>And there was no consequence other than divorce. No charges pressed. No jail time.

It's an unfortunate reality for many women who experience domestic violence. Justice is difficult to achieve and very often not worth the emotional and mental toll.

I recommend Children of Men by Phyllis White. It's also a pretty good movie. Really unique take on the end of the world, however I would categorize this more as a dystopian plot rather than post apocalyptic.

Honestly, I love SK but you could probably make this claim about most of his books post-80's. My theory is that he just became so successful as an author no editor would actually tell him "no" and it didn't matter cause he would sell millions of copies anyway.

Hmm. I'm in the same boat. I used to read 360 books a year (not Harlequin romance, but "big honkin' novels"). In 2009, I was in a car accident. Since that time, I might have read 2 or 3 books from start to finish (Harlequin romance size). I re-read bits & pieces of my favourite books, but I haven't read an entire book all-at-once since 2009.

I know your frustration. In another thread, people have said, "Just keep trying; it'll return." Or, "Try reading different types than you used to." And, "Cut yourself some slack. It'll come back when it wants to. Don't force it." All good advice. BUT -- I'm not the way I used to be!! I want to be the voracious reader I used to be! It hurts! Almost physically. (I'm "of a certain age," and I want to throw a kicking screaming fit about this)

I don't have an answer of how to bring it back; believe me, if I knew, I'd write a book about it!!! All I have to offer is the advice in the previous paragraph. I guess we have to just keep plugging. ((Hugs)) All the best.

in my opinion, i feel like these are the worst types of books that you can recommend to people who dont read at all. Coraline by Neil Gaiman is short book, but when you read it it's so hard to finish it. The worst and longest two hours of my life. I wouldnt recommend.

I agree that I have found nearly all Stephen Kings books far too long.
Just finished reading "A Fairy Tale" and I was constantly saying to myself "just get on with the story, and leave out all the unnecessary padding".

There also seemed to be a lot of repetition.
I was also saying "yeah, you told us this in the last chapter and the one before that".
Get on with the bloody story.

To be fair, it is not just Stephen King who does this.

I am all for "world building" and "developing characters" in a story.
But it seems to be taken to such silly levels so often it drives me mad.

However, I am my own worst enemy.
Once I start reading a book, or watching a movie, I always see it through to the bitter end.
Even when a third of the way through I know its crap.
Something inside me tells me that it will get better and a great ending awaits me.

That has never happened!

Publishers unwilling to pay money to human authors

I suspect a key phrase here might be since Covid. If that's the case then please cut yourself some more slack. Even enjoyment takes energy. It might be that emotion, however pleasurable is more than your system feels up to. It might be that you need to build up your general health and well-being with walking, small scale sociability, small treats and much less emotionally demanding reading for a while.

I have found refuge in Terry Pratchett's books and although there are deep emotional elements I only engage with them as much as I feel up to. Otherwise he tickles my sense of humour, word play, imagination. His writing can be appreciated on different levels so you can race through with the plot or find joy in just a few pages of carefully honed writing.

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500 special books and I guarantee you none of them was the Quran or Bible.

I also go through ups and downs with reading, where I feel like nothing I try to read scratches that page turning itch. So I switch to Music. I find audiobooks is the key. I can "read" all the time then. And with Audible I can just ask for a refund if it is not something I enjoyed.

Okay, so it would be helpful if you cited how old you actually are and some of the books you read that left you feeling "hollow" or "broken and incomplete", because that doesn't sound like a positive outcome of reading.

It CAN be. Some tragic books like Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" generate that feeling, but that was their intention. Perhaps readers feel grateful that they weren't in that world and exposed to that hellscape. But it's not 'enjoyable' so much as it is 'eye-opening'.

But either way, maybe ask for recommendations on something that "changes up" what you're reading so you'll feel something different than what you describe, because that honestly sounds like it sucks.

Maybe you could gain benefit from a hero to support that beats the odds, instead of a book set in a dank setting that makes humanity look awful. Or read a biography about someone actually overcoming adversity that you can cheer on rather than someone that gets crushed by their circumstances.

As an example, Andy Weir's "The Martian" is a colossally good read, with manageable levels of science and a central character that you can really look up to.

They make more money off the hardcovers and some people prefer them. The hard covers are also made with better materials so they can take more wear and tear than paperbacks.

I always viewed the larger books as the default size, and the pocket editions as an alternative. I do like pocket editions for most of my books, except for ones I really like and want a nice hardcover for.

You are exactly right. It’s not the subject matter itself (toxic and problematic relationships) but writing them in a way that makes it seems romantic to impressionable young minds.

When we are young we are like blank sheets of paper and if we start believing at that age that it’s okay to be with someone who lies and gaslights and manipulated, we would think it’s normal.

It’s not the young readers fault, the books are overhyped and honestly they don’t know any better.

I think the big thing with a feeling like this is to read something you feel like you’ll enjoy, and to be open to keeping a space in your life for reading again. Not saying you’re not, just saying that sometimes you do just need a break from reading, even if that break lasts years and there’s nothing wrong with just saying that reading isn’t something that you’ll enjoy at this point in your life. If you want to get back into reading, though, I usually encourage people to try and read at least 20 minutes a day at some point throughout the day. It just helps to build routine where you incorporate it back into your life and then you can kinda play with that time and the days you do it once you get back into the swing of things. Reading takes time and energy too, so be sure you’re reading something you’re enjoying! If you don’t like it, leave it.

I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. You’re not alone, I have been there. Personally, the app/site GoodReads helped me. Reading reviews on books, finding books you may have liked and seeing similar titles, or seeing what people are also reading that read your liked book. Or perhaps taking a trip to a book store. Have a coffee and browse the aisles, new titles, etc. I think once you find one title you love, you’ll feel out of the rut you’re in.

I sometimes go long stretches without being able to finish a book. Especially since the pandemic began. Maybe try rereading a book you have enjoyed before. Try The Book Thief.

>OP - has questions and repeats that they don't really understand something but asks offers for opinions on the subject to gain a better understanding

But offers for opinions?

Edit: Downvotes and then edits their comment, lol.

>OP - has questions and repeats that they don't really understand something but asks offers for opinions on the subject to gain a better understanding

For physical books I personally read paperbacks only. They are easier to read as the binding is less rigid and all me get get more comfortable when reading. What i do is simply read other things until a newer book I wanna read comes out in paperback. There is so much stuff already in paperback I want to read it’s not a big deal for me that I can’t read a brand new book right when it comes out. Or if I really want it I just get it in my kindle.

All his books are to long imo. They could all do with few hundred pages less

Ah cool, I didn't get this when reading the book. Thanks for clarifying.

I will never forget the chapter when finally the military appears and he ask them whether the US had won the war.

The response is something like "oh yes, we absolutely clobbered them".

So the US "won" the war, yet the country is a complete mess. Really shows that there are no winners in a nuclear war.

the place >!the planet!< where all events in the book take place. Major spoiler: >!okay will leave more specific spoiler - it is Mars, terraformed in the past and now slowly degrading!<.