<p>I read a good number of classics and books - the thing is, I generally grow impatient with the text. I don't want to enjoy every literary flourish and I end up treating my works like they're my college materials - skim and read the conclusions. </p>
<p>I've lost the ability to 'read for pleasure' and often it becomes a chore. The only thing keeping me alive while reading is the desire to finish the book. </p>
<p>So, I go after the 400-500-600... and sometimes 1400 page tomes and I generally grow rather impatient. I've read novellas like Notes from the Underground and The Stranger and they seem fine but I still possess the same impatience. I've tried more contemporary works like The Curious Incidence of the Dog in the Night-Time - the same problem persists and I generally grow annoyed with the author.</p>
<p>Again the only desire to keep reading is to finish the book - and I often find greater satisfaction in that I completed a few hundred pages rather than enjoying the book in general. It becomes a chore again. It becomes another book to add to my collection of satisfaction. It becomes another school work I've devoured. </p>
<p>An unfinished book is a pain - and now, I'm arguably fighting through one of the funniest satirical works of all time - Catch-22.</p>
<p>Mix it up! Read something different next time you decide to reach for another classic. I go trough the exact same thing you go through and before I start on another steinbeck novel, i try to refresh my palate with some gossip girl or stephanie meyer. hey it's not exalted literature, but it works!</p>
<p>Hmm... I'll try! I'm bogged down with dry texts for class right now and I'm sick and tired of history classes where I do NOT care about the f-ing material! :(</p>
<p>Well, I read books both for the enrichment of knowledge and a sense of accomplishment. With that being said, I think it is pretty natural to have a desire to finish the book... ain't it? I mean, I don't know what enjoyment from book reading is; in fact, even movie watching makes me quite impatient. I think perseverance over book reading is essential, and I don't really find textbooks dry either. I enjoy reading textbooks very much.</p>
<p>maybe the problem isn't you but the books that you choose to read. I was kind of like that. I thought I had to read all the classics and the famous ones out there until I realized reading was getting soooo tiresome and decided to read books that I actually enjoyed even if that meant reading an elementary level book.</p>
<p>I'm right now reading through the classics as well, and I try to have a second book handy. For instance, I read Freakonomics while I read The Republic. It helps when you want to read but are a little tired of the book in your hand.</p>
<p>Often these literary works require moments of contemplation. You need to stop and analyze the text and what it represents or tries to say and it is often helpful to discuss it with someone else. Start or join a reading group and discuss the works with your friends or schoolmates. Often you will be surprised by what you can learn about the book from angles you've never thought of before just by exchanging ideas.</p>
<p>^ that is true!! I often find myself enjoying classic literature when reading it as a class.. but when I try to read it by myself it is simply boring.</p>