<p>I find it hard-pressed to go a day without reading at least one newspaper. I don't know why; even though the news is online and most articles are online, nothing beats unfolding a fresh newspaper to me :).</p>
<p>I love reading really good books on my own, though AP English is getting in the way of that. I'm a huge, huge reader though. Love love reading!</p>
<p>I used to read all the time... then I got to college.
I miss reading a lot though.</p>
<p>I haven't seen a lot of mention of Thomas Pynchon and I am reading V. by him right now and it is amazing. It is my first Pynchon book and I'll be sure to read some of his other stuff after.</p>
<p>I heard a lot of hype about it being really confusing, and while I know I don't pick up on a lot of the historical references and symbolism, I still find it pretty manageable. There also is a site that that has like a chapter by chapter list of some historical references that you probably won't pick up. The sheer volume of knowledge this dude has is amazing.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Seriously guys, most people from my school havent touched a book in eons.
[/quote]
That's myself. I don't read. The only book I read last year as a freshman was 1984, because surprisingly it wasn't that bad. </p>
<p>...I think I've read a handful of books, less than 3 in the past 6 years or so. Reading doesn't interest me. The Harry Potter books bore me, I never got past 100 pages of the 3rd book (took me a month to get here), and to provide a glimpse of how outdated in terms of books, I had no clue of that one recent popular book with a dragon on the cover that every other person at school was hugging and making out with. </p>
<p>The only reason that my overall speech, reading, writing skills aren't completely low and surprisingly "average" (although in the U.S. here that standard is fairly low) is because I read a little on the things that interest me; gaming articles online, sports articles, forums such as this one (I guess forums count since you read/write a lot of stuff...), etc.. And very rarely, a few books (that tend to be short).</p>
<p>I skimmed this thread (as I uber-skim all threads), and I have absolutely no clue on 99% of the authors/books mentioned on here. That shows...I'm completely unfamiliar in terms of books/authors, even the supposedly "famous" ones. Don't ask if I know shakespeare.</p>
<p>EDIT:
[quote]
The last book I read without it being assigned was a Goosebumps book in third grade.
[/quote]
Sums up my thoughts nicely, although even assigned books, I sparknote in less than 5 minutes every single time.</p>
<p>I LOVE reading, I just wish I had time to read these days...I have no downtime and if I try to read before bed like I used to I just fall asleep because I'm so exhausted.:(</p>
<p>I wish I was an avid reader...
I tried getting back into it over the summer, read about 10 books in one month, and then completely stopped, as I had summer HW to do (yeah, it took two months. I hate my school).
Anyways, now I just read whenever I have two spare seconds, and I've been reading the same two pages of the same book for about a month now. =(</p>
<p>Like most everyone else here, I too was once an avid reader until high school.
Isn't it a little ironic that school, a place that should encourage higher learning and independent study, gets in the way of higher learning and independent study?</p>
<p>well, the only time I really readread is during the summer. even then, summer assignments, jobs, etc get in the way of that. the worst is when school starts and I'm still only half way through a book.</p>
<p>for the past 2 months, I've remained only half-way through: Lolita, Death of a Salesman, and The Bell Jar.</p>
<p>yup. I read about 2 books every year, the ones the teachers assign.</p>
<p>Truthfully though, I do enjoy reading. I'm just too lazy to find books.</p>
<p>if you're now in your early 20s, and are seeking to improve your reading comprehension and become a better writer, -what- kinds of books should you read? i.e., literature, ethics, philosophy, fiction, non-fiction, history?</p>
<p>philosophy helps, a lot. I'd recommend literature if you want to write something grand, but philosophy is good for generally everything.</p>
<p>^ any certain books you recommend?</p>