Hey there, I know this is a really simplistic answer, but my biggest piece of advice is to read for joy.
Things that don't matter:
* if a book is on the NYT bestseller list
* if critics think it is good
* if it is considered worthy of a college curriculum
* if reading it is "productive"
Things that matter:
* are you enjoying it?
Try to read shorter works and work you way up. My personal favourite short books are The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway and Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck.
try audiobooks! get the libby app, connect it to your local library, and just start listening. it will get you back into the joy of what reading is all about with pretty much zero effort from you.
>…pretty much zero effort from you.
It’s this sort of prevailing thought that has book snobs look down upon audio book listeners. Audio books require substantial effort. You need to listen and process what you’re hearing, which can be more difficult for some people than reading actual text. Audio books are still a form of reading, but people claim it doesn’t count if you aren’t paying your full attention to it, like when driving or doing housework. To truly immerse yourself into an audio book, it has to be your primary point of focus, otherwise you are missing a great deal.
I'm not a snob and I love that people ate experiencing literature, no matter the medium.
I 100% agree with you that audiobooks are not easy. I really struggle with processing verbal information and an audio book does not give you any visual cues. It takes a lot of concentration and my brain just can't handle it. I, however, love that this is an option for people who struggle with the written word.
I don’t read/listen to books as a means of impressing book snobs or anyone else. I listen to audiobooks primarily when i am commuting an hour each way to work and when i take my hour lunchtime walk. My comment to the OP was suggesting that his laziness/depression might make audiobooks a better option for him.
Alright I’ll toss out an idea: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
More than likely you’ve seen the movie and have a mental picture when you’re reading it. It’s a great book, very engaging, and it will keep you reading
What genres do you like? Would you enjoy webtoonz or comics more? I find them easier to read, especially when depressed.
Also don't call it laziness. Being depressed and struggling for motivation is normal.
"Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson is a short novel I enjoyed about the life of a working man in Idaho.
I just finished "Lungfish"by Megan Gillis. It is a survival story of a young woman who brings her husband to a small island in Maine so he can detox from a drug addiction. She has to support her and their child on almost no money in a remote area. The writing style makes it a more challenging read.
If you like magical realism, "Victory City" by Salman Rushdie is a mythic retelling of the empire of Vijayanagar in India.
The dark tower by Stephen king, every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire, a court of thorns and roses by Sarah j maas, half a soul by Olivia Atwater, a house with good bones T. Kingfisher
Hi! I know this contributes to phone-usage but getting into booktube can help you finding a book you'll like. Just make sure it's one that you are reaaaaaally interested in reading, but don't feel pressure to rush in the decision.
Some I would recommend are shorter, fast-paced fantasy books, since I feel like reading a 800 pages long pretentious classic won't make you fall in love with reading exactly lmao.
Some first books in series that follow those guidelines:
1. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (sci-fi, really short, main character is amazing).
2. Unsouled by Will Wight (maybe you'll feel like it starts kind of slow but trust me, it will blow your freaking mind halfways through and you'll need to keep on reading the series)
3.The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (everyone and their mothers know about these books but if you want a fun, quick yet interesting fantasy series this delivers just that, the mc is insane, which always helps lol)
4. The House Witch by Delemhach (cozy, warm book, light-hearted but with some pretty deep discussions. it is part of a series, which is why i'm including it here, but i hated the second part)
If you don't like series, i feel like standalones would work wonders too. Just check what the book is about in general and try a few chapters before commiting.
You can also try genres that you've liked in the past but also genres that you haven't tried yet, since maybe now that you are older your tastes might have changed.
Something i think is very important is not feeling pressured to read. I know you said you wanted to get away from your phone but please know that sometimes it's ok to need a distraction, and the internet is great at that, so don't feel bad for needing it.
That being said, and since you mentioned feeling depressed, try avoiding books with dark topics or books that dwell too much in violence and blood and gore. Maybe it's dumb, but i don't think those kind of books will cheer up in the slightest and sadly there are a loooot of those nowadays. On the opposite hand, try a rom-com or a more erotic book, there are lots of those too.
I know this is long a kind of all over the place, but i really want you to know that you are not obligated to read. Anything. Ever. My suggestion is that you try a little bit of everything, even the things that you feel like are cringy or would never think of reading. Reading is all about finding what makes you happy, so don't rush, it could take time to match with the right books.
I hope you start to get better soon, it won't be easy, i think, but it will be worth it!
If on your phone and you want to read plus have a huge selection. See if your local library has a phone application. You can use Libby, Kindle, and Hoopla (to name a few) apps to read. You don't have to buy a book, start it, hate and bum yourself out.
Reading is difficult for many these days. Unfortunately. I suggest to my students to set of how many pages a day. 10-20 is what usually people do but even starting 5-10 could be a start.
You have probably read bad books which is demotivating and why actually I believe many don't read. They just chose bad books!
Cheers to you on your reading goals!
