Less than 50% of Americans read a book last year!

xuli · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject:

Has anyone noticed that contemporary novels seem more episodic than those written 20+ years ago? Shorter chapters, shorter paragraphs, shorter chunks of text? Formats like that of the string-of-short-stories-that-make-up-a-longer-novel? I've been thinking about this lately b/c of all the reading I'm doing for my comprehensive exams, and I've noticed that the more recent books are definitely more short-attention-span-friendly. I wonder if that has something to do with the whole "I don't have time to read" thing -- maybe authors are trying to draw in more readers who think they don't have time?

Or maybe authors themselves are pressed for time, and can only write in short chunks.

xuli · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:53 pm Post subject:

soapandwater · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 945

I'm really enjoying this thread. Booknerd.

Yeah, I've noticed vaguely the difference between books now and ye olde books. I'll read a Charlotte Bronte novel, and she'll go into the deepest analysis of the main character's emotions and actions. She'll explain just how Lucy Snowe walked in the storm and felt Darkness and Whatnot pressing down on her.

Modern novels have a very, "Angie stalked the Manhattan streets, growing cold and despondent" feel. Often, I won't actually feel what the character feels, except in a mildly empathetic way.
_________________
When you got a hundred voices singin',
who can hear a lousy whistle blow?

cathoholic3 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 6

This article was in the NYTimes last week--so, of course, you can no longer look it up for free, but if anyone wants to read it, I can email a copy.

Books Make You a Boring Person

June 27, 2004
By CRISTINA NEHRING

It's an interesting perspective on this debate, kind of along the lines of Dr. Starr. But angrier. ;)

JediEmpressMel · Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 374

I often wonder about these studies.
How exactly do they measure ALL the people in this whole country?
Also, who exactly did they ask about reading? Because if it was say, inner city people, as opposed to upper middle class rich people, then it'll be different.

xjessiex · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 35 Location: southern utah

i bought my husband that t shirt for his easter basket. i do borrow it now and then, though.

i can't fathom people not reading, but then i keep a list of 'to read' books on my computer and the pocket pc.

book nerd, indeed.

--jessie
_________________
'whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it's time to pause and reflect.'
- mark twain

moon_lemming · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 625 Location: virginia

I don't have a hard time believing that statistic; I have a sister and a husband who don't read because they can't comprehend what they're reading well enough to make it worthwhile. If that makes sense -- I think I worded it wrong, but I can't think of any other way to explain it. My husband loses track of what he's reading if anything distracts him, and my sister just has problems with reading comprehension.

I'm one of those people who buys tons of books (at thrift stores, book sales, library sales, whatever) and leaves them sitting there for a long time. It's not because I don't like to read -- I love it, it's the thing I love most of all -- it's because, at the end of the day, when the kid's in bed and I only have two hours left in the day, I watch TV instead of reading. I can do other things (like cleaning or crafting) while watching TV, and I can't while I'm reading, so it usually wins out.

Now vacations are another story.

ETA: I think that growing up in a reading family might help to make someone more likely to read often, but I believe that a love of reading comes more from being exposed to books and storytelling as a child; I guess that could be part of being in a reading family, but I was exposed to books more at school and through my own interest. As a matter of fact, my dad often got pissed off because he thought I read too much, and I had to sneak books into the car to read on road trips. I'm curious -- did any of y'all who are also big into reading have this kind of experience growing up?

xuli · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:39 am Post subject:

amygdala · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 134 Location: Philadelphia

I have to say, I really miss pleasure-reading actual literature. But I have so much scientific reading to go through that after awhile, I just want to knit or watch TV. For me, it is partly because of the huge load of current publications that I have to wade through to stay on top of the new developments in my field, plus all the old papers relevant to my actual current research. And I like to try to stay informed, so I read newspapers, newsmagazines, and other current-events stuff. Even when I do buy a book, it is more likely to be nonfiction than a novel. I did come from a "reading" family and I'm sure I'll read more fiction someday, I still love it. Really, I'm just sad because there is so much I want to read and only so many hours in the day. Which is why I'm not surprised that the study showed so few people reading literature. We have a lot of things competing for our time.

cinnamongirl · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Location: massachusetts

i have that reading is sexy shirt. i get a lot of comments on it, in a guys DO make passes at girls who wear glasses kind of way... :)

all of my close friends and family members are readers. i can't imagine coming from a place where it wasn't a part of my (almost) everyday life.
_________________
"and it's all in the desire,
the desire designed like drip castles
and always, always eat red - red apples
... and remember where you've been"

smudgy_cat · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 346

Dawn · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 78

I used to work at the IRS entering tax returns. The job did not require too much of one's attention, so people would talk all day long about any and everything. One day, I heard the women in front of me talking about discipling their children. One woman said that when her children acted up, she made them "sit down somewhere and read" (as opposed to being able to play video games, which is what they wanted to do). So, what message do you think her children were getting about the value of books and reading when this was considered a form of punishment in their household? Also, the majority of the parents stressed education and good grades for their children, but expressed disdain for books and reading. They would drop their kids off at the library and maybe even buy books for them, but they themselves couldn't be bothered. I was one of the few people who read at breaks and lunch. Once, a co-worker even commented, "Another book?", like since I'd already read one, why was I bothering with another.

It's such a shame, really. I *love* to read. There are so many books out there that everybody can find something that they enjoy. I and reading Dracula for the first time right now (It scared me too much when I was younger). It's an absolutely fascinating book, and I haven't stopped talking about it since I started it. I never had to read it in school. I would have much prefered it to say, The Grapes of Wrath, and I bet many of my classmates would have, too.

Regarding buying vs. the library, I've decided that books are just something that I'm going to buy. Much as I love the library, I want my own. I justify this with the fact that someone else will still be able to enjoy them when I'm gone.

BumbleV · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 64 Location: Sunny Texas

anati · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 122 Location: massachusetts

CraftinFool · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 809 Location: New England

I love to read. And my husband does too. My big frustration is I haven't found a good way to make reading social. If we're hanging out together we end up watching movies or tv.

I know some folks read to each other or try to read at the same time but he & I like very different kinds of books so I'm not sure that would work for us.

I think maybe part of why I loved to read so much as a child was it was sort of "controlled socializing" - you get to connect to other people (albeit some of them finctional), but it's on your terms. You can close that book anytime you want.