finishing books

[Anonymous No.7980463]

hey /lit/. I checked the archive and looked for my problem, and I hope this isn't something that gets posted TOO frequently. really don't mean to be "that guy."

I'm 21 years old and haven't finished a book in my life. I always hear "find something you like", but shit mang, I've tried reading books that sound appealing many times.

found out I have adult ADHD a few months ago, so that was obviously part of the problem, but I still get a weird loneliness when I try to read, like everyone else is out living life while I'm sitting inside doing nothing (I play games and stuff, but don't get the same feeling).

just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem, or if there's a certain book that really grabbed you, or something. I don't know. I feel as if I'm fairly smart/have a pretty broad vocabulary, so I don't think it's difficulty of reading. maybe reading something "popular" would make me feel less of this loneliness. any recommendations?

any and all advice is appreciated, brothers. let me know if I should take this to /adv/. not tryna step on any toes.

[Anonymous No.7980489]

How are you dealing with the ADHD now?

Do you think reading has a meaning to you?

[Anonymous No.7980501]

Maybe you could try to join or a book club, or even just read the same book at the same time with a friend?

I sometimes feel lonely reading books if I have nobody to discuss them with.

[Anonymous No.7980507]

>>7980489
I'm on adderall and have a therapist for the depression/adhd stuff.

Meaning? I'm not sure. I feel like there's a lot of knowledge and great stories that I could be experiencing. I'm looking to improve my life in a lot of ways at the moment (quitting porn, exercising, meditating, etc.), and reading just seems like a great habit to pick up. seems like a thing "successful" people do. I see myself as ignorant/childish for not reading.

[Anonymous No.7980525]

>>7980507

Has the adderall and therapist helped yet?

[Anonymous No.7980542]

>>7980525
I like to think they've helped with some concentration issues, but I'll know better once I start classes again. still can't shake that empty feeling/loneliness when I try to read for more than a few minutes, though.

>>7980501
maybe a book club would be good. I just worry that I'd fail to complete the book and that'd freak me out. maybe I just need to nut up, though.

and I'm not the only one that feels lonely, then? at least sometimes? I'll start looking for someone to read with. do you guys have any recommendations as to what book to start off with? just something that has a good story/atmosphere, maybe. anything that made you always want to come back to reading it?

I know these are pretty trivial questions, thanks for the replies my brothers

[Anonymous No.7981758]

>>7980542
>still can't shake that empty feeling/loneliness when I try to read for more than a few minutes, though.
Do you use a lot of social media, normally? I have a friend who expressed worry a couple of weeks ago over not being able to get engrossed in a book like she used to; attention keeps shifting away and there's a feeling of missing out on something and she can't concentrate. She also feels she might have a problem with how often she feels the need to check social media etc.

In any case, focusing on reading etc is like a muscle in a way, it can just be out of shape if you haven't read before. In games maybe the audiovisuality of it all captures your concentration and you forget to think about what else you could be doing.

If you've never read "properly" before and have trouble concentrating, it might be good to start off with easier reading with fast and readable plots and then move on to challenging stuff when you know who you are as a reader, what you like, what you can't stand, and have learned to concentrate a bit more. YA, even, or crime stories or whatever. Just to flex the concentration muscles, you know.

You don't tell us what you like, so I'm going to give you some easy options.
The Finn Family Moomintroll books by Tove Jansson - kind of children's books, but there's a deep philosophical atmosphere behind the cutesy facade and the works actually tackle some pretty big themes with their wistfulness. Some of the books are charming tales while a couple of them deal with death and depression, in one Moominpappa moves out to a lighthouse and gets stressed because his grand novel about the sea isn't coming along, great stuff. I've never read anything like them from other authors.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams - very funny, fast-paced and also witty

The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett - fantasy but also satire of the contemporary society, one of the few authors who always makes me laugh, very enjoyable

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman - it's YA, but the best YA I remember reading in my youth, the kind where you only see how big the themes are and how he's actually criticizing religion etc once you're a bit older

Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson - the books that the Girl with the Dragon tattoo etc movies are based on (though obviously the books are better. Crime, so the plot is gripping etc, I was pleasantly surprised to note my little brother who isn't as avid a reader as I'd like read through this series easily even though the books look intimidatingly thick.

Or maybe you could start with short story collections and gain confidence from finishing those?

In that case consider Roald Dahl, for example Kiss Kiss or other such collection. Wonderfully dark stuff.

[Leo Valdez No.7981787]

Percy Jackson series, and the Heroes of Olympus series ( Sequel to PJ ). It's about demigods who also have ADHD, and they usually have Dyslexia. Can be funny, some fight scenes, greek mythology stuff. Hope you like it if you buy it.

[Anonymous No.7981825]

>>7981787

This desu, while it isn't something that has a "deeper meaning" or is challenging on an intellectual level it's a fun read. Granted, it's something that is partially aimed at a younger audience so from time to time you'll cringe but it might just be the right thing to get you started.

[Anonymous No.7982500]

You can't read because you have adhd and you have adhd because you don't read.

On the bright side you seem to have a presicription happy Doctor. Enjoy.

[Anonymous No.7982515]

>>7981758
Great post.