Reading Habits

[ChicagoReader]

Hello all, not sure if there is a thread like this that already exists but if so, it can't hurt to have a new one as things change. I just want to hear what everyone's daily reading habits are. How many hours a day do you read, if you even have a regular reading schedule. Do you read one book at a time or several? Are there periods of time where you just can't find the motivation or desire to read? Do you have a favorite time of day to read or a favorite location?

As for me, I pretty much stick to one book at a time and on average, read about 2 hours a day. I occasionally have what I call reading droughts in which I won't do any reading for several days. Then I'll have periods in which I read for 5+ hours a day. Pretty much every day I wake up, make a cup of coffee and sit down to read for an hour or two as I'm a student and currently in summer and have the time. I don't necessarily have a favorite location, just somewhere quiet and comfortable. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's reading habits.:D

[Veho]

I usually read only one book at a time too and read anywhere between 1 to 5 hours a day. I, like you, have days where I don't feel like reading at all (they can last for up to a week sometimes and it's usually when I have something on my mind and just can't - and don't - want to concentrate on a book).

I prefer to read in the afternoons and evenings. My usual and preferred location is in bed - it's far more comfortable than anywhere else and it's the quietest place in the house.

And that's that.

[farnoosh]

Well,it's different for every book.Like i was reading Persuasion last week and I read it in about a day and then I got Wethering Heights and it took 4 days ( although 2days in between didn't count since i wasn't reading it, somehow the plot made me angry and i didn't pick it up for 2days)but then on the third day I started to concider maybe the ending might not be so bad, and I'm glad i wasn't disapointed!:D...Back to the subject!
I don't have a specific spot to read but i do have a favorite habit like to lie down on my stomach when I read.Normally, if i go with the story i could read up to 200 pages in 7hours straight.before bed is my favorite time to read cause everyone else is sleep and i it gets a little quite.Like you ChicagoReader i am too a student and it's the perfect reading season,so i try to get the best out of it!

Happy reading!

[Big Dante]

I have no reading pattern. I go through my fair share of books a year (20 - 30 something so far this year, didn't count) I sometimes read just one book, sometimes many, 6 hours a day or none. Still being at school its finding a balance between study, sport, music, social life, reading, writing and being a good little boy doing house work. Being a teen is a full time job these days. (obvious joke, don't shoot me down)

[Patrick_Bateman]

I will read one book at a time but will always have a book of poetry or short stories or a play on the go for a small interval away from the novel I am reading.

[The Comedian]

I usually have several books going (along with magazines and newspapers). And I don't have time for long, uninterrupted time for reading, so I usually read while on the toilet, after lunch, before bed, while the kids do their homework, . . . in dribs and drabs all day long.

[ladderandbucket]

I read 1-2 hours every evening, more at the weekend. Get through about 400 pages per week.

I tend to alternate between fiction and non-fiction, one book at a time unless it's something really epic, plus a shelf full of short stories, essays and poetry. I don't have a to-read pile, just the next one waiting to be read.

Don't really care where I read but I always like to wear earplugs.

[Buh4Bee]

I can only sustain my attention for 30 minutes when reading. My life is probably somewhat similar to the Comedian as I have a young child and a husband. I am constantly distracted or disrupted, so a whole 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading is pretty impressive these days. I read several books at once, but prefer to only read one at a time. The best reading time is going to bed early and getting in a solid half hour or 45 minutes. Sometimes, if I'm in a good place I can read for much longer.

[ChicagoReader]

Thanks for all the responses! I think it's so interesting and lovely that everyone has their own routine. It doesn't matter if you get 30 minutes or 6 hours as long as you're reading and it brings you peace and pleasure, like it does with me.

[tonywalt]

Usually at night right before bed. Or sort of a 'slightly hungover' Saturday or Sunday. Alot of reading by the pool on the weekends.

I'd say 7 hours a week. I read a book a week, sometimes more.

Some weeks the mood to read strikes me more than others - no real reason.

[Ome]

How many hours a day do you read, if you even have a regular reading schedule. - I don't have regular reading schedule. I read between 0 - 10 hours a day.
I read up to 100 books a year.

Do you read one book at a time or several? - Always Several.

