Reader's Block

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Does anyone ever get Reader's Block where they just can't bear to pick up a book and sit down to read it? I'm struggling out of a long period of this right now, but my faith in books is at a stock low right now.

― Cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been like that since Monday.
I'll look at the cover of a book and just look at it and look at it.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Books in general, no. Books I own or have read or am familiar with the author or style, yes, usually after a spree of similar reading. In an emergency, an issue of Sports Illustrated is never more than six days away.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never once been able to read past the first six pages or so of 'Primary Colours'. I picked it this week for my 'tube to work' reading. Needless to say, I tried, but am now using my discman to pass the time whilst having stinky armpits shoved in my face.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It's always like that for me when school is in session. "I can only read textbooks. Everything else is just a waste of time!"

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Does anyone ever get Reader's Block where they just can't bear to pick up a book and sit down to read it?

All too familiar for me at points!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, I get this alot. I like reading, but sometimes I just find it really hard to get going with a new book when I've finsihed a good one.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

this is the story of my past 3 years, cozen.

― Josh (Josh), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Hemingway bred emus for the south American racing circuit. When they couldn't fly he shot himself in a boat.

― DM (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

In his old age Democritus chewed off his thumbs to spare himself the torture of knowing there were beautiful tree limbs he could no longer climb.

― DM (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Proust liked to masturbate while watching starved rats fight each other to the death. He didn't get out of bed for another 16 years.

― chester (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Protagonist makes bad avant lit jokes; walks on beach.

― DM (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a great book, but I think Wittgenstein's Mistress might be a smidge better. Haven't read This Is Not A Novel yet, since it looks to be exactly the same as Reader's Block.

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't understand.

― Cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

David Markson has a book called 'Reader's Block'?

― Cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Yup.

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i have not a novel sitting on my shelf and cannot find a copy of reader's block but i somehow have the idea that they have different uh metafictional tendencies.

― Josh (Josh), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, W'sM is better; RB loses its impact about halfway through. His style is much better suited to the "I'm here, I went there, I saw this, who am I, was I there, was I her, wow look at that pretty bird" existential-whatever than "I can't write; I must write more". Maybe not better, but at least more entertaining. The second half of RB, for me, simulated the exhaustion & boredom of having read too much at once and having it get in the way of other activities, writing included, to where actually DOING SOMETHING ELSE seems so impossible that you just keep reading & reading past the point of any real interest.

I haven't read This Is Not A Novel because based on my preconceptions it's the worst title ever.

― chester (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I like how this thread has organically mutated 'cos of Ed's misreading.

― Cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

His style is much better suited to the "I'm here, I went there, I saw this, who am I, was I there, was I her, wow look at that pretty bird" existential-whatever

Well, depending on your meaning off "bird"; Springer's Progress is unbearable.

― Chris P (Chris P), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha the redeeming aspect of constantly being mistaken for other posters (despite having been on + off ILX for more than two years) is that the posters I'm confused with are always people I like & admire. Thanks Cozen, I'll be Ed for the day, but can I have his engineer's salary?

― chester (synkro), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I had been having trouble finishing anything, mostly because I was tying myself down to the wrong books. But I recently finished two books (albeit, one of them fairly short) and I seem to be back in the swing of reading. I am a little disappointed with the Sinai Tapestry, which I special-ordered. I'm hoping not to get bogged down in it, but if it seems that that is happening, I will probably just shelve it.

― Rockist Scientist, Wednesday, 25 June 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I think a good strategy is to start up by reading short books (note: The Crying of Lot 49 is a thin book not a short one). This is how I've been weening myself back on.

― Cozen (Cozen), Wednesday, 25 June 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)