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[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Have your reading habits changed over the years? Since I have kept a list of all the books I've read for over nine years now (I was thinknig it was five years, since I started keeping track in 2000 ... my how time flies), I've been able to really notice shifts in my reading patterns - nine years ago I read almost exclusively fiction; probably 10/90, if even that. At one point my parents - who never really monitered my reading in any other way - started strongly suggesting that I should read a nonfiction book for every two fictions I consumed.

 

For the last number of years the split has been more 50/50. A big factor, I think, is working at a library - I am exposed to SO many more nonfiction books in the course of my job thnt I ever was when I just haunted the fiction shelves. And with reading so much nonfiction, I think it's changed my standards for fiction. It takes a lot more for a novel to grab me than it did before.

 

How about you?

Comments

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Great topic, and thanks for posting here!! :D

I definitely used to read more nonfiction when I was in my early 20s. I think because I just wanted to learn and I was a lot less cynical about what I could learn from nonfiction (especially Christian). I was all into books about marriage, Christianity, or even personality and stuff. But then I kind of got frustrated or maybe bored with some of the helpful books, and I found much more enjoyment in fiction.

I need to branch out, though, because I'm sure I would enjoy some other types of nonfiction such as biographies and memoirs!

[mattiescottage.livejournal.com]

Very well said, Jessica. I went through a similar time of reading Christian nonfiction. I think there comes a point after a long while where one has gotten so much from these sorts of books, that we start to feel more settled on certain issues and questions, ourselves based on what we have already read and experienced, and so further readings don't have as much new to add to this.

Also, when it comes to Christian nonfiction, I've gotten to the point where I've gotten somewhat saturated reading human interpretations on scripture; I'd rather read the scripture directly. (I just sort of gravitated this way, but I think it has something to do with the idea in I Corinthians 3:1-4: There is a time for being milk fed, and there is a time for solid food.)

I think most of us have different stages in our lives, and these stages reflect our purposes in reading and thus our reading choices.

Marie, I am really impressed with you reading the entirety of non-fiction books. I have always found it easy to read only portions of non-fiction books that particularly interest me, and then move on to the next thing.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I don't know that I felt more settled (well, maybe in terms of the kind of guy to marry, but not so much on theological issues), but just more confused. Knowing a book isn't the Bible makes me question more of what it says! I don't even like to read the commentary at the bottom of my Bible, though sometimes I give in to temptation. I've just seen how so many smart people can disagree about stuff, and it is way too confusing.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I'm usually just rubbed the wrong way by self-help or other such non-fiction books ... which is why I guess I gravitate towards history of some kind or other. :)

(I really, really liked Julie Andrew's recent memoir, Home. Even if you aren't that interested in her personally, I think it would still be interesting - she has a beautiful way of writing.)

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I do like her and that would be a good one. In fact, my mom would probably really enjoy it too. Thanks for the recommendation!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I REALLY hope she writes another one, because Home ends just as she gets the news that she got the part in The Sound of Music. I'm sure she has a ton of interesting stories from that experience. :)

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she plans to if she ended it like that! I bet that would make a great book.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Home at least talks a lot about her experiences working with Rex Harrison on the broadway version of My Fair Lady ... and I suppose I should stop talking about it in case you read it. :D It's a fault I have, wanting to talk and talk about books I like!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Yes you're giving it all away. :P