Assalamualaikum, Internet travellers! I've been doing pretty great so far especially with my studies over. At the moment, I'm just using as much time as I have to catch up on ticking off my reading list which has been left abandoned for quite some time now. For those who don't know what my current read is, I'm actually reading up on the book Inferno by Dan Brown. Once I'm done with this book, I'll be sure to post a review on it; both through my Youtube channel and my blog here. Anyway, one lazy afternoon as I was reading through the book, a sudden realization came to me. Usually, a book; no matter how thick or thin it may be would only take me 3 days top to finish it entirely. And that ladies and gentlemen, is one of the few accomplishments that I am personally proud of to preserve and shamelessly flaunt about. However, lately, I've realized it has been extended and dragged on until for about a week. If say the situation is critical, it could extend far more than a mere week. This is a serious situation... at least for me that is.
Of course, if you are a reader, then you know exactly what I'm talking about but if my words seem like a jumble of incomprehensible words to you, bear with me for a moment longer and you'll see what I mean. I am fully aware that although it is possible for me to describe myself as an avid reader, my speed in reading is quite pathetic and insanely slow. Maybe it's because I just want to swallow and digest the words better, or perhaps I'm taken aback with the author's style of writing (which happens a lot) and it is also possible that I'm simply trying to imagine the scene of the story so it'll be like watching a movie in my head. Those, I'm sure are what most readers do when it comes to reading books.
And here is where the problem comes into the picture. I don't entirely blame my lack of speed in reading to drag the duration of my reading time on a single book. I'm also telling you guys you should not feel that way either, in fact, I think there are other overlooked factors that drag readers down. I call this "The Mighty Distractions Theory". Take note.
1) When choices are too much, we go crossed eyed.
Now, being a bookworm actually affects how I run my life and in making decisions. I had painstakingly plan on my entire spending when I was in foundation and my daily budget was only RM7 or less per day. It was tough but I always felt reassured when there's extra cash in my purse. However, all those tight precautions ended up being flushed down the loo when it came to book sales, book stores and book fairs. My hands would itch to grab my purse and jump straight into a chaotic whirl of book-shopping frenzy. I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to books. Nope. Some may say it's a good thing because I don't easily use my pocket money on girly things like new clothes, shoes, etc. etc., but with this incurable situation that I'm in, I think it's about just as bad.
Logically, when one is involved in an uncontrolled book-shopping mess, it will automatically mean that a lot of books are bought. It could be a reading investment for the future as I like to call it. However, if there are just far too many books, it poses a new problem for me too. In the past and it also happens till the present day, when I want to pick a new book to read, I find myself staring blankly at the sea of shelves mounted on the wall. There's just too many choices that it makes singling out a book a lot harder. I once spent more than half an hour browsing endlessly through the shelves and left with nothing.
2) Reading In Danger Zones
Sometimes, reading on a chair isn't the most comfortable position especially when the book you're reading is that good and you're planning to keep on reading for a few good hours. I agree. This is why it shouldn't be too surprising if my friends or family members spot me sprawled on the floor with a book held firmly over my head, or lying on the sofa in the most inhumane way possible to get comfy in the best position. This sounds okay but I've realized that reading while lying down is a mega "no-no" because we'll end up taking naps in between. Not a very good idea especially when it could inflict potential harm to your face. Take my story for example. I was lying down on the floor with the book over my face (as usual), my eyes started to droop and before I knew it, the book slipped from my fingers and landed with a smack on my face. Best wake-up call ever, if you put the pain aside.
3) Adapted movies/Drama series
Ah, books' greatest enemies. Sometimes. I was once obsessed into this BBC drama series called North and South. I absolutely loved it and it was all I talked about with my mum on the phone. When I finally spotted the book in a book fair (*cough cough), I did not hesitate to make a grab for it and swore to read it once I got back. I didn't unless you count the 14 pages I read which is equivalent to nothing. It happened the same way when I watched Sense and Sensibility too. I never read the book because I thought to myself I didn't need to since I knew what will happen in the story.
Moral of the story, read book first before watching the movie.
So, yup. I guess that's basically one of the few dilemma's an everyday bookworm faces. I'm still working hard on it so I could read my new books at ease and not finding myself clinging to any further distractions.
Of course, if you are a reader, then you know exactly what I'm talking about but if my words seem like a jumble of incomprehensible words to you, bear with me for a moment longer and you'll see what I mean. I am fully aware that although it is possible for me to describe myself as an avid reader, my speed in reading is quite pathetic and insanely slow. Maybe it's because I just want to swallow and digest the words better, or perhaps I'm taken aback with the author's style of writing (which happens a lot) and it is also possible that I'm simply trying to imagine the scene of the story so it'll be like watching a movie in my head. Those, I'm sure are what most readers do when it comes to reading books.
And here is where the problem comes into the picture. I don't entirely blame my lack of speed in reading to drag the duration of my reading time on a single book. I'm also telling you guys you should not feel that way either, in fact, I think there are other overlooked factors that drag readers down. I call this "The Mighty Distractions Theory". Take note.
1) When choices are too much, we go crossed eyed.
Now, being a bookworm actually affects how I run my life and in making decisions. I had painstakingly plan on my entire spending when I was in foundation and my daily budget was only RM7 or less per day. It was tough but I always felt reassured when there's extra cash in my purse. However, all those tight precautions ended up being flushed down the loo when it came to book sales, book stores and book fairs. My hands would itch to grab my purse and jump straight into a chaotic whirl of book-shopping frenzy. I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to books. Nope. Some may say it's a good thing because I don't easily use my pocket money on girly things like new clothes, shoes, etc. etc., but with this incurable situation that I'm in, I think it's about just as bad.
Logically, when one is involved in an uncontrolled book-shopping mess, it will automatically mean that a lot of books are bought. It could be a reading investment for the future as I like to call it. However, if there are just far too many books, it poses a new problem for me too. In the past and it also happens till the present day, when I want to pick a new book to read, I find myself staring blankly at the sea of shelves mounted on the wall. There's just too many choices that it makes singling out a book a lot harder. I once spent more than half an hour browsing endlessly through the shelves and left with nothing.
2) Reading In Danger Zones
Sometimes, reading on a chair isn't the most comfortable position especially when the book you're reading is that good and you're planning to keep on reading for a few good hours. I agree. This is why it shouldn't be too surprising if my friends or family members spot me sprawled on the floor with a book held firmly over my head, or lying on the sofa in the most inhumane way possible to get comfy in the best position. This sounds okay but I've realized that reading while lying down is a mega "no-no" because we'll end up taking naps in between. Not a very good idea especially when it could inflict potential harm to your face. Take my story for example. I was lying down on the floor with the book over my face (as usual), my eyes started to droop and before I knew it, the book slipped from my fingers and landed with a smack on my face. Best wake-up call ever, if you put the pain aside.
3) Adapted movies/Drama series
Ah, books' greatest enemies. Sometimes. I was once obsessed into this BBC drama series called North and South. I absolutely loved it and it was all I talked about with my mum on the phone. When I finally spotted the book in a book fair (*cough cough), I did not hesitate to make a grab for it and swore to read it once I got back. I didn't unless you count the 14 pages I read which is equivalent to nothing. It happened the same way when I watched Sense and Sensibility too. I never read the book because I thought to myself I didn't need to since I knew what will happen in the story.
Moral of the story, read book first before watching the movie.
So, yup. I guess that's basically one of the few dilemma's an everyday bookworm faces. I'm still working hard on it so I could read my new books at ease and not finding myself clinging to any further distractions.