How many hours per day do you spend reading and do you have cues on how to improve concentration when reading ? I feel like I use to read so much and now my attention spam is so short it has become much more long and difficult to go through a book.
This is actually one of my favourite things to talk about. I think there's a stereotype of what a habitual reader looks like. And, as a 36 year old in 2025, it couldn't be more different.
My best tip is two tips; always carry a book AND make sure it isn't digital. I love kindle. But if it's digital, you'll likely get distracted and end up scrolling. If it's physical, you get the advantage of looking mysterious and intellectual lol. But seriously. When I read a digital book I am twice as likely to end up on Reddit.
I'm addicted to my phone. I use Reddit all day. I can't be in silence for more than 5 minutes. I doom scroll.
The only difference is; I developed one habit. Since I was 6 years old, I go to bed at least an hour earlier than my sleep time, and I read.
Unrelated but as an adult. I have severe insomnia. But I've developed the habit of from x time, we read. On a good sleep day, I read for 60 minutes. On a regular sleep day I read for 90 minutes. On a bad sleep day, I read all night.
Do you pause your reading to check on your phone when you're not trying to sleep ? I was expecting you to indeed say 4h per day or something haha I'm glad its not that much, thank you.
(For insomnia, lookup truedark twilight glasses I just did some digging and so far it's been very effective !! This + the "nothing much happens" podcast)
People definitely romanticise reading. But despite it being a daily habit for 25/30 years, I still fall into the phone addiction trap.
I don't walk around all day in a Victorian dress holding a book and swooning. I work in a major city on a computer all day, sit in traffic while my brain bleeds out my ears and then order takeout. It's 2025.
But. I still invest an hour a day to a book. Im not some perfect librarian who doesn't occasionally want to know what one of the Kardashians is doing.
I'm addicted to Reddit too and recently started to reread Stephen King's IT (physical book). I tend to read it while doing laundry and when I get home from work. It's hard for me to sleep after work but with reading I can fall asleep. Not because it's boring, but because it relaxes my mind. I highly recommend former bookworms who have sleeping issues to get back to reading.
I loved IT. If getting into physical reading is too much. I especially recommend King audiobooks. I'm not an audiobook fan in general but the King stuff is excellently well narrated and can be a great way to stop doom scrolling. My absolute favourite King audiobook is Pet Semetary read by Michael C Hall. Honestly life changing.
Some horror I enjoyed this year:
Rift, by Steven James
Dead Med, by McFadden
How Bad Things Can Get, by Coates
Fantasyland, by Mike Bockoven
The Life We Bury, by Eskins
To answer your question; none. I'm 36 and I've been an avid reader since I was very young. I have a literature degree. So I have read very widely. Despite exclusively reading horror for the past 8-10 years, I've still likely read more non horror throughout my life.
But I bonded with horror. I've always been a spooky person, going back to young childhood. I find horror extremely comforting. It almost feels like pure and complete escapism. (That remains true, despite how horrifying the world continues to be). Horror has a way of making me feel safe.
Which one exactly? I've read it this year for the first time, the story is amazing but I've had troubles with the epistolary style. What's your favourite character? I've loved John Seward. Do you have a favourite Dracula movie as well?
I finished Withered Hill by David Barnett a week ago and it was so excellent that I haven't quite recovered. Normally I start a new book the day after I finish the previous one but this one left me so bereft I struggled to move on.
A close second/joint first is The Lamb by Lucy Rose. Really unforgettable.
I loved The Girl who loved Tom Gordon by King, and Slewfoot by Brom.
So hard. I love Misery but I think I prefer the movie. The Stand is definitely in my top 3 King and probably my favourite.
But The Shining made me so scared I felt ill. So that can't be discounted. Carrie is a phenomenon of teenage angst in a book short enough to read in two hours.
The Long Walk truly blew me away but it also such a tough read that I almost don't recommend it.
Have you read doctor sleep? So good and such a good continuation. I need to reread Carrie as the last time I read it i was a 13 year old lol. He’s such a good writer
Read any of the T. Kingfisher horror books? I loved What Mives the Dead even though I'm not usually into horror. Then again I'd read anything T. Kingfisher blesses into existence.
What do you enjoy about reading horror specifically?
I tried reading T Kingfisher a while ago and didn't really like them. I think it felt too much like YA for me. I can't remember the name of the book though.
I currently work in the grief industry and it feels like all horror is, at its heart about grief.
