numbed me to YOSEMITE of all places. And I'm not sure what to do about that or about "meh" reading experiences, but I really like that Cheryl Strayed quote, "Put yourself in the way of beauty," which I think (for me) applies to reading and the outdoors. Like you said, it's hard to predict which books will be the ones that really stay with you, but I think that by continuing to read, it will happen at some point, and it will be amazing. Anyway, I don't know if that analogy is helpful, but just know you're not alone in these "meh" feelings!
I can definitely relate to a lot of the feelings you describe. Lately I've started to feel weirdly like some kind of reading machine because of that process you mention of putting down a book - picking up another - then another and another. I know it's partly driven by running a blog and making booktube videos because (although I always read a lot) I definitely read more and in a more regimental way than I did before doing these things. That feels like a good thing though because it inspires me to push myself to try books I might not have got around to otherwise.
If you're becoming a more critical reader out of reading so many good things that feels only right because then when a book comes along that is really extraordinary you'll be even more impressed than if you hadn't read anything else all year.
I think I need to reread Gilead because I read it when it came out and felt like shrugging after I finished it. But I've read Lila and Housekeeping since then and loved loved loved them both.
This was quite quite brilliant and talked through a lot of the feelings I’ve had over the years better than I ever could. Having lived 12 years of my reading life online I’ve gone through waves of as though I’ve scrutinised and critiqued myself into a corner. I found it hard to make peace with the idea of ‘less than seminal’ and to approach a book on its own terms. In the end it was silly reading that saved me. I admitted to myself that there was another reader in me that just wanted to have fun, swoon, gasp and groan; that there were different registers of reading experience and I could move between them without hypocrisy. To use the language of so much reality TV, it’s been a journey.
"You did the thing" - HAH! This was incredible!
You are on point here .. it’s a big difference between truly exploring a theme and hand waving at it. It’s what separates a great novel from an amazing one. All facts 😤😤
Maybe try to choose better. Don't feel like you have to read every new book that comes out. I have these feelings sometimes too. This is why I opt out of reading certain books because I know I won't like them or LOVE them. It's like the high jumper who tries to jump the bar at the same height too many times. She gets pooped!
Good thoughts! This happens whenever one gets way deep into a field. Friends who are super into music now only enjoy weird music that no one's ever heard of -- & isn't a lot of fun to listen to. But they've heard too much everyday music -- not new or challenging to them. Winter is out??? No one told me. I don't like that critical voice in the back of my head -- I just want to read -- but it's also helped me see things in my reading I wouldn't have picked up otherwise. I try not to open a new book when finishing a book, try to let the read book percolate for a bit. I also try to mix things up a little, some nonfic, poetry, & some books that are just fun even if they'll never be classics. Guilty pleasures are pleasureable (by definition! :o)
I LOVE what you said about being blown away vs. feeling a shadow of being blown away...so dang true! I'm also really looking forward to your favorite books of the year, I hope you have a good reading closer month!
Thanks! We'll see which books end up on the list :)
Great video. You are so comfortable on camera and very genuine. Well done.
Thank you, I appreciate that!
I've had those same feelings - but not about reading - about T.V. & movies. that's part of why I've turned back to reading so much this year. This is the first year I've consumed over 100 books so I'm hoping I don't start feeling that way about reading - although I do see trends/tropes that are predictable etc. But I'm not that analytical reader - so maybe it won't happen to me! Great discussion as usual. take care. Connie
This is one of my favorite videos you've posted lately! and I always love your videos. Sometimes I do feel like I'm reading too much, like I'm not that present in the reading experience and I'm just doing it to pass the time. But I don't know, sometimes reading doesn't have to be an active experience for me and I just want to do it for fun. I also worry that I don't give 5 Star reviews very often.. this sounds weird but I feel like sometimes I'm not wowed by a book as often as most other readers are. I give out usually 1 to 3 five star reviews a year and that's out of over a hundred books read. I feel like maybe sometimes my standards are too high or that I actually don't enjoy reading as much as other people do who give out five star reviews frequently. I don't know, I'm just literally talking into my phone right now and it's picking up my predicted voice to text so I'm rambling but I appreciate all the thoughts that this video brought.
