Favorite books thread

[jyms]

Where are you guys finding is a great place to read? This is a serious question, I'm having a hard time finding the time and place to read the myriad of books I want to get through myself. I promised myself 3 months ago I was going to try and read a book a month, which I don't think is tough to do at all. But I drive for my commute, I don't seem to fly anywhere or take much vacation time. I'm gathering more books now than I am reading, and the list is getting longer.

[surviva316]

Where are you guys finding is a great place to read? This is a serious question, I'm having a hard time finding the time and place to read the myriad of books I want to get through myself. I promised myself 3 months ago I was going to try and read a book a month, which I don't think is tough to do at all. But I drive for my commute, I don't seem to fly anywhere or take much vacation time. I'm gathering more books now than I am reading, and the list is getting longer.

I understand that there's a generational difference between us, but I've been best at getting a lot of reading done when I have very easy access to what I'm reading at all times of day and squeeze it in in the little gaps of my life. I've tried to keep manuscripts in my back pocket, always have a book I'm reading on my phone, have books online, etc. Of course, a lot of this success also correlated with either living in NYC or having a 4 hour commute (once you add up car to train, train to bus, bus to city, subway to class), but I also get a ton of reading done on the John, in bed when I'm trying to wake up/fall asleep, between innings, etc.

In short, I'm addicted to stimulation, so having something to keep my attention when I'm lying in bed trying to wake up = werd. Blocking hours out of my day to sit still and read black words on white paper = fuck that.

I also recommend keeping more regular goals than a book a month. Promising to just open the book once per day (or 6 days per week or something) will probably do you more good. This is what I do with working on my novel. Just open the document once every day and read over the last paragraph I wrote and think for a few seconds about what I might write next. I'm never ahead or behind on this goal; I never feel like I'm forcing myself to do it if it feels like a chore that day (if I don't feel like it, I put it down and move on; if I'm in the mood, then I go to town on it as hard as I can). I'm just in a regular habit of having it on my brain, and if my heart's in it, then I'll string together plenty enough solid sessions that it gets done. If your heart isn't in it, then move on to a different book (not all recommendations are for you at all times).

[Rage2100]

I've recently finished "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, which is definitey worth a read, in my opinion.

I've just this minute ordered "Ender's Game", so am looking forward to reading that.