How much do you read?

[r_j_dando]

I am curious to see how much other writers read, and whether you re-read things or always read new stuff.

I read maybe one book a week on average. Sometimes I will take a couple of weeks to read something longer, or more complex. At the other end of the scale, I can rattle through The Belgariad and The Mallorean in a couple of weeks (which is 10 books, not counting the extras). At the moment, I think maybe 60% of what I read is new, and the rest are old, comfortable favourites. Maybe 10% of the books I 'read' are audio books these days, to fit them in around other hobbies.

I definitely have favourite books (usually favourite series), that I can shrug into like a comfy cardi and just lose myself in. They're like old friends. Pretty much everything Gaiman, Pratchett, Diana Wynne-Jones, and the aforementioned Eddings books (although only those - I can't read any of the other series!).

I have friends who do what I do, and alternate between stuff they know and love, and new authors or new books by known authors. I also know folk who only read new things (and even someone who doesn't keep any books - he buys them, reads them, then takes them to the charity shop!). I suspect this may come down to how quickly one reads (and how much time one has for reading), because while I can read a book in a day if I have the time for it, I also know writers who are v e r y s l o w and read maybe a book every couple of months.

So...do you re-read? Do you listen to audio books? What are your reading habits, and do you think they make you a better writer?

[Vertigo]

Looking back at my database, I vary between one and two books a week (some months 4 some months 8 or 9). I rarely re-read a book but occasionally I do and I may do more in the future; I have only been reading heavily for about 5 years (after many years of being a tv vegetable). I read mostly SF and occasional fantasy. I also like to mix what I think of (rightly or wrongly) as classic (pre '40s), golden ('40s to '80s) and contemporary (post '80s).

[TheDustyZebra]

I don't re-read as much as I used to -- in fact, hardly at all. I used to read the same things over and over, adding in bits of new stuff, and now it's the other way around. I think it was when I discovered GoodReads (thanks, Chrons) that I had a sudden realization that my reading time on this planet is limited and there is no way I'm going to be able to read everything even if I never re-read a single thing again. So now I'm really conscious of the time it's taking if I pick up something I've already read.

I go through 3-5 books a week, depending on what they are. More lately, because I'm concentrating mostly on YA and JF due to my WIP.

[Menion]

Is this aimed at published writers or just people who write?

Anyway, yeah I usedto read books in a few days to a week, until the last year where having work and writing taking up my time makes it a bit longer. Well Scott Lynch's Lie's took just three days

[Arkose]

Listen too about 3-4 books a month, re-listening many of them. I read about a book a month, been alittle slower since I stopped riding the bus.

[Lilmizflashythang]

I used to read a different book every day. However, I found I was reading so fast, I wasn't retaining any of the book. Now I read one day a week, for about one to two hours at a time. The books would still be over in one day, if I added the hours together, but I get more out of the books now. And I enjoy them more. As to what I read, anything. I'm just counting the books, not all the online reading.

[Glitch]

If I find a book really gripping I'll make time to read it. Otherwise I just pick up the current book when I have time. I tend to go through 3-5 books a year.

[Grimbear]

I read an average of about 4-5 books a week. Because I read so fast I have to re-read a lot or I'd run out. Also, I read pretty much every genre.

I like your reading choices rj

They're like old friends. Pretty much everything Gaiman, Pratchett, Diana Wynne-Jones,

Those are some of my favourites too.

Well Scott Lynch's Lie's took just three days

And that - I have read that one twice - and the follow-up, but he is taking too long to write the next one!

Grim

[Abernovo]

I tend to get through about a book a week. Occasionally more, sometimes less, it all depends upon length and thought needed. Some books make me think more - I like them.

I'm not buying much at the minute, due to cash-flow and the price of getting books here, but I have a to-be-read selection waiting for me. That said, I've got two books on order at present, one a recommendation from here, the other by a Chrons member, so I am still getting some new books.

I've always read quite a bit, but I went through a fallow period the last couple of years. The Chrons actually helped get me back into the habit. Hopefully when I'm reading, I pick up more good tips to feed into my own scribblings than I do bad.

[Warren_Paul]

I typically read a book a week, but recently I've been so caught up in my writing and other responsibilities that I don't have time to read. Reading definitely makes you a better writer, that is something writing teachers always say; read other people's work.

[springs]

When I do read, I blaze through things. Then I might go a while without. I read a huge range, without any reference to genre - if it takes my interest, I'll have a go. I also read across disciplines; prose, plays, poetry. Sometimes I'll just stare at sentences and wonder why I llke them so much. Or mark them in books and come back to them.
At the moment, most of my reading is from the chrons - other peoples WIP, and that has been fabulous for extending what I read, better than any library.

[juelz4sure]

sadly it's been a while since I've picked up a book, once everything gets squared away I plan on building up my library again I still need to pick something up.

[David Evil Overlord]

I usually read about one book a week. Just finished reading Tarzan of the Apes. The original 1912 version (before anyone thinks I've gotten my grubby little hands on an incredibly valuable first edition, the first copyright date is 1912, and the printing date on this version is 1981).

[Warren_Paul]

That's still a very old book, David. Is it hardback? Only way I can imagine it has survived so long... unless it was read once then sat on a shelf for 30 odd years

[Vertigo]

30 years is not that long WP; I have loads of books on my shelves dating back well before the '80s, though admittedly the paperbacks need a little care in their handling!

Maybe it's just all that rain you get in New Zealand!