Why I can't read novels

M

MrG

New member
I finally understand why i can't read novels. I love reading non fiction books such as bibliographies, commentaries, etc. e.g Jeremy Clarkson or Richard Branson etc, but fiction I find frustrating.

I came across a passage in an article I was reading and I believe I finally understand why. It takes too much time compared to the other books.

It also took me three years to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy – not because I lack the mental competence to read quickly, but because I refused to miss any details and frequently paused to imagine myself in the middle of the action. Tolkien gave me a masterpiece. I wanted to make it last.
Click to expand...

Non-fiction I read and take in quickly, other books I pause re-read and understand more to live into the experience that is on offer. What do you think?
 
MrG said:
I finally understand why i can't read novels. I love reading non fiction books [...] but fiction I find frustrating.
Click to expand...

Non-fiction I read and take in quickly, other books I pause re-read and understand more to live into the experience that is on offer. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I think you're confusing me. On the one hand you claim that you can't read fiction because you find it frustrating, however, on the other you claim that you actually do read fiction, just slowly to er.. immerse yourself in it?

Also, what do you mean by, "What do you think?" Are you asking what people think about your reading habits or are you asking what people think about fiction?

If the former, then I think that you've also neglected to specify whether fantasy fiction, like Lord of the Rings, is what you find frustrating or if your frustration also includes detective novels and other works of fiction such as science fiction or romance :p

If the latter then I enjoy fiction more than non-fiction (I honestly don't care too much for autobiographies and opinion pieces, lifestyle guides, philosophical works and the general array of non-fiction sub-genres).

I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series but then I tend to enjoy all of his books. Neil Gaiman is also quite the snazzy author but Pratchett is one who I follow pretty much religiously.

High-brow fantasy (Lord of the Rings, for example) I need to be in the mood for but yes, I do enjoy it also.

I'm currently reading William Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy (yay cyberpunk!) in lieu of Deus Ex's return to the free world.

One teeny tiny little thing to remember though is that I'm a gamer first and foremost so give me hardcore RPG and I'll be solidly stuck into it for days. I tend to save reading for the last hour or so before I sleep and for those days where I just want to take a breather. Oh, I'm also a bathroom reader (i.e. while taking a bath or bathroom break) :o :D
 
I don't read biographies.

Love reading David Gemmell, Robert Jordan, Steven Erikson, Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell, Conn Igulden. I like multi-book novels.

Also I've read Most Harry Potter books over 70 times
 
Last edited:
I think if you struggle with fiction, maybe you haven't found an author that really appeals to you.

I tend to get stuck on a few authors that I know I like, but I'm on the look out for a few more good ones. Some have been mentioned before. Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman (read Good Omens - co-authored by Pratchett and Gaiman), David Gemmel, Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time = Epic). I've also read some by James Barclay which were pretty awesome. I'm also a big fan of Raymond E. Feist. Or you could try something like Dune if you want a classic that's a little more Sci-Fi than fantasy, or The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy if you want something a little quirky (to say the least).

You mentioned Lord of the Rings, I've read that twice now, and although I find it epic, Tolkien does have a way of discussing the scenery for half a chapter. it's not a light read, and most people don't make it out of the Shire before they give up. Try reading The Hobbit first to get into the story.
 
Love reading. Mostly fiction, but there are some non-fiction books that grab me. Just read, At thy call we did not falter, by Clive Holt. Brilliant book about his time in Angola during South Africa's bush war. Hell, my personal library is sitting at around R30k-40k. Trust me, my wife and i worked it out.
 
i like fiction, biographies are like watching Oprah or reading/watching the news....(its too everyday) Fiction relaxes me
 
I first read LOTR in a month (on holiday) and still took in the details... I find if you stretch a book out too long you will lose the momentum / threads in the story a little?

I do find good fiction a lot easier to read when I'm really tired than non-fiction though.
 
Merenwenrago said:
I have tried but I fall asleep after a few pages then forget what I read when I wake up :p
Click to expand...

Hmm maybe you should try something that reads quick and easy and something that will keep you awake. I quite like Stephen King but his books make for a slow read. However, why not try Dean Koontz? His books are quick reads and they should keep you interested. Try to read a chapter before falling asleep and see if it does not maybe interest you. :)
 
Solitude said:
Hmm maybe you should try something that reads quick and easy and something that will keep you awake. I quite like Stephen King but his books make for a slow read. However, why not try Dean Koontz? His books are quick reads and they should keep you interested. Try to read a chapter before falling asleep and see if it does not maybe interest you. :)
Click to expand...

I'll try that I normally try read animal novels, since I love animals.
 
czc said:
I can't deal with audiobooks.
Click to expand...

Nah dude, they keep me sane. I've done over 100,000km of long distance travel to meetings between 150-500km away for work and if it weren't for Audiobooks I'd have lost my mind by now.
 
Voicy said:
You'll enjoy "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel then :)

Also listened to it on Audiobook while driving for work.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting going to check if my local exclusive books has it sometimes their book selection sucks :p
 
I find most non fiction tends to bore me to tears or put me to sleep, fiction though especially fantasy I devour at an ever increasing pace with only the fact that the next book in a series doesn't exist yet slowing me down (oh and money to buy the damn books, or rather lack thereof).

I'd also still rather be part of the story playing it in an rpg than passively reading though. A good combination of both was finding a library type place in morrowind and reading the books there.
 
Fiction books are awesome if you can immerse yourself into it, and history-fantasy books written by Conn Iggulden also make for an epic read :)
I find that generally you have to like the author's writing style if you want to get into it.. (Try Reading Saturday, <-- Only book to make me fall asleep after 40pages)

Haven't heard of audio books though, Anyone willing to do a comparison between those and normal fantasy books?
 
Busy listening to Tolkien's the Children Of Hurin - narrated by Christopher Lee (The guy who played Saruman in the movies)

I love fiction, but I fall asleep if I read hard copies. :/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top