Did you see the valereads video where she talked about having a "meh" reaction to all the books that other booktubers love? I thought it was so funny and it sounds like you're having the same feelings (and the last line of your comment is gold, made me laugh)
Thank you for your thoughts on this! I have noticed a lot of what you said in my own life and I've been working on adjusting accordingly. I have made the decision to read more slowly, which allows me to savor any book I pick up. I also try not to read one book after another, like, as you said, an assembly line. It is so important to let a book settle within me before I pick up another. I often write my thoughts about it to help me process. I have also been trying to read more diversely, and I have been trying to switch up genres. Overall, I think being conscious of your reading and trying to slow down is the best way to maintain that reader sensitivity.
Thanks for your thoughts - good luck with your own reading journey!
I'm a much much less reader than you are, and some of the questions that you raise, I have them too. A few years back, I wasn't able to put down a book even when I didn't really like it, I felt culpability. But now when a reading is to difficult, and not at all enjoyable, I do the opposite, I put it down. There's soooo much good stuff out there waiting to be read that I don't want to lose my time. And for me a good way to stay excited is to change genre, or/and alternate with foreign books. (sorry if my english isn't good, it is not my first langage).
This was very interesting and thought provoking. I personally have gone from a ten year record of 42 books in one year, to having read 56 books so far in 2020 (as at end of May). I've already noticed a marked difference in my tastes...inevitably as my reading pace has ramped up, my expectations have also ramped up. The decision-making criteria that I employ when selecting books to add to my tbr has leapt off the scale in terms of how demanding it is and conversely, I now find it easier to dislike a book, or at least admit that it wasn't to my taste. Does this worry me? Absolutely not...my tastes will change constantly. There's every chance that this year's favourites will be knocked down a peg or two come next year's reading and that doesn't bother me at all. It's why I read...to discover new works and expand my literary horizons. Nothing taste-wise is immutable and even the criteria used to compare two works is often personal and is subject to frequent change. Hopefully this makes logical sense and if not...well, apologies for the ramble! 😂
Great topic! Some of my thoughts:
There is something to be said about giving yourself a bit of time between books for the story to percolate. Or alternate genres. It’s also okay to reduce your reading volume when life gets mentally or emotionally challenging. These are times I reach for “cozier” reads with comforting characters and fewer hard-hitting themes. Or re-read old favorites.
Also, they don’t all need to be 5-star reads. There is always a place for fun, light or more formulaic books to provide escape & comfort, as well as, create that space between.
I think of it a bit like music. There are songs that truly resonate with me that I love and there are also wonderful pop songs that I always sing along with and that make me smile. Both are important.
Great thoughtful video! Good discussion.
I LOVE that pop music comparison! I'll definitely be using that in the future
If I had to hazard a guess, my money is on the notion that you leveled up in the maturity of your reading skills. The fact that you're self aware of this is just another indication that you're mastering the art of reading well. That being said, I'm glad you shared your thoughts on the matter, for as you could probably gather, you're certainly not alone.
I totally get what you're saying about books that don't explore ideas but just sort of dance around them and I find that often so frustrating. In every genre it happens that the more you get into it the more difficult it is to impress you, I went to the movies as a teenager about once a week, now I go perhaps once a year since it's always just the same story again and again. But every once in a while you read something that really inspires you and you feel that old feeling of WOW that was Fantastic and last time that happend to me was last year when I read Julian Barnes Flaubert Parrot.
I am definitely less easily impressed than I once was. Reading Ready Player One really got me back into reading. I loved that book. If I read it now, I most certainly would not give it the 5 stars I did 4 years ago.
I consider myself to be much more critical and choosy when it comes to what I read, and consequently, I also find myself less impressed sometimes. I totally relate to that shadow feeling of reading something on the precipice of greatness. It's like, I know this was really amazing as a work, but it doesn't have the same impact of other great books I've read lately. I even felt the same way about Gilead. I read that last year and thought it was great, but it didn't even make my top 10. I don't have any solutions to offer, but I hope that this video therapy helped ease some of your conflicting feelings :) The best thing I can offer is that I've been there, and I totally relate.
