How can I get into reading books more?

Question

I am really big into video games. Don't get me wrong, I am not a computer or gaming "geek" by any terms, but it is just what I like to do. I like reading about them, buying them, and spending most of my time playing them. I have always "liked" reading, but lately I don't spend much time actually doing it. I got "Cell" by Stephen King as a gift for Christmas, and I love reading it. I actually enjoy taking the time to sit down and read. The problem is, I rarely actually find books like this. The only others I can remember me being obsessed with are "The Kite Runner" and the "Harry Potter" series. I want to be able to be as obsessed with books as I am with video games. I know quite a few websites to go on to learn all about video games, but nothing about books. Maybe a social site to get information about books, or book review websites, anything. I really want to make reading a much bigger part of my life. I thank anyone greatly for any help!

Answer 1

I don't know what you're interested in or your age, so I'll recommend from many different spectrums.

Teenish sci-fi
Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen, all by Garth Nix (trilogy)
These three books are completely amazing and I leave them on my list of favorites even though I outgrew the teen section many years ago. Same with:
The Thief
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia, all by Megan Whalen Turner (trilogy)
They're not sci-fi, more of a subdued fantasy. They're action/war books as well, although the last one sees the courtly wars inside the palace than the battlefield wars of the second book.

If you want to think, I recommend
Animal Farm
1984, both by George Orwell
I think Animal Farm is the best, though 1984 comes close and hasn't been dimmed by all of the hype. After I got interested in the social sciences I picked up Animal Farm and was not disappointed.

And now, my specialty, Holocaust-based books.
On a teenish scale, I recommend The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. It's an interesting story, told by Death. I haven't read it in a while but it's good.

On an autobiographical scale,
The Pianist, by Wladyslaw Szpilman
I first saw the movie and had nightmares for... A long time. Then I read the book and had nightmares for... a long time. That's how much the book impacted me. That's the first book I really read on the topic and, after that, I was hooked.
The Night Trilogy, by Elie Wiesel
The first story is his autobiography, the second I haven't read in a while, but the third is magnificent. Actually, I'll just recommend The Accident, by Elie Wiesel. Wonderful.

My favorite author I have to smudge in here because, well, I'm biased. Anything by Chaim Potok (except Zebra. Sorry!) I recommend passionately. Wonderful writer, beautiful with words. What I recommend the most: My Name is Asher Lev and The Chosen.

Oh. And if you've made it this far, I'll reward you with a gem:
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman. Completely hilarious with action and adventure, plus a classic or, if you will, a cult classic.

Answer 2

I don't know many websites, but I do like to read.
Going to libraries is a good way to find great books. You have peace and quiet, and thousands of books to read, and you can check them out instead of buying it. In case you don't like it.
They have places where you can go to read, drink coffee, and relax. No video games around. Reading is great for the mind, and body. It helps your brain to function better, and to work on the thought process. Video games don't really leave room for the imagination. This is why it is important that kids read alot at an early age. They become smarter, and can be more creative.
If they watch to much T.V. and play video games, then they have problems with their learning, and thought process.
Thus they get lazy at school, and feel school is boring, and less exciting then T.V. and video games.
Today youths are so addicted to the fast paced world of Internet, games, and other electronic distractions, that they lose out on time that could be spent with the family, or in doing school homework.
There is nothing wrong with these things, but we need to be balanced. So this is good that you are going to read more.

Answer 3

There are way too many web sites regarding books and reading to list here. But if it is book reviews you want, my own recommendation would be to sign up for Borders on-line newsletter, which offers book reviews and also coupons for discounts on them. They also review CDs and DVDs.

I am sure other booksellers have something similar, but I like Borders because I remember them when they only had one store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and made a mint off a very original concept: They were the only bookstore that did NOT carry textbooks in a college town. They therefore drew the bookaholics, such as myself and my boyfriend. And, apparently, a great many others, because they have grown enormously in the last 40 years or so.

Answer 4

You could try the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. They are lenghty, involved, and exciting. My boyfriend is big into computer and video games and he LOVES these books. I have also read them, and they are indeed very good. If you like humorous, I would suggest anything by Neil Gaiman or Douglas Adams. If you like historical fiction, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zaphon was entertaining.

I know that in order for me to get very involved in a book, I need to be able to relate to either the characters or the author. Harry Potter for example: who wouldn't want to suddenly discover that he/she is a wizard and be wisked away to a school of magic? Most people can relate to something like that because young or old, that is freakin awesome.

Hope this was helpful.

(My gamer boyfriend is also in love with the Salvatore books. I've yet to read those, but they could be worth checking out.)

Answer 5

Try bookcrossing.com. It's a really cool site where people give reviews of books they've read and people actually give away books that they don't want any more. I've gotten a few by just seeing them on someone's "bookshelf" and sending them an e-mail saying "hey, I'd like to read this when you're done with it".

I'm into history books and biographies, which doesn't sound like your thing, but if there's something you see on my bookshelf that you'd like to read, let me know.

Yours is a very admirable goal!

Answer 6

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magican's Nephew. It all started with me staring at this book, on my brother's bookshelf. One day while he was at school (I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade)- I got home before he did- I managed to sneak into his room and steal that book. I was hooked! From then on, my parents had to take either my lamp or my book away every single night because I couldn't stop reading.

Answer 7

Go to the library. Just randomly take books off the shelf in the sections you like - horror, fiction, etc. If you read the inside cover and like what you see, grab it. It's free so if you try the book and hate it after 20 pages, just return it. Once you find some authors you like check the library or the web for lists that say "if you like XX, you'll probably like YY."

Answer 8

Being obsessed with books isn't something you do by willing to do it. Its something that happens when you truly, really enjoy doing it...like with video games.

I'd say, if you truly want to read, that's wonderful! Find a book for yourself...something you really are interested in. You can always return a book that was given as a gift, if it really isn't what you want.
Once you find a book that appeals to you, go at it slowly...read only as much as you want to read.
Reading isn't something everyone enjoys...and no one should force themselves, or any one else, to read. It defeats the whole purpose.
Good Luck in whatever you choose to do!

Answer 9

Absolutely! Check out anything by Niel Gaiman (he was the brains behind The Sandman series of graphic novels, but he's really a sci-fi/fantasy writer: "Neverwhere" is a good place to start) or Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you're into historical sci-fi, I would highly recommend anything by Ray Bradbury or Roger Zelazny's "Roadmarks."

If you're into Harry Potter, the Artemis Fowl series is also good, but it's more youth fiction than adult sci-fi/fantasy.

Good luck!

Answer 10

try to find a book you never read before and you want to see what it is about flip through the book and read the chapters then read the first page of all the chapters and see if you like it it will be up to you to see if the book if it is good