That's my deep answer.
My other answer is; I love dark shit. I was a dark kid. I was a really spooky child that scared my sisters. I love to feel horror and deep creep. I value the emotion that is fear. Especially and perhaps exclusively, when it can be explored in a safe space. Hence, horror fiction!
That makes a lot of sense! Did you read spooky stuff as a kid? I remember enjoying the Emily Strange series, which I remember as spooky.
One of the reasons I loved the Scholomance by Naomi Novik is that I feel it totally embrasses the weird, dark kids like I remember myself being. It's unapologetic in its love of those kids.
I vividly remember one book, likely aimed at 7-8 years old. I think it was called I'm not scared. It had a purple cover. It was a series of kids scary stories with a girl who kept being brave and over coming the fear. The "scary" thing always ended up being a tree branch or a pile of clothes but I absolutely loved the illustrations.
I also remember being obsessed with non fiction books on the occult, witches and vampires. My much older sisters used to tell my parents I was haunted lol. To be fair I think they still think that.
I read Watchers either this year or last year and loved it but I haven't read any more. I think I worry he might be a bit too religious for me but I could be wrong.
I have become very jaded on horror books for the past couple of years. It really seems like the same formula over and over. How do you power through? I miss the horror genre. I NEED MOTIVATION!!
Wow, I'm impressed. You are like Denzel Washington's character in the first Equalizer movie; 100 books to read. Do you want recommendations for obscure books to read?
How many hours per day do you spend reading and do you have cues on how to improve concentration when reading ? I feel like I use to read so much and now my attention spam is so short it has become much more long and difficult to go through a book.
This is actually one of my favourite things to talk about. I think there's a stereotype of what a habitual reader looks like. And, as a 36 year old in 2025, it couldn't be more different.
My best tip is two tips; always carry a book AND make sure it isn't digital. I love kindle. But if it's digital, you'll likely get distracted and end up scrolling. If it's physical, you get the advantage of looking mysterious and intellectual lol. But seriously. When I read a digital book I am twice as likely to end up on Reddit.
I'm addicted to my phone. I use Reddit all day. I can't be in silence for more than 5 minutes. I doom scroll.
The only difference is; I developed one habit. Since I was 6 years old, I go to bed at least an hour earlier than my sleep time, and I read.
Unrelated but as an adult. I have severe insomnia. But I've developed the habit of from x time, we read. On a good sleep day, I read for 60 minutes. On a regular sleep day I read for 90 minutes. On a bad sleep day, I read all night.
Also, physical books improve my sleep
Do you pause your reading to check on your phone when you're not trying to sleep ? I was expecting you to indeed say 4h per day or something haha I'm glad its not that much, thank you.
(For insomnia, lookup truedark twilight glasses I just did some digging and so far it's been very effective !! This + the "nothing much happens" podcast)
I Google stuff constantly. I almost struggle to read anything based in history or fact because I get so caught up in the details.
I read the Terror by Dan Simmons last year and spent at least 50% of the time googling the real event.
Thank you for your responses, it was a pleasure and made me wanna keep reading and enjoying it instead of performing it.
People definitely romanticise reading. But despite it being a daily habit for 25/30 years, I still fall into the phone addiction trap.
I don't walk around all day in a Victorian dress holding a book and swooning. I work in a major city on a computer all day, sit in traffic while my brain bleeds out my ears and then order takeout. It's 2025.
But. I still invest an hour a day to a book. Im not some perfect librarian who doesn't occasionally want to know what one of the Kardashians is doing.
I have heard that podcast and it is excellent. Very relaxing. Sadly my insomnia is so far gone I'm into the clinical phase. But I do enjoy it a lot
I'm addicted to Reddit too and recently started to reread Stephen King's IT (physical book). I tend to read it while doing laundry and when I get home from work. It's hard for me to sleep after work but with reading I can fall asleep. Not because it's boring, but because it relaxes my mind. I highly recommend former bookworms who have sleeping issues to get back to reading.
I loved IT. If getting into physical reading is too much. I especially recommend King audiobooks. I'm not an audiobook fan in general but the King stuff is excellently well narrated and can be a great way to stop doom scrolling. My absolute favourite King audiobook is Pet Semetary read by Michael C Hall. Honestly life changing.
Some horror I enjoyed this year:
Rift, by Steven James
Dead Med, by McFadden
How Bad Things Can Get, by Coates
Fantasyland, by Mike Bockoven
The Life We Bury, by Eskins
How much non-horror do you read?