I've had a really good reading streak lately and it kind of worries me, in that what if I'm using up all the good books, all the books that are good for me? It's a very privileged problem to have and yet! I guess I'm lucky in that I'm not worried about great books becoming my average, because I continue to be surprised and pleased by what I read, and I tend to switch up the genres. I'm just worried that I'm eating up all the good pieces of candy and will only have the ok ones left in the bowl if that makes sense.
I love your necklace. I share some these feelings, absolutely. I often miss "the way I used to read" - you kind of alluded to it - there were fewer highs and fewer lows. There were books I loved, but they didn't become a part of my IDENTITY they way they do now. Because... no one knew what they were. And I didn't have a platform for talking about them. And there were books I didn't like, but they didn't personally offend me , I just moved on with my life. I could approach "big" books (either size or influence or significance or whatever) very casually because, again, I wasn't expected to share my thoughts after.
I think a lot of the feelings you described, and that Mercy described, are not due to Goodreads exactly, or reading more, or reading more critically, it's that reading has become a public spectacle rather than a private activity. Or, in addition to it being a private activity. It's both.
Yeah I think you're completely right - a lot of the difference now is knowing that all my opinions will be public and that I'll have to justify myself somehow. It's really nice in some ways and has mostly enhanced my reading, but it's not an entirely positive thing
Great discussion (continuation). I think your enjoyment of a particular book is influenced by different factors. Like the book you read before it, or how much you can relate to it. I don't think you should read less unless reading is a chore or a competition, instead of your passion. I am often let down by contemporary books, especially if i've just read an outstanding classic. This happened to me with Autumn, I think. I had recently read Perfume and The Pigeon by Süskind, and Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. And then Autumn to me, felt like it alluded to so many things without saying anything! (By the way, I thought your review was smarter than the book! But maybe my opinion was influenced by the factors we're talking about). I'm still going to read Winter.
Thank you! I liked Winter much much better than Autumn, so maybe you will, too :)
Reading around books can help I find. Pausing on that book before moving on with journal articles and other criticism can help. Also, classics! Going between them, one can give you a taste for the other. I am still so slow and yet to complete a Goodreads challenge though 😰
I do it this way. In a year I'll read 5% contemp. fic., 25% classics, 20% fantasy, 50% non-fic. It's not set in stone. I don't overdo the no. of titles. Others are free to do it their way & that's fine.
"Where will I go to feel magic?" that was great;-) Gilead didn't stack with me neither, I've read it and was annoyed with it, prefer Lila much more. Yes writing was good.
First of all, I loved your comment about books that gesture to big themes (or any themes) versus books that really delve into them and provide a meaningful experience for the reader in terms of those themes. I would never have thought to put it that way but that is an essential insight. Relatedly, I never (or maybe almost never) choose a book based on it's being a story about ______. I don't care what the story is unless it's also strong in terms of style. Characters are probably secondary for me these days. Still, there are a lot of what we tend to think of as three-star reads. It's the price of doing business. But I think a reader's sonar improves over time and you can sense better in advance what books will be more worth your time and which may not be, based on knowledge of the market, publishers, critics and BookTubers (and excerpts of course).
Interesting, I would say that characters are probably secondary for me as well at this point, which is odd to admit because I used to be 100% about strong characters. But I'm planning my favorite books of the year video, and most of them are stylistically weird and don't focus on characters. I don't exactly know when the transition happened, but I think I'm like you and that I care more about style now
The more you consume any artistic medium, the more discerning you become. I'm an amateur street photographer and when I first started looking at the photo's of others, I would think 'amazing..amazing...amazing...not too bad...not great...amazing...amazing'. Now I think 'boring...boring...boring...not too bad...boring...'. It's not a bad thing at all. Like I say, your tastes are just evolving, so that they become more discerning.
Ha. I love the term book tingle. I love the sensation too. I sometimes think we overthink our reading and almost over read into books and forget books can just be escapism and don’t have to have all the depths we might look for. That’s not bad thing as sometimes we need those read. The not as good books. We would get bored or numb if we read amazing books all the time. I guess. Interesting thoughts. Ps. Weirdly I lost Alias Grace recently, I’ve been sent another copy so will be reading next year.
