Lucumo: Same here. I'm not someone that reads at home but I've basically been stuck at home for close to two years now (thanks Covid). So apart from not having the habit, reading also competes with using the PC/internet and it will probably also always lose out. So...any advice on how to incorporate reading?
And something else: Is there a good alternative to Goodreads when it comes the lists (covers, ISBNs etc)? Deleted my account some time ago due to it belonging to Amazon and some other issues.
Falci: I'd suggest identify what retains your attention best and stick to it, at least for a while. So, if you start some book, you'll most likely will want to see it through.
Personally, I slog through Fantasy books, even though I have a lot of them. But I read The City and the City (mostly a detective story) rather quickly. I'm reading Ian Fleming's Diamonds are Forever now, at quite a good pace. Sci-fi novels are also quite good at holding my attention.
So, pick a book you know you're interested in and just start. If it's your thing, you should keep going on auto until the end. If you don't, don't be afraid of dropping it and picking up something else, in a different genre, maybe. Starting is the hardest part, but with a concious effort, you can force yourself into it.
gogtrial34987: As you say, reading is a habit. Once you have it, I find you can keep it up pretty easily. Once you fall out of it, it takes some conscious effort to get it back. The main issue with it comes in the form of distractions. How to avoid/ignore those is probably a very personal thing, but I'd say the following is worth a try: find a good moment in the day where you tend to have a solid block (ideally 1 hour or more) of time without any "must-do" activities. (After dinner / before bed?) At the start of that time,
turn off your computer.
Put away your phone, ideally in another room where you won't grab it thoughtlessly. Have a "slow" drink nearby (something like tea, or wine, which you don't guzzle down in one go). Settle yourself in a comfortable chair which properly supports you. And start reading. Do this every day for a week, and by the end of it that's just how you do things.
I concur with Falci that you should find a book that interests you, and that you shouldn't be afraid to try something else if a book doesn't work for you, as not feeling like reading a particular book can definitely prevent you from reading at all - but don't give up too easily on a book either. Most starts tend to be pretty slow, and you tend to need to read for an hour or two for the action to really get going.
Lucumo: And something else: Is there a good alternative to Goodreads when it comes the lists (covers, ISBNs etc)? Deleted my account some time ago due to it belonging to Amazon and some other issues.
gogtrial34987: I don't use such websites at all, but
librarything was the other big one when goodreads got popular, and seems to still be going strong(ish).
Hm, I guess I should explain some more. Once I start reading, it's not really an issue. I've also never dropped a single book in my life. Additionally, I actually like books that are slow and thick (1000+ pages). My last three ones were Faust, Les Misérables and The Count of Monte Cristo. So in that regard, no problems at all.
Starting is problematic as well as the habit. Previously, I could just read a bit during the commute (train) or during lunchtime. While it was only limited to 30-45 minutes at best at a time (I prefer reading for hours), it was at least something. gogtrial34987 makes good points but there are some issues. I moved into a city some time ago which has massive housing problems, so I'm happy I found something...which is a rather small (but expensive) apartment with just one "big" room and well, bathroom and such. So there is no space for a separate room to read or a "book corner" or something along those lines. And for the small space that is technically not occupied, I actually thought about getting some exercise machine or something else for physical activity. There are also smaller issues like lighting, as I have a window front facing SW-W which means the sun is massively shining in from like 14:00 till evening since I live at the very top. And due to limitations from the landlord, you can't install anything outside which would make one able to limit the light to the bottom part of the window front...and inside it's also impossible as they installed forced ventilation, probably because they are scared of mold (it's a really new building). I do have some fixes, but it only really covers from the top downwards, not the other way around. So long story short, in this apartment, it's impossible to get a somewhat homely and comfortable feeling which is somethat that I liked when I read at home (as a child).
As for distractions, the phone is not an issue as I'm not a phone person at all. The PC is generally running 24/7 which definitely does not help. And I guess whoever moved in below some months ago is also rather loud with some weird "alarm clock" that keeps hissing several times a day.
I've also thought about reading outside but it's not something that fits me, especially in a city. (In general, as someone from the countryside, it really feels restricting here. No clue how people can deal with it, especially also when it comes to air quality...and supposedly I live in a rather "green" one.)
So...it's difficult.
It's a surprisingly good website (weird, that I couldn't find it when I searched or that it wasn't mentioned by anyone when it came to Goodreads alternatives). It appears to have a big issue though and that is that it doesn't distinguish between different editions. So if a book has been translated by different people over time, you can't specifically select the version you have read.
