When do you read? How do you read? How much do you read?

[darkemeralds]

I'm at a crossroads. No, not the demon-summoning kind. I have almost completely lost the ability to sit and read, but I want to read.

For a few years it was just books, while I was still readily able to enjoy masses of fic, and ebooks, on a portable device. Regardless of format/medium, I still loved losing myself in a story.

Now it's everything. I can't seem to sit and read anymore.

The internet is largely to blame: I recognize its adverse impact on my attention span, and that impact seems to be extreme in my case. I also acknowledge that in swapping an hour's daily commute by bus for the same commute by bike, I've exchanged one of my best reading moments for an exercise moment.

But it's not just about time. I have more time, because I've cut television hours down to two or three a week; my day to day life is pretty orderly, and frankly I pay people to do the time-consuming stuff I don't like; I need the same amount of sleep I've always needed; and my social life has taken no extraordinary leaps.

So

• Do you read books? In what formats?
• How would you describe your relationship to reading?
• How much do you read--hours per week, books per month, however you measure it?
• When? Under what circumstances?
• Is there something you specifically don't do to make time for reading?
• Have you noticed a decline in attention--in the ability to sit and read? And if so, how do you deal with it?

I'd really like to know.

Comments

[darkemeralds]

I'm starting to think that Kindle might be the magic word here. I've resisted it, but I have to admit that my phone is too small, and that my eyesight would be happier with digital ink than with LED. A certain percentage of my resistance to reading actual books is physical discomfort--with text size, lighting, heaviness, portability, etc.

I read a good deal less when I'm writing, too--which is really to be expected, I suppose. And I get almost all my written material these days through audio, so I'm getting some stories (fic, and pro) and a fair bit of nonfiction, which I really enjoy. It's possible that I just need to give in and admit that my attention deficit just will never again allow me to sit and read with my eyes. So thank goodness for audible.com and podfic, huh?

But I'm not quite ready to concede quite yet. I'll have to think about a Kindle. They've come down so far in price. Which model do you have?

[twasadark]

I have the Kindle with wireless, I think it is - the one for $189. If I had to buy it all over again, I think I'd just go with the $139 model because I really don't use the wireless function all that much. I mainly use it to read fanfic on.

I must say, I love the Kindle - I use it an awful lot. It's very handy and easy to use, very light and you can adjust the text size and so on.

YES about audible.com and podfic - they are both awesome inventions!

[ranunculus]

If you have any sleep issues you should look at formats which do not produce their own light. Such things are disruptive of the sleep cycle.

[darkemeralds]

I'm hearing that mentioned a lot, and I had no idea.

The Kindle is completely non-lighted and non-flickery. Digital ink--people who own one (including my 81-year old mother) love its book-like qualities.

[ranunculus]

My issues with the Kindle have nothing to do with its light emissions. They have to do with the fact that with a Kindle you can only purchase Amazon books (this may be changing as we speak, but that is my info at the moment). This makes the provider of the machine and the provider of the books as the sole source. Ultimately this is a REALLY BAD IDEA if you care about freedom of information. In its inception it isn't much of a concern, but it does tie you to one point of view.

Personally I'm considering implementing the blackout curtain material I have (commando cloth), since I have a street light not far from my bedroom window. Apparently melatonin levels (important for good sleep) are affected by any light source present during the sleep cycle. I live in a big city and it is -Never- really dark. Having grown up on the Ranch, I know what dark is, and if I forget any trip up there will remind me.

[darkemeralds]

I've been thinking about your curtain idea all day. I need something like that! I don't suppose IKEA has ready-made blackout curtains...

[executrix]

If they don't, Home Depot or other DIY store should have light-excluding window shades, and then you put whatever kind of decorative curtains you like over the shades.

[ranunculus]

Probably no pre-made blackout curtains which will really work, this from my experience as a stagehand trying to really block sunlight. The venetian blinds that are supposed to block light don't do a very good job around the edges. Heavy, lined drapes do pretty well, but can be expensive.
The reason I mentioned commando cloth is that it is very tightly woven so light does not penetrate (though you still have to cover the entire glass area plus). Contact your local theatrical rental shop and ask if they carry it. Tell them you want to buy a couple of yards. No duvetyne will not work in the same way, it doesn't have the tight weave. Either one of these is the "poor man's velour".
Errr, I hope this is helpful!

[darkemeralds]

Theatrical rental! What a great idea. Thank you.

I'm now scouring the web for blackout cloth. Cool! Am designing curtains in my head.

[darkemeralds]

Just popping back around to say that I spent an interesting and productive half-hour on the great wide internet this afternoon educating myself about light-blocking window treatments.

Since my need is more aesthetic than health-critical (I sleep soundly with city light seeping in), and my space is sadly limited, I'll probably go with some kind of fitted blackout cellular shades. They seem to provide good light-blocking while taking up a very tight, small profile--and they have top-down and bottom-up opening, so very desirable for privacy in urban conditions.

So again, thank you for alerting me to this issue and some cool solutions.

[ranunculus]

I really like the top/bottom opening blinds. M has some and they are great.
;) I'm always glad to send people off on an educational tour of the internet!!!