I haven't read any of these!
To answer your question; none. I'm 36 and I've been an avid reader since I was very young. I have a literature degree. So I have read very widely. Despite exclusively reading horror for the past 8-10 years, I've still likely read more non horror throughout my life.
But I bonded with horror. I've always been a spooky person, going back to young childhood. I find horror extremely comforting. It almost feels like pure and complete escapism. (That remains true, despite how horrifying the world continues to be). Horror has a way of making me feel safe.
Did you like Dracula? I was expecting more fear and suspence, the first chapter in the castle is great, the rest... Meh
Dracula is my absolute favourite book. I've easily read it 10 times. One particular chapter scares me to death every time I read it
Which one exactly? I've read it this year for the first time, the story is amazing but I've had troubles with the epistolary style. What's your favourite character? I've loved John Seward. Do you have a favourite Dracula movie as well?
Oh sorry you meant which chapter. The chapter with the wolf lose in Withby. Where Lucy is particularly under the spell. Terrifying
I read the Bram Stoker original. My fave.
And yes I really loved Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula
I'll check the movie out, thanks :)
What's your favourite book this year?
(Mine was Basilisk by Matt Wixey MAN that guy writes Internet horror well)
I finished Withered Hill by David Barnett a week ago and it was so excellent that I haven't quite recovered. Normally I start a new book the day after I finish the previous one but this one left me so bereft I struggled to move on.
A close second/joint first is The Lamb by Lucy Rose. Really unforgettable.
I loved The Girl who loved Tom Gordon by King, and Slewfoot by Brom.
Favourite Stephen king? My favourite book of all time is misery
So hard. I love Misery but I think I prefer the movie. The Stand is definitely in my top 3 King and probably my favourite.
But The Shining made me so scared I felt ill. So that can't be discounted. Carrie is a phenomenon of teenage angst in a book short enough to read in two hours.
The Long Walk truly blew me away but it also such a tough read that I almost don't recommend it.
Have you read doctor sleep? So good and such a good continuation. I need to reread Carrie as the last time I read it i was a 13 year old lol. He’s such a good writer
I actually haven't read Dr Sleep but I do own it
Read any of the T. Kingfisher horror books? I loved What Mives the Dead even though I'm not usually into horror. Then again I'd read anything T. Kingfisher blesses into existence.
What do you enjoy about reading horror specifically?
I tried reading T Kingfisher a while ago and didn't really like them. I think it felt too much like YA for me. I can't remember the name of the book though.
I currently work in the grief industry and it feels like all horror is, at its heart about grief.
That's my deep answer.
My other answer is; I love dark shit. I was a dark kid. I was a really spooky child that scared my sisters. I love to feel horror and deep creep. I value the emotion that is fear. Especially and perhaps exclusively, when it can be explored in a safe space. Hence, horror fiction!
That makes a lot of sense! Did you read spooky stuff as a kid? I remember enjoying the Emily Strange series, which I remember as spooky.
One of the reasons I loved the Scholomance by Naomi Novik is that I feel it totally embrasses the weird, dark kids like I remember myself being. It's unapologetic in its love of those kids.
I vividly remember one book, likely aimed at 7-8 years old. I think it was called I'm not scared. It had a purple cover. It was a series of kids scary stories with a girl who kept being brave and over coming the fear. The "scary" thing always ended up being a tree branch or a pile of clothes but I absolutely loved the illustrations.
I also remember being obsessed with non fiction books on the occult, witches and vampires. My much older sisters used to tell my parents I was haunted lol. To be fair I think they still think that.
What's your take on Judge Holden from Blood Meridian
I've actually never read it. On the list though
Any concerns you're a psychotic Librarian?
I'm not concerned about it
Do you like Dean Koontz?
He's my favorite author, followed by Stephen King
I read Watchers either this year or last year and loved it but I haven't read any more. I think I worry he might be a bit too religious for me but I could be wrong.
I've read so many of his books but I don't remember picking up on anything religious? His shits pretty warped lol
I have become very jaded on horror books for the past couple of years. It really seems like the same formula over and over. How do you power through? I miss the horror genre. I NEED MOTIVATION!!
Wow, I'm impressed. You are like Denzel Washington's character in the first Equalizer movie; 100 books to read. Do you want recommendations for obscure books to read?
Any you would suggest?
Cool story bro.