I don't actually remember if I ever used the term "book tingle" before I watched your channel, but I use it all the time now - it's the perfect description of that feeling. And you're totally right that not all books have to be these great literary feats. I've just found that even in the books I'm using to "escape" this year I've often been feeling this weird detachment (like I'm reading the first Cormoran Strike book right now and can't get into it for the life of me)
I had the exact feeling this week looking back at my reading year. I have read amazing pieces of literature both classic and contemporary, but I feel like I just flew through them and I still have this sense that I read too many ok books, while my goodreads rating average is around 4 stars.. I have started a reading journal in which I don't review the book but focus on what the experience was like for me reading it and I hope that will help me next year.
I'm planning to change the way I use goodreads next year, and to adjust some other stuff so that I feel less like a machine and more like a human in the way I read. Your reading journal sounds like a good idea!
Is there somewhere you comment on Burial Rites? I am feeling quite conflicted reading it and this has mostly to do with today's topic. Have I become too critical of contemporary fiction, skimming it for exceptionally-good-writing or writing-that-flows-naturally whereas I gobble down classics with a feeling of gratefulness? Your channel is my answer to not forgo contemporary fiction, count on you girl!
No, I read Burial Rites before I had my channel. I don't think it's a phenomenal book, but it's a wonderfully atmospheric look at 19th-century Iceland, so I'd say read it if you're in the mood for that :)
(Sorry if it's weird I went on a deep dive down your uploads, but) I've been thinking about this a lot lately! This past year was my first year of having a) time to read what I want and b) access to most of the books I want to read. I've read almost 100 books since January, and I kind of feel like I'm gorging myself sometimes. I definitely relate to that feeling of books losing that extra magical quality when read in an assembly line fashion. It feels like too many and yet still not enough--the more you read, the more you realize what you still haven't read, right?
As always a good video with critical analysis. I love your style. It is a pity you do not live in England. It would be great to listen to you and have a discussion. Keep it up.
Thank you!
Oh there's such a great deal to be said on this video.
There is a large number of books that discourse on important issues without saying anything interesting about them, and this bugs me too - especially when they preach to the choir. It makes me feel used. I do really love books that intentionally step aside to directly explain something profound about their subject. This is why I like nonfiction so much, but in fiction, these tend to fall into the 'novel of ideas' category, for me. George Eliot and Leo Tolstoy and Milan Kundera do this a lot. I love all of them and I know you at least like the first two. But I find that most books don't (and shouldn't) take this time to actively self-reflect. I think there's a way that great books present material in such a way as to make you recognize something about their subject you must have already known, without them actively telling you. There's this Socratic element to it, as though they know this part of you better than yourself, and have awakened you to it...
John Berger and Virginia Woolf and Thomas Mann and definitely books from other cultures (Russian & Japanese & Chinese esp.) often do this for me.
I read very, very slowly, so I don't have the latter problem. But I do read a lot of books at once, and I think the length it takes me to finish any one positively contributes to my sentiments for them. Maybe take one grand book and read it very slowly, in the background of the others, over the course of a month or more. Henri Poincare used to take naps midday and go for walks in the garden, because he expected his brain would subconsciously solve the math problems he was stuck on. Maybe fully appreciating a book is a little like solving a difficult math problem, in this way.
I love the Poincare story! That's exactly the kind of thing I think I need to do. It's like I'm eating 12 courses every night and not giving myself time to digest anything. A nap and a walk would help :)
I'm very curious to learn more about which books you believe actually explore or investigate different themes. When I consider the definition of those words, and attempt to apply them to any book's theme I'm not sure if I can come up with many! I just descend into "What does it mean to actually explore something?"
In any case, you articulated what book fatigue (does that differ from a reading slump in your opinion?) feels like quite well! I've recently tried to hold it at bay by diversifying the genres I read (which helps) and, a more risky activity, choosing books randomly from the library. Every month I try to pick up at least one book I would never normally choose. Sometimes I base it on the cover, other times the location in the library, and other times still the synopsis. It's very hit or miss, but I've discovered some unexpected treasures that way.