Are there periods of time where you just can't find the motivation or desire to read? Yeah. between 5 - 8 am. :willy_nilly:

Do you have a favorite time of day to read or a favorite location? - Morning. No location.

[Ome]

I've noticed I read a lot during last quarter of Moon phases. http://im-smiley.com/imgs/foolish/foolish008.gif (http://im-smiley.com)

[LizzzyBF]

I usually read for half an hour to an hour in bed each night, have done since I was little.
I prefer reading one book at a time, but sometimes the temptation of the next book on my stack is too much. Sometimes I read one fiction and one non-fiction book at the same time. Sometimes during school time I don't read as much as I'd like to, because I'm too tired after my ridiculous amounts of homework.

[aliengirl]

I generally read two books at a time, sometimes more, in different languages or genres. I read for 3-4 hours daily. But when I really like a book and can't wait to know the end, I read 8-10 hours. My favorite time is afternoon and at night when everyone is in bed and silence rules. And yes, I too suffer from reading droughts but they don't last for more than 2 days. No favorite locations- bed, sofa, dining table, kitchen counter, just anywhere.

[Venerable Bede]

During the summer I have only been able to get 2-3 hours of reading in a day due to a job. I have this month off though, so I plan to get in a lot more reading.

[zhannochka]

My reading habits are all over the place, probably partly due to my lifestyle. I am a full time mature age Uni student, working casual hours, don't live (yet) with my partner and have 2 dogs that demand my attention at times.
Depending on how busy I am with Uni work and my work schedule I might read a book in one day or take a month to finish something (which drives me nuts taking forever to finish 1 book :lol: )
I often pick up my books of poetry and read one or two and sometimes stop halfway through a (boring) book and pick up another.. promising to one day come back to the original book!
Mostly I read at night in bed. It does and doesn't help that I find reading tiresome.
My reading selecting consists of 19th Cent Russian Lit and 20th Cent American Lit. I might stray from this and read 1 or 2 completely trashy type novels a year (when's the next Stephanie Plum novel being released!? ;) )

[zhannochka]

But when I really like a book and can't wait to know the end, I read 8-10 hours.

Ooh yes I get like this. If I am interrupted and can't find immediate time to finish a good book it's all I can think about!

[booknerd27]

My reading habits..... I usually have several radically different books going on at the same time. Since I'm an elementary teacher I'm usually reading a children's book and since I love classic literature I've usually got a couple of those going. Right now I'm working my way through the American Girl Books, Persuasion, Scaramouche and Gone With the Wind. Usually I'll read whenever and wherever I have a few minutes to sit and read. My favorite reading spot is to curl up in a big overstuffed leather chair with a cup of coffee and read uninterrupted for a couple of hours. Doesn't happen too often though... This summer I've also been doing alot of reading at the pool too, which is kind of new for me.

[ariella]

I read on an ellipitical exercise machine. You have to hold the book quite close so you can keep it still against the movement and focus on the words, but once you get the hang it's so easy and addictive. I have to stop after a while though, because sweat gathers from holding my arms in the same position for too long.
I have to try and challenge myself to read BOOKS because the internet is so alluring and addictive - you can get information in around a second in comparison - I need to get over my internet brainwashing addiction for a while. But I go through phases, sometimes I watch three films a day then suddenly I have no attention span to watch a film and that's what it's like with everything else, I have to be in the right mood.

[oanna]

I usually read one book at a time and it might take me about 2-3 days to finish it. Most of the time I read in my bed, but sometimes I like reading outdoors and I read about 3-4 hours a day. Of course that when I'm very absorbed I won't sleep and I won't eat until I finish it. :) :D

[breathtest]

I've begun recently to get into a terrible mindset that I'm being antisocial when I'm reading because I like to go somewhere quiet. A couple hours a day I spend reading and that's not too bad but I need to get out of this way of thinking, because I realize that reading is important to me.

And yes, reading outside is very therapeutic. Probably my favourite place. Also, of course, on the bed because of comfort and pillows.

One book at a time now. If I try to read more I get absorbed by one of them and forget the others and have to start them again.

[ScribbleScribe]

I've noticed I read a lot during last quarter of Moon phases. http://im-smiley.com/imgs/foolish/foolish008.gif (http://im-smiley.com)

LOL I like this. :biggrin5: