I am a reader but my family aren't

I have always loved reading as a young girl my parents use to shout at me to get my nose out of a book and do something else. No one else in my family reads as much as me. Its my way of relaxing and I read a least two novels a week, I enjoy a huge genre of book and am always open to reading new authors and genres

Life would be i mpossible without books, I always have at least one on the go. Luckily all my children followed in my footsteps and are all readers. My youngest had finished all the books in her school by the time she was 6, she had even finished the Narnia series by then and she read Lord of the Rings by age 9. Her son is just the same and always asks for books for presents. I have finally given up my most precious books from my childhood by passing them onto him, he so deserved them.

I love reading and always have several books on the go. A former colleague told me that she never reads books. Since she is a graduate, I was left wondering how on earth she managed to survive three years of serious reading. When university students use the phrase ‘I am reading SubjectX’, the word ‘reading’ is there because it reflects where a large proportion of the time goes!

I read physical books and eBooks. I haven’t tried audible books because I like to control the pace of my reading.

To Boz and anyone else concerned about printed books being hard on sore eyes, I have found a couple of things to be helpful. First, a ‘Daylight’ lamp (desktop or full-height freestanding). Not cheap but one of the best purchases I ever made, as it makes reading a printed book much easier even indoors on winter evenings and is also useful for other close work. Second, if you are up for eBooks, a PaperWhite eReader. This provides a good contrast between white background and black text and is adjustable depending on light conditions.

I think I take reading for granted as it is just a part of my life. On reflection I realise that reading has always been a source of escape, comfort, excitement and entertainment and my life would be so much the poorer without reading.
I read every day, usually on a Kindle app.

I was only thinking the other day what people who don't read are missing. And kids that aren't in to reading will never feel the joy of going into a library and taking out 3 books and going hime to lose yourself in that world. I don't read much these days because of a shortage of time. Although i do read lots of children's books.
But no matter how much you read to the children/gc they get to a point and they either have the bug or they don't. I buy eldest gs loads of books and this last year - he is y6 - i have really encouraged him to read every day but it is a chore the tablet is always more tempting unless it is Jeff Kinney.
I have this secret relationship with Jeffrey Archer - i absolutely love him but i loathe the fact that i do. I have even not gone to work when i have been stuck in his books. (self-employed).
On my first wedding day i was due to get married at 11.30 and i was still in bed reading Jackie Collins at 10.45! With hindsight i should have stayed in bed.
I'm not really into biographies but am a sucker for books about being adopted or foundlings or poverty stricken and hard childhoods etc - currently reading Nicky Campbell's blue eyed boy.
After reading this thread i think i'm going to revisit Sons and Lovers last read 35 years ago so i am sure it will be a very different read now.
One of my favourite books ever is Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey - highly recommend if anybody cares!
We are reading lots of Beatrix Potter at the moment and Jacqueline Wilson.
My eldest daughter was an obsessive reader but mental illness has robbed her of that joy and now her brain won't let her settle into a book which really makes her fed up.
I would get lots more reading done if i left gransnet alone too!

I'm a bookworm, late DH was a bookworm, my children and stepchildren are all readers. At the dining table too (oh dear!) Current partner would like to read more but doesn't have the same drive - on the other hand he's very sporty and I ain't. It's not a problem, so far.

A Home without books is like a house without windows. I quote somebody, seen on a bookmark from the library.

Surely reading is the gateway to learning??? I love reading, in the bath, etc!!!

I live in Suffolk and work at our local library - I am proud to say that due to hard work and commitment none of our libraries have closed and are very well used, not just for borrowing books but for all sorts of groups, children's activites, advice etc etc

Love to read and always have. When a child our library ran a ‘reading tree’ competition to read a certain amount of books in 6weeks to get apple stickers. We returned after four days to be told I had to read all the books to get stickers, my mother replied “she has!” DD reads occasionally but luckily DGS is a proper bookworm

I've always been a reader , likewise my mother was. My daughter has two sons aged 6 &9 and also works so does not get much time to read. She is
now working from home plus homeschooling them so not reading at all but ensures her children are reading .
I've read 15 books this year , plus I run a book group which has gone over to hosting via Zoom since lockdown. I review books prior to publishing.
Books are an important part of my life.

Have always been an avid reader though having cataracts now makes it difficult. I have audible but do find it annoying that you can’t buy audible books with amazon gift tokens ( which kind family and friends give me thinking it will help me buy audible books). Both my daughters love to read and all three grandchildren.

In lockdown I'm 'catching up' on reading, all the books on my bookshelf that I've put off reading in the past thinking they were difficult, like Dickens, Brontes, Austen etc. I've had the time to read them and enjoyed most.

They certainly make a change to the rubbish detective stories of the moment. Just now I'm reading 'Sons & Lovers', learning a lot about the poverty of life in the Nottingham coalfields.

Wow Treetops05 I thought I read a lot but you beat me hands down. Must be expensive for you.
My family always say that if Mother goes missing on a shopping trip you will find her in a book shop.

Im a bookworm. Have been for as long as I can remember.
Both my parents were, my step father too.
Both siblings also read alot.
My dd never had the bug until recently.
Eldest dgd loves to read. I thoroughly enjoy buying her books and book tokens.
The youngest one loves stories so heres hoping ?
I don't think I've read more since lockdown as read a fair amount already.
It has to be a book though, no kindle here! I love the feel and smell of a book.
I very rarely buy new books, there are plenty of good second hand online book sellers.

I read all the time. I have physical books, a kindle I also listen to audio books. It’s automatic when I finish one of the above I select the next one, so I always have at least 3 books on the go at a time. My daughter always reads but my son who is now 30 hasn’t ever voluntarily read a book in his life.

Love a good book. My mum was the same, but my sister only reads a newspaper. I find I read a lot more in the summer sitting in the garden in the sun. Last summer I was getting through a book in 3 days, then they all got passed on to my sisters neighbour.

I read between 750 and a 1000 books a year, my daughter is a keen reader as is my son. Sadly my husband is dyslexic and doesn't understand the allure of books...wasted paper is his favourite saying...I should pont out I have an idetic memory, read extremely quickly, and was paid to read for many years...

I could not befriend anyone who doesn't read from choice.

That sounds extreme, BelindaB! I’d have thought that having friends with different interests and hobbies can only be a good thing. I’m a member of two reading groups, and enjoy discussing books with friends there. But I couldn’t tell you whether some of my other good friends read or not - we find plenty of other things to talk about.

I’ve always loved reading and feel lost without a book on the go. It’s my main way to relax. DH doesn’t read as much as me and it seems to take him ages to finish a book. I could read for hours in bed but he says I keep him awake. My DD and one DS love to read as well but I’m sorry that none of my grandchildren apart from one seem to enjoy it. When we used to stay at my late in-laws house there was never a single book in the house which used to really puzzle me - no cookery book, atlas, dictionary or reference book.

Not milk...mother in law!

Glad to know there are some great readers out there. I dont understand either why no one has the urge to read. My milk years ago told me she had no time to read and it was only for lazy people! I was a bit put out as my parents were avid readers but still worked hard and obviously only read books in their spare/leisure time

Cambia
Same with my granddaughters, I used to love buying them books and discussing what they were reading, I find it so sad that they have lost interest. I think my childhood would have been very bleak without books.

Polomint I’m with you! I always say if there’s nothing else I’d read a milk carton ?. Seriously tho I adore reading and like others I have books on my shelves kindle and iPad waiting to be read as well as a stack by my bed! DH doesn’t read daughter does when she has time and DS reads a lot. I tried to instill a love of reading in my children and now my grandchildren. As a child I loved the library and could spend hours there. Such a shame when people don’t enjoy reading they miss out on such a lot x

I am a reader, always have been from very young! I’m currently doing the 50 books in 52 weeks challenge, so far about to start book number 10, little bit behind the normal amount I’d have read by this time, but enjoying it never the less, it’s a mixed bag really of equal measure few of us read in our family some of us don’t, but saying that although they don’t read books, they do read mags and newspapers! But for me the joy of reading a book is so satisfying especially if it’s a good story

I’ve always loved reading, I put it down to being an only child. I can still remember books I had as a child. Loved comics as well.
I’ve always got a book on the go, I tend to read before bed. I like to read in the quiet. Yes, I have got a kindle which I love.
My oldest son is a reader, but my other 2 children are not.
My grandson loves books, it he’s only 2 1/2, so just likes the little pictures at the moment.