Ooh I like your library idea. I would say book fatigue and a reading slump are similar, but you can have the first without the second (I haven't been slumping too much the past few months, but I have been more dissatisfied, if that makes sense). There are a lot of books that I think explore their themes! It's actually easier for me to pinpoint ones that don't - the ones that leave me with that feeling of, why didn't this excite me even though it was about x, y, and z fascinating topics? That's often the red flag
I really enjoyed this although I don't think I have the same problem. I sometimes feel very dumb here on Booktube because my main criteria are enjoyment and the writing style. Meaning: if I enjoyed the book but the writing style was nothing special or downright cringy, it will not do well rating-wise, and the same goes for all those beautifully written literary fiction novels which were almost painfully boring to read because there was very little plot or substance. Or I disliked the characters or something similar. Other than that, I don't think I'm overly strict when it comes to my ratings, and I certainly don't think I read a lot (80 books a year is my average, and it's probably actually going to be lower this year! Ironically, Booktube takes up a lot of my free time, so it's been mostly counter-productive in this regard... although I do enjoy doing something as opposed to just consuming).
Interesting. I always want to read more than I am but I also know that I am investing just as much time as I am willing and able at any given time to reading. For one I want to do other things as well (like watching booktube now instead of reading) and also I know I can't consume more stories fully than I am. So mostly I read the exact amount of books for that time in my life.
However, I tend to have to move around genres a lot as I get bored by reading the same kind of book to much in a row. Meaning if I only read fantasy I get bored by it just as I do with classics and literary fiction and science fiction and so on. I find that genres tend to hold repetition in either style of writing or tropes or characters or whatever so changing genres prevents confusion and boredom.
Also I love picking up strange books I have no knowledge of, those usually impress and wow me...or really disappoint, lol.
I'm looking forward to your favourite books of 2017.
I’ll be honest here because you guys don’t know me personally. The only neurotic thoughts/fears I have about reading is will I live long enough to consume all the great books I want to read. Just wondering if anybody else ever have those thoughts? Like there’s just too many books to get through and anxiety comes up from that?
I had the same issue this year. While I don't read as much as you, I had a goal of 40 books which I met today. To accomplish this, I literally had to read book upon book and didn't have the time to process each book. Looking back over what I did read, the problem could be that the books I read were mediocre also. My favorite was Emma by Jane Austen. I'm almost ashamed to say that this was the first time I read an Austen and I am 30 years old. Oops! Last year was probably one of my best years and I only read 26 books. Two of them left me with major book hangover. Absolutely love your channel by the way!!!
I love Emma! Which two books gave you book hangovers last year?
Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts on your reading process on youtube, I am sure many of us can relate to this.
One of the smartest things I've been advised when it comes to books is: "never take seriously a person who hasn't read a book, and never take seriously a person who has read way too many books". Now this might seem like a very patronizing thing to say, but it does hold truth. When you think about it, reading 130 book a year is simply not "productive", i.e. you are not allowing the book to steep and release all it has got. If you do the maths, that is almost a book every two days, which honestly makes no sense. There is no space in between to let your thoughts go back to the themes and characters, there is no space to apply it to everyday life and people, there is no space to understand what it has got to say to you.
My personal goal is to read 12 books a year, which is a very reasonable goal for anyone, whether a beginner or a proficient reader (I almost always double that goal, but I never surpass more than 25 books a year). Now, in order to avoid that "rebound" effect you are describing, I do a lot of research into what I am reading, which makes every book worthwhile, even if it is not a favourite...because there must be a reason that a certain book will have gotten so much praise from such a wide variety of critics and audiences, so at the end of the day you will not regret the hours you spent reading it.
These are a few of the things I like to do to ensure I have a great, but more importantly, an impactful reading year.
Thanks for the vid again!
I try to read very different books one after the other.. A non-fiction then a fiction, a classic then a sci-fi action novel, and I will always wait at least half a day after I've finished a book before picking up another.
The half a day rule sounds like a good one!
Is it also the consumption of booktube videos affecting your reading? The familiar of having watched a number videos either hauling/reviewing/summarising books. This familiarity by osmosis taking away the magic. The more videos I watch or create (the later being not many at all) the less enjoyment of reading I seem to experience. Yet I want to participate in this bookish community. Catch-22.
