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Original poster

Are you reading more or less?

89 replies

tobee · 26/03/2020 15:25

Just wondering how people are doing with reading with the lockdown?Smile

Lots of people would imagine they'd read a lot if they had enforced home isolation.

But I keep seeing the reality is rather different and people aren't able to concentrate on reading for pleasure as much as they'd hoped.

Just being nosey (Grin) but what have you found?

Personally, my fiction reading has almost totally stalled but I wouldn't be surprised if that changed as time goes on.

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Cam2020 · 19/05/2020 08:59

Much less sadly. I actually enjoy my commute to work, it's 30 mins each way I get to myself!

Sakuse · 14/05/2020 23:09

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hopelessatthinkingupusernames · 12/05/2020 17:37

Less than usual. No commute or lunch break without kids and no walk from the station or time in the car to listen to my audiobook. Having two under 5s at home means I have hardly any time to read

BeardedMum · 29/04/2020 13:31

I usually buy my books from Waterstones or Amazon but find that Amazon is running out of stock and the books are more expensive. Has anyone else noticed?

Original poster
tobee · 29/04/2020 01:58

Yes I want comfort from books. They always used to be my comfort. And often my escape.

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highlandcoo · 28/04/2020 19:31

I just feel too down

Understandable Cakemonger but if you push through that feeling I think books can be helpful.

Maybe find some old comforting rereads; nothing too demanding? It's good to escape reality for a bit sometimes.

Cakemonger · 28/04/2020 19:09

Much less. Barely any fiction. Just feel too down.

Wolfiefan · 28/04/2020 18:56

I’m reading loads. I have books I have been meaning to read or re read then donate to charity. I will have a couple of boxes full when I can hand them in.

SunshineInMySprocket · 28/04/2020 18:49

Swinging between reading loads to reading the same paragraph 10 times then giving up. It’s quite comforting to hear that everyone is the same!

Yankathebear · 27/04/2020 05:53

More. I’m working more than ever but books are a welcome distraction.

TheSandman · 27/04/2020 02:12

I'm reading differently. I'm reading fewer books (novels) but I am reading a lot more comics graphic novels...

...and comics. Most of them in French - a language I am determined to learn one day.

Original poster
tobee · 27/04/2020 01:53

Took me a while to decide Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
tobee · 27/04/2020 01:53

Ooh glad I came back on to this thread to catch up!

So I'm going for The Portrait of a Lady

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wiltingflower · 26/04/2020 15:08

Much more than normal due to reduced work pressures/ shorter working hours. Before I'd finish a book in a couple of months despite being a fairly fast reader due to time constraints. Now I've read at least 1 book a week so far and a new magazine every couple of nights using my local library's app.

ellanwood · 26/04/2020 15:04

If you like very cosy crime, someone on here recommended the Three Pines Detective Gamanche series, set in a stunning Quebecois village full of artists and poets and very good chefs! I've read five so far. Great escapism.

ellanwood · 26/04/2020 15:03

I'm reading a lot but nothing too heavy-going. I'm switching between cosy crime, literary short stories and novellas. I've read 8 books and several short stories since lockdown started which is a record for me as I read really slowly.

CromfordGreyhound · 26/04/2020 15:00

@nebble I'll add Sarah Ward and Elly Griffiths to the not-grisly list!

Sarah Ward's writing revolves around the Peak District and Elly Griffiths characters can be found solving mysteries in Norfolk. Both are crime-solving in a traditional way rather than from a gruesome perspective.

Try 'In Bitter Chill' and 'The Crossing Places' first if the authors sound like your thing :)

Nebble · 26/04/2020 12:04

@highlandcoo thanks so much, I’m not into grisly either so they sound great, and I love a series :) will write those down and work through them Flowers

highlandcoo · 26/04/2020 11:36

Oh, and Susan Hill's Simon Serailler series too.

highlandcoo · 26/04/2020 11:35

Nebble I can recommend:

Peter May's Black House trilogy.

Ann Cleeves" Shetland series.

Val McDermid's Karen Pirie books.

Stephen Booth's crime series set in the Peak District.

Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels (important to read in order imo)

It depends on your taste in crime .. I don't do really grisly stuff.

highlandcoo · 26/04/2020 11:32

MaMa I really like Victorian fiction and have made a start on the Barchester Chronicles recently. Doctor Thorne will be the next one. I find the linear narrative calming compared to the modern tendency to skip backwards and forwards through time, swap narrators without naming them so that you spend the first pages of the chapter trying to figure out whose voice you're hearing etc .. all very tiring.

I love Arnold Bennett (an Edwardian writer to be precise) - have you read his stuff?

What Victorian fiction have you been reading lately?

Notso · 26/04/2020 11:20

Much less, I usually get 9:30-2:30 to myself as well as most of the evening Mon-Fri and use a lot of that time to read.
Plus I'm reading the tattooist of Auschwitz and it makes me sad so I can't read it in big chunks.

Nebble · 26/04/2020 11:11

I’m reading more, a book every couple of days whilst sat out in the sun, I have a kindle and kindle unlimited, love it. Just finished a series this morning so if any of you lovely readers can recommend some good crime writers/books I’d be greatful, thank you Flowers

MaMaLa321 · 24/04/2020 19:36

I'm reading less, and have totally lost interest in what my book group's reading (I don't know why).
What I am reading is sturdy Victorian fiction

Chickoletta · 24/04/2020 18:35

Less still. I’m a pretty avid reader (English teacher) and have been reading a Joanna Trollope for 3 weeks! 😂 I’m also not listening to as many audio books as I usually listen to them on the commute etc.

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