Thursday, December 30, 2010

I’m slow, but I do get around to things

First up, in response to an anonymous comment: I read a variety of things, when conditions permit.

Reading is difficult. It is tiring, requires concentration that I do not often have, and I have a strange sort of dyslexic thing going on where words on the page get moved around. It’s not just a problem with the letters in individual words, I will sometimes – all too often really – pick up words in a sentence from a different line or move the words in a sentence around. That can seriously change the meaning of the text.

But over the past few years when I can read, I read all sorts of things: mysteries, thrillers, spy novels (well, I read some old John LeCarre), fantasy and science fiction.

I’ve been trying to get into some science and history but the lack of concentration really hurts with that sort of reading since comprehension is so important. I can read fiction and not care as much about retention, but what’s the point in reading non-fiction if you can’t remember anything?

I haven’t read that much, two or three in each genre, but it’s been all over the place. I guess I’m just trying to find what works.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ever consider audio books? And, thank you for responding.

beatthereaper said...

I've considered them but I haven't tried them. I love physical books and enjoy reading. I've resisted in part because I don't want to give up on reading because that would feel like another loss. Not a great reason, I suppose, since I could do both. The problem is that listening requires focus I don't have. I can re-read a sentence as often as it takes, but rewinding seems a bit harder to me and not practical.

Anonymous said...

Audio books are just another form of media. On the days you dont feel like reading, but want to enjoy a good story, listening to a book that has male/female voices and sometimes sound effects would be a nice change.