What was the last book you read (if any)??

Question

Reading has taken a massive plummet!!!

More and more people are ignoring books, meaning Less and Less people are reading them. It could get to the point that books will cease to exist. This is disgraceful.

My question is what was the last book you read in each of these three sections:

Biographical/ Autobiography
Fact
Fiction

And also, do you think reading has dropped, or was it just in a loop?

My answers are:

Autobiography: "Bigger than Hitler, Better than Christ"
Fiction: "Digital Fortress"
Fact: "Lonely Planet - Tokyo"

It is nice to see a lot of people still do enjoy a bit of literature, regardless of the subject, and over 3 pages of positive comments can't be that bad.

I am going to have to throw the question open to the voters.

Answer 1

Biographical/ Autobiography nada, I haven't ever read anything in this genre that I know of
Fact Marley and Me
Fiction Sunday Philosophy Club

People don't read anymore and it is disgraceful. I work at a library and it is just sad that these books sit on the shelf...:(

Answer 2

I read a lot. I've read about 60 books this year not including graphic novels or useful stuff which I've needed to read.

Biography (admittedly not a category I read a lot of): The Twelve Caesars by Michael Grant.
Fact: The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes
Fiction: The last book I read was Sister Pelagia and the White Bulldog. I'm currently reading "The Prestige"

I don't think reading has dropped, but I do think reading has changed. For example, in the past couple of years I've noticed an increase in the number of graphic novels available in my local library, particularly TokyoPop.
I live in East Anglia and Norfolk libraries in particular deserve praise for really interesting initiatives in their library such as Sunday Morning Story time, teen book club at the Forum etc.
There are initiatives to encourage reading, such as the Summer Reading Game which encourages primary school children to read for pleasure during the long summer holiday. You clearly feel strongly about reading - if you've got time, why not volunteer a couple of hours a week July-Aug 07? It's really good fun.

Answer 3

Yes I think the popularity of books has dropped, especially in the younger generation. Also schools no longer take primary age kids to the libraries like they did when I was that age. The main library where I live is always busy, but mainly with 35+ age. I read alot, and like all kinds of books. I always have one on the go!
The one I finished a couple of days ago was Hooligan by Eddie Brimson (not great, but filled a gap!)
The last Autobiography I read was Lucky Man by Michael J Fox (brilliant) and my favourite kind of books are true crime so the latest fact book I read was Just a Boy by Richard McCann (interesting).

Answer 4

I am always reading and have three books on the go at any one time. One in the bedroom, one in the living room and one for public transport.

So here goes: Autobiographical - Blessed by George Best
Fact - Mao the Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday
Fiction - The Devil's Feather by Minette Walters

It does seem as few people read nowadays, I think it is down to the fact that a lot of parents do not read bedtime stories to their children, too much television and computers.

Answer 5

At the moment I am reading a very good book called Forgotten Voices of the Second World War A new History of World War Two in the words of the men and women who were there previous to that I was reading Colossus Bletchley Park's Greatest Secret and I forget the name of the book before that people should never stop Reading books they are our greatest asset

Answer 6

The fictional book that I last read was 'Cell' by Stephen King. Basically everyone who uses their cell phone or mobile phone as we like to call them over here goes mad due to a virus been transmitted when the phones are used. A group of survivors face a tough battle to escape confrontation with the 'phonies'.
It's very good.
The last biographical book I read was one about JFK. Again, very good, and I have recently read the fact book, 'Planets' to accompany the television series. Another very good one in my view at least.
As far as I am concerned though I am sure other people have different views, reading seems to be staying at the same level.

Answer 7

Yes, I agree. As a primary teacher I try to get the reading habit going as I personally feel deprived if I have not read something rewarding every day. I find I fall asleep in bed - age, perhaps? -but I do still persist!.

My most recent reads -

Autobiography - " Don't Let's go to the Dogs Tonight" by Alexandra Fuller.

An absolutely wonderful read. I fell guilty because I got my copy second-hand at a school sale. A parent told me the book was amazing and I agree.

Fact - "Buying a House in Germany" - need I say more? We have now bought a lovely flat. Helpful up to a point. Our spoken German and the lovely people who helped us were even better.

Fiction - Dick Francis' latest, "Under Orders". This was another Halley story and it was good, probably the best since his wife died. I love Dick Francis and I still dream of going racing - as a spectator, not as a participant any more, sadly!

Answer 8

I love reading.
Last bio.....A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer, and the follow ups.
Non Fiction. A time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Am reading a good fiction book at the moment called Sleepyhead by
Mark Billingham

Answer 9

Reading has definitely dropped, I'm sad to say.

Biographical/Autobiographical: Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail, by Malika Oufkir

Fact: Kevin Trudeau's Natural Cures "They" don't want you to know about.

Fiction: Brother Wind, by Sue Harrison. This is the third in a trilogy about what life might have been like for the people of the Aleutian Islands during the last ice age. Wonderful!

Answer 10

Autobiographical: Lance Armstrong's one
Factual: Am not sure if this counts but 'The Ghost That Shut Down the Town', it discusses South African ghost stories/urban legends and how they reflect the country's sense of self
Fiction: Jane Eyre (for about the tenth time)

Don't think reading's necessarily got less popular, have always been people uninterested in it i'm not sure if that's a new thing or not.

Answer 11

Hellen Keller (I read it when I was a little girl...I don't read that many autobiography)

a book about horses (can't remember what it was called, but I love horses)

Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights-Shards of Aldaraan (read it last week it was awesome)

I'm into books, mostly fantasy and those type of stuff. If we grow out of books, I'd die, because for one I'm a writer and if no one reads books then that gets rid of that job for me and two I think books are an important part of life. They give you information and spark your creativity. I would die without books.