Are you reading more or less?

[tobee]

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

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 () 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.

Far less than I thought I would I have boxes of books all been read and nothing new to read ,my kindle doesn't want to play nice so I'm flicking between MN and GN and trying to find something half decent to watch on now TV

Oh, Portrait of a lady is ringing bells with me, I think I read that on an OU course. Might have to download it!
Subscribed to Kindle unlimited yesterday. ☺

I bought a wonderful book just before this all kicked off called This too shall pass by Julia Samuels.
I cannot fathom reading it at the moment and I really want to. 😓

I’m bored at times but can’t settle my brain to read.

More. Ripped through The Mirror and The Light, now on The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall, which is a surprisingly modern-feeling and proto-feminist read.

Books are my lifeline.

Don't be hard on yourself @Fanthorpe !

I want them to be my lifeline now more than ever Pinkarsedfly

I'm 52 SurpriseSparDay so plenty old enough I think!

For the first few days of this I slept so little I could barely read a post on Mumsnet!

Anyone been struggling to read but managed to get past it? Any tips? I managed a bit first thing in the morning.

I'm reading much less. I've struggled all of March, but I am trying to spend an hour each day in the garden with a book and without my phone.

I'm reading less.

Concentration shot to pieces. Too much time spent checking the news... And from this week home schooling 😬

I read all of Far from the Madding Crowd yesterday (very apt!) it took me eleven hours. It helps that it's sunny as there's nothing I like more than sitting on my front step with a book and a brew in the sun.

Oh I can recommend not reading the news or going on social media. It does wonders for your concentration! I have deleted all my social media as it was just making me worry.

Impressive achievement, nigelwiththebrie. Even without SM I find I’m breaking off from any book every time Sky pings on my phone, or (I was going to say feverishly, but obsessively will do ) checking MN a thousand times a day for online grocery updates and the latest doleful predictions.

Did you enjoy FFTMC? Decades since I read it last.

Less. It's the weirdest thing. Usually a huge reader-but I can't concentrate when I've tried to read these last two weeks.
I thought I was doing ok but subliminally I must be stressed out by this whole thing-the only other time in my life I haven't been able to read like this was when exh and I first split up!

I may have found a solution for myself. Whilst I'm finding reading physical books distracting - every time the phone pings, or I hear people walking down the lane past our house - audiobooks are helping. Having headphones on helps to block out the intrusive thoughts & anxiety, for now anyway. Managed to listen to one shortish book this week whilst the physical book is still slowgoing.

I try to turn my phone off as much as possible or leave it in another room and I read instead of watching the news. I am don’t want everything to be about the virus and I need something good to come out of this lockdown. Hopefully that is reading lots of good books.

I might have a go at the audio books I think

Feel like my mind is turning to mush.

Less, and can't settle to one book (I've got about 6 on the go ) but this weekend I'm going to force myself to concentrate and finish at least one.

I am reading less, I thought I would read more though. I think it is a concentration thing.

I hadn't been able to calm my mind down enough to concentrate, but decided last weekend to make a fresh start on Monday morning and try to be more focused and positive.

So I now start the day with half-an-hour of Italian on Duolingo. We had a lovely trip planned this year to celebrate a big birthday, which I doubt will happen now, but I'm looking ahead to the following year when hopefully we'll be there supporting the hotels and restaurants getting back on their feet, and that's motivating me to keep studying. I recommend Duolingo for anyone who'd like to learn a language and hasn't tried it yet. Baby steps, not pressured and a good distraction at the moment.

I'm also doing better this week with focusing on reading. I sit down and give myself a target of say forty pages, then a cup of tea, then a certain number of pages more, building up my reading stamina again. Reducing online C info to a couple of checks of the Guardian website a day plus the daily press conference is helping.

I think reading some absorbing books will be immensely helpful in getting through this tough time, even if it's easier stuff than usual for the moment ..

I'm reading more but can only concentrate on straightforward narratives. I'm also finding it really hard to commit to a new book when I'm ready to start one. It's frustrating as I'm working from home so I should have more time. Mind you, I have lost my two-hour round trip commute. On the plus side, I'm trying to use this time to read some hefty paperbacks that are too heavy for the train (including Richard Burton's diaries) and some older second-hand books that I don't want to risk carting about. Duolinguo is a great idea, highlandcoo.

I’m reading much less, I keep picking up books & putting them straight down again. I’m not well and thought I would read lots in bed, but can’t concentrate or enjoy anything. Might try audio books, thanks for the tip

I have been brushing up my German on Duolingo for quite a while. Because it is designed to be like a game, it's fun to do it in short bursts and you don't need to concentrate too hard.

I'm learning Welsh on Duolingo. It's the only thing I'm sticking to at the moment.

Another one who is reading less.
Started 3 different books and cannot stick with any of them.
But woke up at 5am today and read for an hour and going to make myself read something easy unchallenging until I get my reading groove back.