Annathepiper: Skewing the national reading average since 1972!

[annathepiper]

When he wasn't claiming that my first words were "play more Elvis, Daddy!" or that before I was talking I was making duck noises, Dad liked to tell the story of how, when I was four or so, I won a bet for him by reading straight out of a newspaper article.

I do not remember this. But I've certainly been reading ever since--and it's been kind of underscored for me with the article that's been on the news sites in the last day or two about how 1 in 4 Americans haven't read a book this year. Among those who had, the average number read was seven--and the vast majority of books read were romance novels or religious books, e.g., the Bible. And I was vaguely sad that only this one lonely little paragraph hinted at the presence of my Tribe (i.e., SF/F fandom) among those surveyed:

"At the same time, book enthusiasts abound. Many in the survey reported reading dozens of books and said they couldn't do without them."

I really must wonder what the results would be if a thousand SF/F fans were surveyed about their reading habits. I know I'm quite typical among fen of my generation, who, if left to their own devices, will cheerfully buy way more books than can fit upon their shelves. I have nearly 100 books of various shapes and sizes and vintages waiting for my attention on my To Read shelf, and while I don't think I'll make my nanoreamo goal of 24 books this month, I'm going to coast right to my larger goal of 100 books by year's end! I have lofty aspirations of trying to hold back on my purchasing of new books while I make serious inroads on the backlog, though I am doubtful I'll hold out on that. (Hell, there's a new Temeraire book coming out next month!)

Long story short, folks? Don't feel bad if you're one of the one in four. I'll take one for the team and read an extra book for you! ^_^

Comments

[caligogreywings.livejournal.com]

In high school, I was reading three books at once. I still do when I can find the time. I read in school, while the teacher was giving her lesson. She'd call on me, I'd look up, give the right answer, and go back to reading.

I've been called a know it all and that I have too big of a vocabulary, all because I read too damn much.

[annathepiper]

Hah, I'm with you on the whole reading multiple books at once thing. I used to do that more often than I do now--I don't multitask so well anymore. ;)

And oh my yes, reading in class. Snicker. Though writing in class was more my thing; I used to write fiction under the guise of taking notes!

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Hey, I read enough when I was little to last me a while... I remember one school year getting to Book #117....

[annathepiper]

Hee! I probably have had years like that, though this is the first year I've actually kept regular track. I'll be amused to see how far I actually get by 12/31!

[ceallaighgirl.livejournal.com]

I know SO many people who don't read -- it's tragic!

My reading tastes are a bit eclectic. In one year, I'll read fiction (not romantic though, usually just "normal" or sci-fi or fantasy), "religious" (like, theology stuff), philosophy, history, music, and poetry. There are too many interesting things to read to be all stuck on one genre, hehe.

Reading is the BEST way to escape mentally. Except then I get sad when the book is over!

[annathepiper]

I saw someone posting on the OKP at one point about how they just didn't get the point of reading. I didn't answer the post at the time, but it really kind of called out for me that "ah yes, clearly this person is Not of My Tribe".

Intellectually I understand that perfectly intelligent people may choose not to devote their attention to books; there are plenty of other pastimes, after all. Music, sculpture, painting, science, charity work, programming, you name it. And yet, every time I hear somebody say they don't like to read, my brain starts doing its Tenth Doctor Impersonation: "What? What?! WHAT?!" And can't stop boggling. ;)

[ceallaighgirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know! My twin brother is that, he almost never reads. My younger brother has grown up now and surprises me at how much he reads. It's awesome. We can sit around and talk about books! :-D

I didn't even know that reading had to have a point. Sure, some of it does, to expand the mind and learn new things, but sometimes, it's just for an adventure! I mean, with a book you can . . . explore strange new worlds . . . seek out new life and new civilizations . . . and boldly go where no man has gone before. Or woman. Or alien.

[annathepiper]

I suspect that some who don't like to read (based on the article I linked to) may not see the point of a book as a story source when movies and TV series abound. One can argue, I suppose, that watching a two-hour movie is not as big a time investment as a 600-page book, especially if one is a slow reader. One can also argue that a decently produced movie or series can certainly spark the imagination as well as a good book--witness the huge swath of fan fiction that always springs up around a production with any sort of quality. :)

However, I myself love to be immersed in the words. And I hear you about the pleasure of book geeking with a relation! *points cheerily at wildshadowstar, my little sister and fellow book geek* Hurrah for having another SF/F nerd in the family!

