I hardly read anything other than fic these days, I've realized. Well, untrue, I'll frequently grab an old familiar book off one of my shelves and read it. One thing I do a lot is pull down a book and flip to a favorite scene and just read that. Kind of like shorthand for the entire book. Part of me says "Free up some space! Just rip out the favorite scenes and let them stand for the whole book!" At which point I regret not having the ability to slowly back away and run from my own brain.

Some great responses to "Have you really read all these?":

"Yes, and many more."
Or, "Oh, no, those are all stored somewhere else. This is my to-read collection."

I'm not really stunned by it. More options on TV, ookier hours and commutes, more people willing to answer honestly...

What Plei said. Plus there's time spent online and/or reading stuff you come across online & print out to read later. I usually print a bunch of articles for the commute home. One of my favorite things about living in NY is the chance to read on the train before and after work. More competition for one's attention combined with shrinking amounts of leisure time.

I read more words than I ever have, I bet, and fewer books. I watch as much TV or movies, exercise more, and socialise more.

I kinda wish I could consume more, but I'm not willing to give any of the other stuff up for it.

Some people just don't tend to absorb data from words on a page as easily as they do listening to words, or seeing pictures, or whatever. They're not clods, just not book-oriented.

What's funny is that is so me. If I'm trying to learn something, I really need to have it taught to me or idealy, learn hands-on. I don't do books well in that way, which is probably why I don't read much non-fic. I like a story that has dailogue and movement. I'm trying to read more non-fiction just because there is so much out there to know, but to be honest, if I didn't work in a bookstore I'm not sure I'd push myself.

That seems depressingly low to me as well, but I read a lot mostly cause I don't sleep all that well.

Oscar Wilde originally wrote Salomé in French. It has since been translated into English. I saw a production of it about 8 years ago. I'm not sure if a French play written by an Anglo-Irish playwright counts as something that made the translation jump or not.

in my family, my generation is the most active readers

I come from a family of readers. My mom says I'm just like her mom when I read, because I get so involved and totally phase out what's going on around me. I'm not so bad as when I was younger. My parents (thinking they were funny) used to say things like "your hair is on fire" if I was too into my book and didn't hear them ask me to do something. It may be more of a pack-rat thing, but my parents have soooooo many books, many of which belonged to my grandparents (Not even counting the 10 or so boxes of books which are mine that I currently have no room for and am considering purging soon to rid myself of the ones I probably won't read again or which will just be easier to get from the library). One time someone who had a grudge against my mom called the police to report that we had stolen hundreds of books from the public library. (She was a little mental)

My sister was never a great reader when she was younger, but I think we've rubbed off on her because she reads a lot now.

I have a friend who is proud of the fact that he doesn't read. Only the fact that he's a very talented musician redeems him in my eyes (playing on the multiple intelligences thing).

Last summer I went houseboating with some people who were friends of friends and they were overly amazed that I had finished a book in a day (it was Nora Roberts). The way one of them reacted totally brought me back to my jr. high/high school days- like people would act all impressed but secretly they were thinking of what an uber-freak I was.

I always think it's very sad when someone comes to my house, beholds the mighty Wall of Books, realizes there's more bookshelves everywhere, and says, as if it's a bad thing, "Do you really read all these books?"

My mom keeps telling me to leave some of my books at home, as I keep on accumulating more and they become somewhat of a hassle to pack up and move, but I've refused. Of course I don't have time to read them all, but there's something intangibly wonderful about having them with me, to see them and touch them. I told her they keep me sane, but she can't seem to wrap her head around that concept.

Me and P-C? Separated at birth. Except my mom never wondered at why I'd want all the books around.

"Witness MONSTRO! Bookcase of Immensity! Nineteenth Wonder of the World in a recent survey of twenty people!"

Eight feet on a side, Monstro the Bookcase of Immensity takes up an entire wall in our living room. He is chock-full of books (though I can squeeze in more). And people upon first laying eyes on him often say "Do you read all those?" or "CRAP!"

Later they ask "Do you NEED all those?"

Yes. Yes, I do. I can't explain it, I can't really logically justify it...I need all those books right there where I can look at them and feel the weight of their words and knowledge and stories and wisdom. It makes this place my Home and it makes me feel at peace.

Thankfully, I have a very understanding wife.

Yes. Yes, I do. I can't explain it, I can't really logically justify it...I need all those books right there where I can look at them and feel the weight of their words and knowledge and stories and wisdom. It makes this place my Home and it makes me feel at peace.

Yes. Exactly.

I would love to keep them all, but I just can't. There isn't room. But mostly, I don't get rid of any book till I've read it twice.