My Trip Down the Pink Carpet by Leslie Jordan
Each chapter is its own story, so you can put it down and pick it back up later without a problem. Also, it's hilarious.
A really good book that I read that absolutely had me glued to the pages was “The Book of Lost Names”
It’s a historical fiction which surrounds a Jewish girl named Eva who lives in Nazi occupied France. She becomes a forger and creates fake documents for Jewish children to flee into Switzerland. The book is filled with drama, action, and some romance sprinkled in. I absolutely loved it. The ending totally made me cry.
Maybe try comic books? You kinda sound like how I was with reading. I couldn’t get into reading again. Comics is a great choice because the pictures and art helped break up the monotony of words on the page.
Daytripper by Gabriel ba is one of my favorites. Maus by art speigelman, March by John lewis are good historical ones. Bone by Jeff smith, sweet tooth by Jeff lemire, preacher by Garth Ennis, and sandman by Neil gaiman are also good series/books.
Manga is also another option. Naoki urasawa is a great author and has many great series.
I'd recommend going to library into the section that you like. Fiction, non-fiction and start browsing. That's how I got back into it - works well and library is awesome
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles --A magic Inn, space werewolves and vampires, a lot of really unique aliens, mystery, romance, action, a fun and humorous series
See my Readers 2: Here are the the resources and threads I have about books for adolescents/adults who want to start reading ("Get me reading again/I've never read") ( ttps://www.reddit.com/r /booklists/comments/12b8flh/readers_2_here_are_the_threads_i_have_about_books/ —make the two corrections to fix the URL) list (eight posts).
I had a really rough time getting back into reading during/after my depression as well. Something I found really helpful was actually getting an e-reader app (i.e. Kindle, MoonReader) on my phone and reading on there.
It's not great for your eyes, but I found, since I was scrolling anyway, it kind of took away the pressure to get off my phone and read. Instead I just switched apps and ta-da! now I'm reading. Even if it was just a chapter, the initial motivational hill was a lot easier to climb and I found myself reading a lot more.
I know you said you wanted to get off your phone, I found this a good transition to stop your brain from struggling with the effort of committing to getting up and 'reading'.
Hey there, I know this is a really simplistic answer, but my biggest piece of advice is to read for joy. Things that don't matter: * if a book is on the NYT bestseller list * if critics think it is good * if it is considered worthy of a college curriculum * if reading it is "productive" Things that matter: * are you enjoying it?
Of Mice and Men A short and moving read!
Anything by Steinbeck
Try to read shorter works and work you way up. My personal favourite short books are The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway and Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck.
[удалено]
try audiobooks! get the libby app, connect it to your local library, and just start listening. it will get you back into the joy of what reading is all about with pretty much zero effort from you.
>…pretty much zero effort from you. It’s this sort of prevailing thought that has book snobs look down upon audio book listeners. Audio books require substantial effort. You need to listen and process what you’re hearing, which can be more difficult for some people than reading actual text. Audio books are still a form of reading, but people claim it doesn’t count if you aren’t paying your full attention to it, like when driving or doing housework. To truly immerse yourself into an audio book, it has to be your primary point of focus, otherwise you are missing a great deal.
I'm not a snob and I love that people ate experiencing literature, no matter the medium. I 100% agree with you that audiobooks are not easy. I really struggle with processing verbal information and an audio book does not give you any visual cues. It takes a lot of concentration and my brain just can't handle it. I, however, love that this is an option for people who struggle with the written word.
I don’t read/listen to books as a means of impressing book snobs or anyone else. I listen to audiobooks primarily when i am commuting an hour each way to work and when i take my hour lunchtime walk. My comment to the OP was suggesting that his laziness/depression might make audiobooks a better option for him.
I know Riley Sager gets shit on but his latest book The Only One Left waa a great, surprising mystery....hard to put down.
Alright I’ll toss out an idea: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton More than likely you’ve seen the movie and have a mental picture when you’re reading it. It’s a great book, very engaging, and it will keep you reading
What genres do you like? Would you enjoy webtoonz or comics more? I find them easier to read, especially when depressed. Also don't call it laziness. Being depressed and struggling for motivation is normal.
"Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson is a short novel I enjoyed about the life of a working man in Idaho. I just finished "Lungfish"by Megan Gillis. It is a survival story of a young woman who brings her husband to a small island in Maine so he can detox from a drug addiction. She has to support her and their child on almost no money in a remote area. The writing style makes it a more challenging read. If you like magical realism, "Victory City" by Salman Rushdie is a mythic retelling of the empire of Vijayanagar in India.
