finding it difficult to finish..

United States
February 7, 2010 10:08am CST
My schedule is pretty messed up right now. I still like to read. However, I have been having lots of trouble actually finishing books. I have heard comments from several of us older folks. They say that they have difficulty reading like they used to. Is it an age thing? Do we all find it increasingly difficult to finish books we start reading?
1 person likes this
11 responses
• United States
7 Feb 10
I don't think it's an aging thing. There are plenty of people of all ages who do and don't have trouble finishing books. It would depend on why you're not finishing the books. Are you just putting them down for long periods of time until finally you find yourself reading something else instead? Then the same thing happens again? Yeah, I personally haven't been there, but I know people who have been. Have you been guessing the ending and the plot and deciding just not to bother? Never been there either to be honest. Even if I hate a book, I feel obligated to finish it. Just carry the book with you and don't read anything else until you've finished it.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Feb 10
I really don't see finishing a book I don't like as a waste of time, actually. If you've never read a book you didn't like, how would you appreciate the ones that you did? I find that I like more books than most people and believe more books are good or at least okay than there are bad books. That and suffering through books that I hate helps me when I'm trying to read my textbooks for school. It's a breeze!
• United States
8 Feb 10
I used to be like that. If I started a book I just had to finish it no matter how painful! I think I'm like if it doesn't grab me in the beginning I'm done! It's gotta be good, I don't like wasting my time.
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I think that because we are seasoned readers, we can usually judge where the plot is going. If I am reading a book that is following the basic formula I will just give up and start something new. I use to keep plodding through the book just to finish it, but then asked myself, "why am I boring myself?" My only problem now is that I have a terrible habit of having more than one book that I am reading at a time. I can have 3-4 books going. The upside is that if I am getting bored with one, I'll pick up one that I am currently reading and go back to the other later. It might be a "old age" thing, but I think it's just that we readers want something to grab our attention and hold it there.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 10
You have a very good point. If a book doesn't grab me then I can't stick with it. Maybe it's just with old age I don't want to waste any more time than necessary. As I get older I don't take things like I used to. I don't put up with as much foolishness either! Maybe that's it too!
@DCMerkle (1281)
• United States
8 Feb 10
I think that because I've read just about every plot out there, it's becoming hard to find something new. I read a little of just about every genre so I know just about all of the plots that are out there.
1 person likes this
@tomcat23 (622)
• Old Forge, Pennsylvania
8 Feb 10
I'm not so sure its an age thing. I've never been much of a reader when it comes to books. I could read all day on Mylot and never lose interest, but for some reason, I just haven't been able to sit down and read a book in its entirety. You might just be going through a phase and it could be because your mind has found a different path of enlightenment. Sort of like when a writer gets "writer's block". That's just my opinion!
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 10
Well, you at least offered some "food for thought!" I'll have to consider that it is possibly just "reader's block" then! I have kept my mind busy that is for sure!! I used to read all day and could do so for several days at a time. It may be that I simply do not have the time to do so. Maybe I am in withdrawals of some sort!
@JAG2009 (266)
• India
8 Feb 10
I've been noticing something similar in my reading habits as well. In the past, I could read a book from the start to the end, patiently. But nowadays, I find I do not have that kind of patience. It is often a struggle to read books that make me think/remember/compare. I wonder if it's because of the habit of reading online, that has developed side-by-side. When I read online, I can easily skim through the content, and even skip to the last page. The availability of so much content has reduced the 'sanctity' (big word, I know!) of reading - for me. I miss that.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 10
Yeah, I prefer to just sit and read a book. I rarely have the time for it though. But when I do I want to be able to really sit and read! I do miss that too!
@myzire72 (1154)
• Singapore
8 Feb 10
I think what deters us from finishing a book is usually a lack of time. As a family man and a father of two, I already have my hands full just by taking care of the family, not forgetting about the hectic work life outside home. That's why to me, reading is a kind of luxury.
• United States
8 Feb 10
You are probably really right on that one! I am caring for my son throughout the day time hours then working at night. It may very well be my tight schedule that is hampering my reading through a book!
• Philippines
8 Feb 10
I love also reading books, I always borrow books from our library.. But i've got so upset when I saw that my book was stolen by somebody else... But I will continue to read books, except thaT i will change first the stolen book before they would allow me to borrow again in the librabry. Maybe its not the age thing why you cant read your books, may be its you schedule, however reading is a healthy habbit, because it gives a lot of information,not just info's but also entertainment, you may schedule your time of reading so you will not end up not reading your books.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 10
It could indeed be my schedule that is complicating things! I have no doubts about that! I do read some at night but I am so tired by then that I don't read long before I am out!
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I find it hard to finish books sometimes too, especially if the book doesn't interest me even though I have decreed that I will finish 100 books in 2010. I've already finished 17 but I've abandoned 4. If reading is really that important to you, my advice is to stick to topics you're interested in and schedule a time, even if it's 10 minutes a day, to read and stick to that schedule no matter what.
• United States
8 Feb 10
My daughter's goal is four books a month this year. She's already read several, but I think you are way ahead. I just read as I feel like it. I read so much throughout the whole day everyday I don't set any reading requirements for myself. I am more likely to set writing goals!
• India
7 Feb 10
reading is a good hobby i would ask you to continue it. I know it is hard to find time to read a book but its not that hard to find the time to read a book. one can get an hour or on the run , when you have nothing to do, i carry a book with me always so whenever i get a chance i read the book eventualy i am able to finish it . Well it has been a long time i sat and finished a book in one sitting but i miss those days.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 10
Oh, I still read. It is a wonderful thing and I wouldn't give up on it at all. It's just I don't have time so many days! I need to schedule time in once again. I read little things a lot like on line and magazines!
@thuhuong (823)
• United States
8 Feb 10
With so much to do, time is limited. I do notice that my focus is not as great as how it was in college. It's not that I don't have time but that my mind is more plague with worries and thoughts about things that I should be doing to get ready for tomorrow or if I forgot something. Strange :P It's training yourself to focus again. It's kung fu too to read through a whole book. However, you can implement book reading techniques like speed reading or other reading methods that will allow you to enjoy a book without finishing it. This way you'll get the main idea, however if it's something you need to read through to understand, might as well give it it's own separate time just so you can enjoy it.
• United States
8 Feb 10
True, I got a lot going on and that may indeed be a major factor/distraction! I actually teach a speed reading course and implement many of those strategies. They are great when I feel I need to read a book - like a friend's suggestion or something- but I'm not enjoying it! I usually read pretty fast anyway, but really chunk through it when I am not liking something.
@eurekafemme (5877)
• Philippines
7 Feb 10
I don't think it hs something to do with aging or age for that matter.My grandma who is already 70+ old likes to read and finishes the book in just three sittings. It is I guess, depending on your schedule and your interest vested on that book. I, myself, find it so hard to finish reading a book even if it is just a short novel when the book isn't that interesting enough. But give me a book of Sheldon and I will not leave it until I finished it.:-) Also, it is a matter of priority. We do have other things to attend to. So, even if we are itching to read our favorite book and finish it as soon as we want to, if a more important matter comes, then we have no choice but forego the book and attend to that more important matter (whatever that is). Have a great day.:-)
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Feb 10
You are right, maybe I just haven't had the time and interest come together in awhile! I am a fast reader so it doesn't take me long to complete most books! Maybe I just need to look for some new material!
@TAZNEM (656)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
in reading books i first prioritized reading the first two chapters and if i like it then no matter what what happens i have to finish reading it hwever if i dont like it then i dont bother reading it again.