I only finished reading my solid can-be-thrown-at-someone-and-injure book at 18 when i entered the army. It was one of those de-evolution that takes place when you are forced into a place without Internet. I finished reading one of the harry potter books because i was looking for hints of Hermione romance, so i was a little disappointed at the incredibly short few words, but the amazing storytelling of JKR more than makes up for it.
I have read quite a small number of books, and even less fiction novel-style books. It's not so much that i hate reading but more that I find it hard to get interested in reading books in particular. I mean, I read quite a lot online. I absorb information at a relatively quick pace and I am genuinely interested in getting new information. I also enjoy the fine art of storytelling in all its forms, movies, comic books, music, audiobooks, games, well, except interpretive dance.So it doesn't quite add up that someone who enjoys both reading words and stories would dislike reading novels. I enjoy both immensely, but separately. Here's why. About half the books i have read so far, which probably numbers about 4, are non-fiction, revolving information woven into hopefully an interesting narrative, something similar to books by Malcolm Gladwell. In other words, it's about learning new things or tips or even trends regarding life and society. This proportion is generally atypical of most people who consider themselves capable of reading books.
The problem I have with reading novels in particular is that it takes a lot mental energy and time. Compared to all other forms of media, it takes a lot more concentration to finish a book. A movie takes about 2 hours average nowadays and even when I'm watching a bad movie, it would be over in 2 hours, and perhaps more importantly, there will always be some element that draws my attention when everything else sucks, like action scenes or less commonly, music. With a book, both factors disappear. Books are woefully one-dimensional to me, someone without any real literature appreciation. I know what it feels like to be gripped thoroughly by a book's storyline but not much else. It's hard to separate different elements of a book, especially in mid-reading.
To someone who doesn't read as much, here's how i enjoy my books. Half of the satisfaction comes from be gripped as i said and wanting to flip the page as soon as possible. The other half comes when you're done and analyzing the finer and subtler elements, like characterization and pacing and why the author chose to depict one thing instead of the other and what that meant from a storytelling perspective.
So to really explain why it is harder to enjoy a book would be that my enjoyment of it is completely up to the talent of the writer. A movie or video game is different in that different elements come together under direction to create a beautiful piece. A movie or game can excel as either a cohesive whole or individual elements, but not a book. In that sense, with the larger time investment and less potential to be as interesting or even distracting, books are really not ideal for randomly picking up and just doing. I could randomly pick up a dvd, read the back and catch my attention enough to pop it in and finish it, but i just cannot do that with a book. Almost every book i have read is from a recommendation and I don't have enough confidence in the authors of the world to pick up a book and be convinced that it was going to keep me entertained for the next 12 hours.
And That's Why I Don't Get People Who Can Read At Any Kind Of Regular Pace
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