Watching booktube has affected my reading, but mostly positively - I think it actually helped bring magic back to reading for me after college. But I can definitely see it having the opposite effect, especially with so many people holding up the same books
You’re in real trouble when you read ‘Richard III’, because it is utterly amazing.
Great video, and one that represents my experience as well. I sometimes wonder if I should take longer breaks between books, or mix in some "lighter" reading between Thomas Mann tomes, but (being a relatively slow reader) I can only get through somewhere around 100 books in a year, and there is such a staggering amount to read, even if one focuses exclusively on classics and what is considered "important" literature. I feel I can't slow my pace or I'll never get to everything I want to get to in my lifetime. No one is forcing me to read - I do it because I love it. Yet I think about how amazing Buddenbrooks, the book I just finished, was, and how it surely deserves a week to exist in my mind and be dwelt upon, without immediately being pushed aside for the next book. Still, I've already started Dreiser's An American Tragedy, another 800 page pillar of 20th century fiction. Must...consume...
Matthew L, I stir up my reading with variety. If I reach a point after reading so many serious works of literature that I am reluctant to pick up another serious book, I will search out fluff to fill the gap. Some people refer to this as cleaning one's reading palette. Last month I read so many heavy books that when November came around I picked up books that were lighter. One thing a lot of people will not admit is that the experience of reading light material is just as meaningful in its own way as the heavy stuff.
Exactly, I don't want to slow down because I only have one life and I already know I'll never read all the books I could love! But I wish I'd taken time to decompress after a book like Middlemarch, instead of jumping headlong into more books. Good luck with all your goals :)
Don’t read fiction all the time. Read some nonfiction. There are some great histories you could try that are quite dramatic and well-written. Diversify your reading by throwing in some nonfiction. That might help. I couldn’t read fiction all the time. I’d go crazy.
I read about 20% nonfiction as it is, but I think you're right that increasing that percentage could help. Still, I tend to love the fiction I read a lot more than the nonfiction :) Any histories suggestions?
read philosophy ...that will slow you down a bit and in the process teach you some valuable wisdom...after that read text books, chemistry or physics, or some serious history....this is a different kind of reading but also very rewarding, in fact moreso, as you learn so much useful stuff.
Not sure if you’re being sarcastic, but I don’t see neurosis. (I haven’t watched the related BookTuber’s videos, & don’t know that I care to.) I’m wondering if it’s totally universal human experience that could, if one finds a negative consequence, be related to the phenomenon of compulsion or addiction (where it takes an increasing level of novelty, pun intended, to get the same satisfactory experience over time). Or simply just rising expectations... the bar keeps getting higher once one knows how to read critically. Totally normal. Some of us get literature degrees, read literary criticism, and yes it alienates us somewhat from mainstream, but that’s ok; these things happen with experience, wisdom, and maturity. Just might need to research more to find satisfying contemporary reading, or turn to classics that have withstood the test of time. It’s a good “problem” to have, IMHO.
Oh I'm extremely neurotic in all aspects of my life, so I just tend to assume that I overthink things. It's a safe bet usually haha. And you're right, the problems I talked about in this video are pretty nice ones to have!
Think about this, when your starving everything tastes good. Same thing with reading, you have to allow your self a good amount of time to feel the need to learn again..
Reading can cause feelings of well-being, but they can also cause side effects such as nausea, confusion, and drowsiness.
I think this might be what's been annoying me about reading lately. I've read so much more this year and, more importantly, I've been reading really good books (thanks to booktubers and to paying more attention to more literary prizes). And, while I've had more "OMG this was amazing" books in my life, I've also been losing patience with a lot more books. I've quit more books than usual, I've been frustrated with more books than usual, and I've been a lot more picky about what I pick up (is that a bad review I see? well, screw that! ... ... ok, I'm not that picky - I still consider the review's content and author before deciding to shun a book!).
I don't have the literary knowledge or review skills needed to be able to put my frustration in context - I know what I like, but I don't always know why I like it. So, I don't know if I've become a more critical reader, but I've certainly become a less patient reader. And, I think (hope?) that I'm becoming a more thoughtful reader.
