I rarely if ever read books and therefore have a deficit of information. Must I learn how to (though I can read) and practice in reading more of them? I read internet today of course but also magazines, newspapers and large picture books. And DICTIONARY but that's about it.
Is that alright, cheers.
Well, that explains a lot about your writing abilities.
shareI'm not much of a book reader either.
I love a good story and I'm grateful I can read, but reading books usually feels more like a chore than anything else.
I prefer audio books.
Good tip about audio books. It can take a little while to adjust to them but it's a much easier way of consuming books than sitting down and reading the things. Also you can crank up the volume and get on with doing other things ( chores ) while you listen.
You're missing out. If you're reading a classic, don't get frustrated. I'd recommend Jane Austen for a starter, whose prose is crystal clear, although you might not get her ironic humor at first. Or short stories, e.g. Chekov. Or a whacking great adventure tale, like Conrad's Victory (a little advanced reading-wise, but it has two of the greatest novel villains ever created).
shareI looked up a plot summary of Victory. It sounds pretty interesting. The only Conrad book I’ve read was Heart Of Darkness. It was very good.
shareI USED TO READ A LOT...NOT AS MUCH ANYMORE...MY SCOPE IS MUCH NARROWER TOO...I ONLY READ BIOGRAPHIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES...I FINISH ONE EVERY WEEK OR TWO...THESE DAYS 90% OF MY READING IS DONE IN THE BATHROOM.
shareI can't find a clip of this scene from Gettysburg (1993), here is the dialogue
General Pickett: "You know I consider it unbecoming to a soldier, all this book learning."
General Armistead: "Book learning ain't for gentlemen, right?"
General Pickett: "Nor that either."
It's not a prerequisite of life, but it is a pleasure if you can find your sort of books, and everyone has a sort. But it's probably better to learn how to carry a conversation than to read books, if you were looking to pick up a new skill or improve on one.
share