[lickingtoad.livejournal.com]

The mental picture of you diving in front of a book that otherwise might've hit less literary passerby is chuckleworthy indeed!

[annathepiper]

*snicker* "Duck! Here comes a Hugo winner!"

However, there are some things I won't read, even for the sake of bolstering the national average. ;)

[wildshadowstar.livejournal.com]

I usually read at least a book a week, sometimes two. I've gotten into the habit of keeping a book in my locker at work so that I can read on my breaks, especially since I get an hour lunch and it doesn't take that long for me to eat. I don't usually read nonfiction because I use reading as a means of escape. If I wanted to read something about real life, I'd read the newspaper.

I feel like the oddball with most of the people I see on a daily basis because most of them don't like to read more than a newspaper.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, you and I have always been the reading nerds of the family, I think. And I hear you: I pretty much always have a book in my bag, since I never know when I might get held up somewhere by something (e.g., waiting for the bus, or maybe the traffic sucks while I'm on the bus, etc., etc.). Today, I have two!

I've had fellow book geeks as coworkers before--one of the good things about working in Seattle, which is Geek City--but even here, I often find myself feeling a little weird if my usual coworkers don't give me a sign that they're readers too.

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

It's worth tracking down the original Ipsos poll and reading the detailed questions and responses. What got me about that survey is that only 3% of those surveyed claim to have read a science fiction or fantasy book in the last year. I knew the SF/F tribe was small, but that's a lot smaller than I would have guessed. It also doesn't make sense given the popularity of Harry Potter, as the final book by itself seems to have sold more copies than accounted for by 3% of Americans.

I'm a relatively slow book reader myself, taking about a minute per page on average. (My online reading is much faster because I'm scanning for information rather than reading for enjoyment.) I also don't usually have big chunks of book-reading time, so I rarely have as much as an hour a day to read for enjoyment, and often more like 15-20 minutes. So a 600 page book is ten solid hours of reading, and will take me at least a couple of weeks to get through. So I don't blow through huge piles of books like many of my friends--24 books would be a good *year* of books for me. Still, I almost always have at least one book that I'm reading and sometimes two or three. I like to read a lot of pretty dense non-fiction, too, which slows me down even more.

But not even fitting in any reading at all, and not having any books or bookshelves? That boggles the mind, and 27% of Americans apparently fit that description.

[annathepiper]

I'm not sure most people (read: those outside SF/F fandom) think of Harry Potter as SF/F. Rather, I expect they think of it as a children's series.

I'm fortunate in that I do read very quickly and I also have a good amount of time for reading in my daily commutes--but your 24 books in a year is certainly still well above the average quoted in that poll!

And yeah, I boggle. I have a hard time even beginning to fathom not reading anything at all for enjoyment! I mean, I can come up with scenarios if I think about it, but I'm still having Eddie Izzard chirping "NO INFORMATION IN THIS AREA" in my head when I do. ;)

[apel.livejournal.com]

Not a single book, huh? That must be hard. Even if you don't read for pleasure, most professionals have to keep up with what's happening in their field somehow.

Me, I take the train to work so naturally I read. Most people read books on the tube. BTW I've actually read a few romances this year and it's your fault. Thank you. :-)

[annathepiper]

*bows* Glad to be of service. ;) There are good romance novels--one just has to be a little judicious in selecting them!

And yeah, I see plenty of people reading on the bus to and from work. But then, Seattle is Geek Central.

[gilroycullen.livejournal.com]

Have you been introduced to the internet marvel www.librarything.com as of yet? Its an amazing little site that allows cataloging books! Its awesome... And good for organizing the to be read shelves.

[annathepiper]

I think I've heard tell of this, but haven't gone to check it out. Primarily because the last thing I need is another Internet site to eat my time. ;)

Also, I actually don't have much of a problem organizing my To Read shelves; they're the last two (and a little overflow) shelves on my two big bookcases, right below all my "stuff that isn't SF/F", and they're in alphabetical order by author.