Is it a good thing that I'm becoming more critical? I don't know. Sometimes I pick up a book that I think I should, could, would've loved and regret not being able to just read it and ignore the minor annoyances. I guess this is something that I should think about while I plan my 2018 reading.
Maybe you should alternate with non-fiction. That might enable you to recover between more intense emotional reads, without depriving you of the pleasure of reading. I virtually only read non-fiction, but it can become a drug too. I'm addicted to being proven wrong, and I feel disappointed when a book fails to shatter my worldview in some profound way. (My facebook banner is the China Girl from Oz the Great and Powerful. I feel like I'm constantly being intellectually broken and gluing myself back together.)
I really enjoyed Alias Grace on Netflix. From your description of the book, it may be one of those rare occasions where the movie is better.
This video reflection was quite interesting. IMO, it's perfectly normal for tastes to evolve after gathering more input. With millions of books out there I can't imagine you'll ever run out of quality selections. On the other hand, reading out of a love for the written word, getting lost in a story, or the fascination of learning about something new, will naturally begin to lose its luster if done assembly-line fashion. If you haven't already, may I suggest you stop, take a breath, be more selective? It may just be you need a short vacation from reading for the purpose of posting reviews. Allow the joy to return just as the blush returns to your cheeks when you're exhilarated.
As it's been some months since you posted I wonder how you're feeling now? Has the joy returned or is it still "meh?"
Expectations of reading a book in the real world are not the same as expectations of reading a book in the BookTube community. You mentioned that you were concerned that your experiencing every book you open as something precious is lessened because of your present reading habits. Maybe the problem is that if you approach every book you open as something precious, you have set an expectation that does not exist in reality. A book is not precious just because it is a book. A book becomes precious when what it has to say speaks to the individual reader on a deep, meaningful level. Not every book can do this. Also, some books speak on that level to some while it has the opposite effect on others. That is not to say that the book is bad because it did not work for you the reader. It also does not mean it is good just because it meant so much to you. The object that is the book is not the same as the content the book contains. They are two very different entities.
I've heard the term critical reading used on BookTube. I do not believe it is necessary or wise to approach every book we read with a critical mindset. Not every book ever written was written to be approached in a critical, theoretical manner. Some books are written to entertain. Yet, even at that, books that entertain serve a purpose. They may not pass the test of critical exploration. The value of a book should never rest upon the alter of critical scrutiny. I personally find that approach to be out of touch with reality and often fueled by feelings of intellectual superiority that feeds the ego. Books serve so many purposes for such a wide range of readers. To limit the possibilities of the reading experience to a standard that restricts that experience is foolish and not what reading is about.
I am well aware that my attitude towards books and reading are counter to many BookTubers. I do not place myself as an authority one way or the other as some BookTubers do. I believe the reading experience should be unique to each individual. What makes me a reader is not a worshipful attitude to the written word. I am a reader because I have a mindset that is conducive to being open to the reading experience. I do not place guidelines upon my reading expectations. There is an old Chinese saying: he who thinks he knows does not know, he who thinks he does not know, knows. I allow each book to speak to me in whatever manner it wishes to speak. I do not constrain the voice of the author in order for that voice to comply with a set of criticisms and theories I place upon his or her writing. To do this is to be blind to what the author has to say that may not fit into critical theories. I would never silence an author's voice through expectations I bring to my reading of his or her work.
Maybe you should try to read lighter books,books that are enjoyable and light..that you don't need to analyze or think about but feel it and be happy..
You and Sam, I swear! If you like your precious contemporary fiction so much, WHY DONCHA MARRY IT? Hee
Anybody have like brain pain or feel like a brain workout bc too much reading.
All sugar, no sweet
I think your problem may be that you are reading too much contemporary fiction. It's all so samey, particularly the American stuff - 5 big publishing houses all publishing safe books that they can easily market. I always think with a lot of American fiction now the publishers aren't asking _is this good?_ but are asking _what would Oprah think?_. Enough of nothing-new-to-say books on race, gender, sexuality or identity. It's like they get their focus groups to find out what people want then find authors to write those books.