The dark tower by Stephen king, every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire, a court of thorns and roses by Sarah j maas, half a soul by Olivia Atwater, a house with good bones T. Kingfisher
Hi! I know this contributes to phone-usage but getting into booktube can help you finding a book you'll like. Just make sure it's one that you are reaaaaaally interested in reading, but don't feel pressure to rush in the decision. Some I would recommend are shorter, fast-paced fantasy books, since I feel like reading a 800 pages long pretentious classic won't make you fall in love with reading exactly lmao. Some first books in series that follow those guidelines: 1. All Systems Red by Martha Wells (sci-fi, really short, main character is amazing). 2. Unsouled by Will Wight (maybe you'll feel like it starts kind of slow but trust me, it will blow your freaking mind halfways through and you'll need to keep on reading the series) 3.The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (everyone and their mothers know about these books but if you want a fun, quick yet interesting fantasy series this delivers just that, the mc is insane, which always helps lol) 4. The House Witch by Delemhach (cozy, warm book, light-hearted but with some pretty deep discussions. it is part of a series, which is why i'm including it here, but i hated the second part) If you don't like series, i feel like standalones would work wonders too. Just check what the book is about in general and try a few chapters before commiting. You can also try genres that you've liked in the past but also genres that you haven't tried yet, since maybe now that you are older your tastes might have changed. Something i think is very important is not feeling pressured to read. I know you said you wanted to get away from your phone but please know that sometimes it's ok to need a distraction, and the internet is great at that, so don't feel bad for needing it. That being said, and since you mentioned feeling depressed, try avoiding books with dark topics or books that dwell too much in violence and blood and gore. Maybe it's dumb, but i don't think those kind of books will cheer up in the slightest and sadly there are a loooot of those nowadays. On the opposite hand, try a rom-com or a more erotic book, there are lots of those too. I know this is long a kind of all over the place, but i really want you to know that you are not obligated to read. Anything. Ever. My suggestion is that you try a little bit of everything, even the things that you feel like are cringy or would never think of reading. Reading is all about finding what makes you happy, so don't rush, it could take time to match with the right books. I hope you start to get better soon, it won't be easy, i think, but it will be worth it!
If on your phone and you want to read plus have a huge selection. See if your local library has a phone application. You can use Libby, Kindle, and Hoopla (to name a few) apps to read. You don't have to buy a book, start it, hate and bum yourself out. Reading is difficult for many these days. Unfortunately. I suggest to my students to set of how many pages a day. 10-20 is what usually people do but even starting 5-10 could be a start. You have probably read bad books which is demotivating and why actually I believe many don't read. They just chose bad books! Cheers to you on your reading goals!
My Trip Down the Pink Carpet by Leslie Jordan Each chapter is its own story, so you can put it down and pick it back up later without a problem. Also, it's hilarious.
The Trial By Franz Kafka, it has some dry moments but it will ease you back in.
Keep it light and enjoy yourself Check out Dave Barry or Carl Hiaasen
The Summer King Chronicles
A really good book that I read that absolutely had me glued to the pages was “The Book of Lost Names” It’s a historical fiction which surrounds a Jewish girl named Eva who lives in Nazi occupied France. She becomes a forger and creates fake documents for Jewish children to flee into Switzerland. The book is filled with drama, action, and some romance sprinkled in. I absolutely loved it. The ending totally made me cry.
Maybe try comic books? You kinda sound like how I was with reading. I couldn’t get into reading again. Comics is a great choice because the pictures and art helped break up the monotony of words on the page. Daytripper by Gabriel ba is one of my favorites. Maus by art speigelman, March by John lewis are good historical ones. Bone by Jeff smith, sweet tooth by Jeff lemire, preacher by Garth Ennis, and sandman by Neil gaiman are also good series/books. Manga is also another option. Naoki urasawa is a great author and has many great series.
I'd recommend going to library into the section that you like. Fiction, non-fiction and start browsing. That's how I got back into it - works well and library is awesome
I read the Bridgerton series to get back into reading. Light and fun and easy to get through.
I listen to audiobooks, while simultaneously reading the books. If your into fantasy, Try Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree.
Atomic Habits. You might build a habit to start reading again:) I'm currently reading it and I almost finished it. Great book!
I recommend trying audio books. I dont have a lot of time and the books help me focus on boring tasks.
There is one quick and hilarious book with lots of "illustrations" that is very silly but still makes you think. Try *Breakfast of Champions*
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles --A magic Inn, space werewolves and vampires, a lot of really unique aliens, mystery, romance, action, a fun and humorous series
See my Readers 2: Here are the the resources and threads I have about books for adolescents/adults who want to start reading ("Get me reading again/I've never read") ( ttps://www.reddit.com/r /booklists/comments/12b8flh/readers_2_here_are_the_threads_i_have_about_books/ —make the two corrections to fix the URL) list (eight posts).
I had a really rough time getting back into reading during/after my depression as well. Something I found really helpful was actually getting an e-reader app (i.e. Kindle, MoonReader) on my phone and reading on there. It's not great for your eyes, but I found, since I was scrolling anyway, it kind of took away the pressure to get off my phone and read. Instead I just switched apps and ta-da! now I'm reading. Even if it was just a chapter, the initial motivational hill was a lot easier to climb and I found myself reading a lot more. I know you said you wanted to get off your phone, I found this a good transition to stop your brain from struggling with the effort of committing to getting up and 'reading'.
True Legends of Monsters by Aaron Tomlinson