Audiobooks don’t keep my interest. I need to read a book to be able to visualise people and scenes. That’s just a me problem.

eBooks on the other hand are no different than reading hard-copy books, and sometimes even better (portability, low-light conditions, being able to adjust font size).

I have hundreds of paper books that I haven’t read, I’m working my way through them (in shifts, I also read ebooks), but I won’t buy an ebook if I already have a physical copy. Read what you have, save yourself some money. Don’t buy a reader until you need one, if you can’t afford it.

I'm looking for a book that is not cringe but about fate and destiny. Also, a book similar The Miniature, where it ends as a cliffhanger. Many thanks

I also love physical books but at certain point I had to choose between getting used to ebooks or not reading at all since physical books are expensive and I had no possibility to get books from local library.

For ebooks, you may need time to get used to them. I struggled as well at first but then I found the book that completely sucked me in, to the extent that I did not care about the discomfort anymore. After that, reading ebooks came gradually easier and easier. By now I have read ebooks for about 10 years, most of it on the phone or tablet (thankfully, I have Kindle now).

What can also help is trying different setups (fonts, backgrounds, etc.)

Great thing about ebooks is that there are free ebooks and eLibraries + if you have Amazon, they have monthly offers for really cheap.

As for audiobooks, I have tried them but I get easily distracted, so they are no no for me.

Oh, Seth Meyers is going to love this

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So you're saying you became jaded (well, not really, I just like the pun 😅)

This is not an exit. So let's look at it as an entrance. An entrance to a new life where he finally snaps. He cannot escape this reality that there are two distinct Patrick Batemans. The serial killer, and the mediocre executive. He will end up choosing one as he enters the door. That's my 2c.

Read parking signs.

The Golden Ass by Apuleius

It is basically a comedy/fantasy book with some tacky jokes. Though the ending is a bit weird.

Also the Short Stories from Guy de Maupassant are very easy to read.

You've responded more or less exactly the way I meant to. All I'd like to add is that, in the case of the flower garden, there is no obligation created by the fact that the request doesn't hurt anyone. You may wish to care for the flower garden, whether it's because of a choice to honor the dead person's wish, or just because you like flower gardens, but the fundamental question doesn't change just because the request harms no one. A dead person's wishes carry no obligation for the living beyond those the living choose themselves.

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Gulliver's Travels. 250 years or so old and reads like something recent. They say satire dates quickly.

If We We're Villains (love it!) isn't a classic thriller or murder mystery though. Maybe that's the way to go with this genre - find the books that don't follow the very well trodden paths.

Firstly, having a goal has a point if it motivates you to read more. If it stresses you out, then it will be just another obstacle you will have to overcome to motivate yourself, and therefore is unnecessary.

Secondly, goal of 50 is absolutely not small, especially if you are new to reading and additionally have other things going on!

What may help:

• If you still want to have a goal, set yourself a goal that motivates you, instead of feeling overwhelming. For example, 12 or 24. This way, you will still have something to strive to, but at the same time it will feel attainable and will give you freedom to experiment with different books & authors. Instead of having to read for several hours a day, it will be enough to read 15-30 minutes.
• Read short stories, short novels or collections. It is great way to discover authors, writing styles and genres that you like without having to commit to the whole book. Additionally, it will give you feeling of accomplishment.
• Try reading and listening to audiobook at the same time. It has been recommended in this sub several times and seems to help with getting distracted.
• You may also try comic books. There are several great ones such as Sandman by Neil Gaiman or Watchmen by Alan Moore.

It may also help to understand how you choose books. For example, I tend to choose based on my mood and mindset which means that if I choose something that doesn't fit aforementioned, I will struggle with getting into it and it will feel more like a chore.

>..but anyone felt similarly?

You are far, far from the only person who thinks art in general and reading specifically is too much effort and a waste of time because it's not "practical." In fact, I imagine it's the dominant view.

>often the writers step in so much with their words, expressions and writing habits so I can feel ‘humans’ hiding in the background very easily.

What you seem to be describing is authorial voice and good prose. For literary readers, that's a major draw of reading—it's the literary equivalent of enjoying acting and beautiful drawings in movies and television shows.

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife shows up in my recommendations quite frequently and I have to say I'm tempted to get it.

I wouldn't take it this far. lol

Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Unset

Middlemarch by George Elliot

Both of those are enormous, but are sooo good and interesting the whole time.

What do editors do? How much do they change about a book?

The book I'm currently reading has a significant amount of typos, much of the dialogue doesn't make sense, and there are many contradictions in the story that are a page or two apart. Shouldn't a good editor have caught those issues? Do authors just publish books without running them by an editor now?

Bit odd since movies etc. are also equally 'made up'.

But maybe try branching out of your usual genres might just be you are too familiar with genre tropes.

Probably still in print in a short story collection

Gone with the Wind - when I was a teen, I picked it up intending to just skim the first couple of pages, and was hooked by the first paragraph. Really engaging and interesting. Madame Bovary I found a little harder to read, but definitely worth the effort.

LOL, I'll leave it as is because it's too funny

The next book in the Dresden files series

I’ll have what she’s having