I mean, publishers have to publish popular books that a ton of people will read and talk about in order to publish the offbeat, fresh voices that don't get as much attention. That's how money works. It doesn't mean publishers don't want to produce good books. And I understand the frustration with "focus group" books (I definitely get frustrated about the same thing), but plenty of authors ARE making contributions to topics like race and gender, so it's not helpful to paint everyone with one brush. But your overall point is a good one - I definitely enjoy my reading more when I mix things up
But you know this time around that thing happened to the protagonist's half-sister, not sister. The author should get kudos for that, right? Inventiveness. And if the character's consciousness takes a form of a talking chinchilla rather than a talking dog then you can't expect things to be leading the same path. Dogs and chinchillas aren't the same. Period.
More on the point of the video, though, just couple days ago I finished a book that I know for a fact I would've liked more if I've read it couple years ago. Somewhere along the way, I became a more critical reader (insert a high-quality audio clip of a raging thunder) and things that used to satisfy me don't anymore. Just as I started I noticed that the writing is fairly decent but in no way memorable and that the author has a bad habit of overexplaining allusions and symbols throughout like she didn't trust the reader to connect the dots. Basically, I had to adjust to the fact that this book was not going to blow me away but I was really interested to see how the story will develop and I kept on reading and finished and liked it a fair bit. Given that I didn't have to push myself to pick it when I had a moment free I don't treat time reading it as wasteful. I was also glad I borrowed it from the library and didn't have to be slightly sad for spending money on something I'm never going to revisit. My expectations for books that leave a mark and make me feel like I've found something to love have increased. More often than not I find myself finishing books and wishing I picked something else in their place even if I know I can't always read great things.
Recently, I thought to myself that maybe I would be better off being a more similar reader to my mom. She is way faster at finishing books (me: "Hello, Mr. Turtle, and where are you in such a hurry on this sunny day?"). She reads almost purely for enjoyment and I've never seen her be hesitant to open a book because the last one was disappointing or quite the opposite. She flies through books and when something really strikes her fancy she gives me (and some of her co-workers) a full recap and for couple days goes like: "That was a good book. Like a really good book." I do not detect any feeling of doubt in her about reading the right things or getting the proper reading experience or having a bad reading month or a year. Sometimes I wish I could borrow some of that from her.
But feeling unfulfilled makes me want to read so much more. If the percentage of amazing books in the year is bad I will read so much more (Or hope to. Plans. When did they ever worked out?) so that this percentage will equal a bigger number of books overall. (Look at me finding solace in math.) Because at the end of the day the fact that I spend so much time thinking about what I've read, what I will read, what I want to buy, which releases to follow ended up making being a reader a part of my personality. Yes, it does suck when you think like one of the parts that makes you you is making you less happy than it used to. But I can't change the kind of reader I am now and at the end of the day, I don't want to. I intend to turn that part of my life into an adventure of sorting through what does not work to find what does. As said before it does include actually sorting through the things that don't but just because the difficulty of the task has risen does not mean that the mission should be abandoned ^^
My point is, that coming to terms with the fact that we are changing as readers and that being exposed to more variety of things will make us expect and hope for more is never easy. If you binge an amazing show you become aware that there are great things out there. Things worth finding. We always knew there are less incredible books out there than there is fluff. Maybe mediocre reads aren't there to make us feel accomplished and satisfied but to sharpen us for noticing the gems when we encounter them so we won't miss them. Maybe every disappointing book brings us one book closer to the next bookish love. And maybe that is perfectly A-Okay.
Honest opinion: You should read something like Steve Alten's "MEG". Wait a sec, Jen. Don't go away. You survived the whole "above", you can make it through one paragraph more ^^ Reading something bad that isn't at any point aspiring to greatness can make you feel less like your "next read"-radar is failing you by bringing stuff that doesn't fully satisfy you to your attention. Now mediocre is bad and great is good and masterpiece is rare. Maybe after experiencing something flawed to the deepest ends of Challenger Deep you'll get the balance back. Great will be great without any of your internal critical analysis going away.
Also, it has prehistorical sharks fighting with helicopters. Win-win if I've ever seen one.
Should I drop the mick? I should, right? What!? They disconnected it some time ago!?