The Reading Challenge Group discussion

Why do you read? People ask me this question all the time and I never have a good answer. My answer was usually that I am dyslexic and I have to read, practice makes perfect. I was the kid who would never be able to read. Two years on Goodreads and I need a different answer. I am looking for a collection of answers.

Escape from my life and to learn new things

Reading is so many things to me. Yes it makes me happy but that's because the words unlock a world of imagination and wonder, as big or small as I need it to be, where I can experience everything, feel every emotion, be anyone, learn anything, live many lives, travel to every country and culture but also in time from the dawn of ages to the far future.

It's like having your favourite food or warm blanket when you need comforting, watching an amazing film where you are the director, having a kind mentor explaining concepts but also pushing you to always go further.

Reading is like having a best friend always there for you.

(Oops - kind of got a little carried away)

I read because it takes me away from the real world and anything that is bothering me. It also makes me think about things I may not have without reading about them.

I look at them like they are crazy and ask them why they don't.

Thanks for all of the answers. It was a question that has been bothering me. You are right, why do you read is usually asked by people who do not read. It has taken me years to say I read for pleasure. To answer my own question, I read for expansion of knowledge and viewpoint. It also helps with vocabulary. My sentence structure has improved.

I couldn't resist making a top 5 list:
5) To drown out the voices in my head.
4) Nah, just for fun.
3) Because Sherlock only has 3 episodes every 2 years.
2) to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations...
1) To make the conversations with the voices in my head more interesting.

Many reasons:
To keep up with current events and trends
For fun
To free the mind and escape the doldrums of everyday life (when I'm not in the mood for movies or TV to do that)
To learn about new things
To revisit old characters and stories I recall from my youth

I had a friend who was a super reader. One of the things he once said was that the believed that reading increased one's intelligence and helps broaden the mind.

I noticed that my TV is turned off more than it used to be. I don't know if it is the bad programs, nothing to watch or I am getting in the habit of reading a good book.

Cindy wrote: "I noticed that my TV is turned off more than it used to be. I don't know if it is the bad programs, nothing to watch or I am getting in the habit of reading a good book."

For me it is ALL of the above. I still have my Must See "appointment" or go-to TV programs, but for the most part I just watch 10 shows or less each week. I watch some movies and general channel switching some as well.

In no particular order, I read because:
- I can read almost anywhere because books are easy to transport, don't require a lot of set up, and you can read at your own pace.
- I have a lot of time to kill on the train between home and work.
- We only have one television and my other half uses it to play video games.
- It's an enjoyable way to learn new things.
- I like to disconnect from technology once in awhile.
- I find it to be a relaxing activity for winding down before bed.

Been thinking about this and it reminded me of an article where Neil Gaiman was defending libraries and especially why reading fiction is so important.
Here it is, in case it interests you

Thanks for the link, Veronique!

How many of us have been in this situation. Late night reading and you have this conversation. It's getting really late, I should go to bed. The book says, there is only 100 pages left and you say can't argue with that, let's do this. You look at the clock and it is 2:30 A.M. This actually happened to me last night, I was trying to finish The Good Earth.

Haha yes Cindy, I always do that!

"oh come on the pages are only paper thin."

Haha Cap, I like that quote!

To learn, to understand, to be entertained, to analyse, to think, to rest, to travel without leaving my seat, to find new worlds to explore, to set off a chain reaction of ideas and, sometimes, to escape.

The convo with myself about finishing the book happens most nights!

Jenny wrote: "Haha Cap, I like that quote!"

Thank you. It is an original but based on a quote from the film "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life". In a restaurant scene, that although pretty funny is also pretty gross, has a Maitre D serving an incredibly huge grossly overly obese overweight gentleman. At the end of the meal offers the man a very thin after dinner mint. The real quote (just one line from a series of a few lines of dialogue) is "Its only wafer thin".

Marcel - yes, it was gross!

I must watch Monty Python at some point then, Cap!

If you didn't watch them before, my advice would be The Life of Brian - but skip it if you would be offended by an irreverent version of the story of Christ.

After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans....and what did the Romans ever do for us?

Haha Deborah! Yes, what did those Romans ever do for us? ;)

I just saw this thread now. That is a great question that I would have trouble answering too. Other than "because I like it" which is a very lame answer I really don't know why. I love that question!!!!
even though I have no real answer

Hmmm...why do I read?... First of all, I love it.
But then, why do I love it?
I guess it's relatable, and we can connect to it. Humans love befriending others they can connect to, so it's almost like we're befriending the habit of reading.
It drives me to emotions that I might not believe myself capable of! For example, I might have once believed that I wouldn't want to punch a wall after reading a book (Me Before You)....
Moving on...
When I want to escape from my world for a moment and confide in someone who knows what I mean...there is a whole universe at my fingertips when I read. All I have to do is choose which world to delve into.
So there you go! Some of my main reasons for reading...
If I think of anything else, I'll add it. :)