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.

Ah! Richard Burton's diaries sound interesting.

Well, I still haven't started anything yet. I've realised I'm kidding myself into thinking that it's because I'm pacing myself - I don't want to read all of the books too soon

Couldn't even get beyond the first few chapters of an audiobook (Belinda Bauer's Snap) because the narrator's voice annoyed me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm so glad others are struggling to read and concentrate and it's not just me!

I can barely manage more than a mindless flick through social media. Any tips to get back to normal?

I'm another one struggling to find something that keeps my attention.
Most of my reading is library books. Although it doesn't matter at the moment I do like to read them in order of borrowing.. Unfortunately I chose most of them a few weeks ago and now a dark psychological thriller and War Doctor by David Nott , really don't appeal although I'd probably enjoy them at another time.
There's a series of hospital romances written in the 50's and 60's by Lucilla Andrews that I read as a teenager/young woman many years ago. Completely undemanding with happy endings. Very different from what I normally read now. I'm thinking of returning to them as comfort reading.
@ilikebooksandplants have you anything you read a while back that might engage your interest now.?

Much less. I downloaded quite a few a couple of weeks ago for obvious reasons but I'm struggling to concentrate. Work is redic busy and I seem to spend all my spare time reading the news and looking at FB, I'm really annoying myself.

Yesterday was better. I'm doing little and often with reading. I'm also joining in with the Robert MacFarlane book club on twitter.

Very little - just a few pages a day which is much less than normal. I'm at home all day normally but with kids at school. Before CV hit I was already very conscious I need to re-establish a routine, and I think I'd actually read more in a more structured existence - I read far more books in 2010-2012 when I was working than in 2009 (mostly on maternity leave, slightly more between mid October and mid December when I was back at work, another dip over Christmas holiday period). I also tend to read less when I'm away from home, which again suggests lack of normal routine is my problem.

I'm bed bound with CV type symptoms, so listening to audio books on Spotify.
It's a mixed bag, but included in the monthly fee.

Tonight I listened to Animal Farm. Seems quite appropriate at the moment...

Went back to an old favourite (The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore) and read it all in a few hours. Hopefully I’m back to being able to concentrate a bit better!

Hope you feel better soon @middleager

This Dr gives some good advice about breathing techniques and sleeping position to aid a quicker recovery

Here's hoping you feel better soon middleeager!

middleager sorry spelt your name wrong!

I'm reading more but that's partly because DD has gone into her own bedroom so I can actually have the light on to read!!
Also, as much as usually enjoy MN, I need a distraction from all the CV threads, and the news. Reading helps me switch off and escape for a while.

I am reading more in the evenings as I am deliberately not watching the news or reading too much on here as it was affecting my sleep. I’ve made a list of recommendations too and looking forward to getting through them.

I'm reading more, watching more tv, Netflix as well just to try and escape a bit from reality!!

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.

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

@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

@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 :)

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.

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.