Unbelievable statistics

I haven't been in a brick and mortar bookstore in almost 4 years. I do visit and buy from Amazon quite frequently. I was at the library just last week and I typically go on a weekly basis. I would have gone last night but my wife went for me. I read at least one book per week.

As far as not finishing books, I've taken to doing that more and more as I can tell whether or not a book is going to be 'up my alley' or not. I'd say my rejection rate is about 10%. I just put one down after reading about 35 pages on Monday night when it was revealed the character(s) used magic. I guess it was a fantasy novel, and was supposed to be written with a Christian world view.

We make our two teenaged boys read at least 30 minutes every weeknight (Sun-Thurs.) They typically end up reading for almost an hour. Very important to us as parents that our kids read.

 

I agree that reading is a valuable skill for both pleasure and professional development. I find that those that read for pleasure are more able to digest reading for professional development.

I read as often as possible and make sure my kids are always reading something as well. Most of the books we read have characters that do magic. My kids and I are able to separate fiction from reality.

 

If these stats are not believable, then what's the point here?

 

Just to clarify--I don't have a theological problem with fantasy stories that involve magic, I just plain don't like the genre. Anything and everything can happen, which for me makes for a lazy writer that can get characters into and out of situations with (literally) the wave of a hand.

 

I never got into those, either. I tried to read the Hobbit, but just couldn't.

I just finished "Theodore Rex", the second in a series about Teddy Roosevelt. The first one, "The Rise of Teddy Roosevelt" was a great read. Even if you don't really like his legacy, which as president, I don't, but you will find some new respect for the guy. He had an amazing life.

 

The Hobbit is actually a strange read, at least to me. Much different than even Lord of the Rings.

 

Tolkien was fascinated by Finnish folk tales and it's language, his books were greatly influenced by them.

The Hobbit is a children's book, so very much lighter in tone than the recent movie.
I read the book to my young grandson twice before the movie came out.
He was frightened by the movie but relaxed each time when I reminded him what happened in the book.

LOTR on the other hand is very much an adult tale, rich with Nordic lore.

Tolkien's Silmarillion with its creation story begins his mythic tale of Middle Earth.


I rely on the internet for most of my purchases - some new, some purchased used-like-new.

I'm usually am disappointed when I visit a library - my home library is better stocked with what I like to read.

The local Cairn University library is fine but I don't visit it too often.

Last month I spent a day visiting a used book stores in Harrisburg, PA, Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Canaday's Book Barn in Carlisle, PA. - what a blast!

So where do I stand in the chart - I'm a 1 percenter. I read more than an hour a day - so much that I really ought to be exercising more rather than sitting on my duff reading.
I've tried reading while exercising but find it too hard to read when I go any faster than 2.5 miles an hour. and my mind wanders listening to Audio books.

I've read a great variety of books but have become a "international" master of none.

Rob

 

I tend to always have at least one fiction and one non-fiction book going at the same time. The e-reader is my usual source for literature but I still like going to used book stores and meandering through the shelves.