Blogs

Has reading lost its charm ?

124 Comments

Being in the 21st century, where everything is fast-paced, I feel like reading has been forgotten. Especially introspecting my life, I felt reading has lost its path, and what exists now is valorized reading.

Something like reading for the sake of reading

As we jump from one sensation to another, from one controversy to another, with an Instagram filter on our minds, this makes me realize that somewhere along the line I forgot to read and that a lot of other people did too.

We can blame it on our short attention span, but at the end of the day, we all reach out for something easy, short, and instrumental, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it because we live in perpetual amnesia that is triggered by the world being fast and urgent. 

The constant feeling that I will miss out is something that triggers me to take my phone almost every hour, and it’s also something that has triggered a lot of anxiety in these last couple of months.

As I wrote down my thoughts, I figured I had given up on reading and writing somewhere along the line.

And this is an attempt to get back to reading.

If you, my friend, also gave up on reading, you can start again. I’m here to accompany you.

For me, the earliest memories of reading were when I was three and on train journeys. How dad used to get me a magic pot so that I wouldn’t be an annoyance

I am still an annoyance, but my love for books is something that hasn’t left.

Being brought up in a humble household, one of the things that my parents never said no to was books. I used to demand books as presents for every exam I passed. 

I still remember borrowing books from friends and libraries and finishing them in two to three days because I loved the rush.

It came to a point where I was reading Jeffery Archer’s When the Crow Flies instead of my history books before my 10th board exams.

Do I regret it? Noooooo

The rush of having that imagination, the rush of going into a parallel universe where I portray the main character, seeing myself in situations, deciding what I would have done and what I wouldn’t, and complex storylines with spicy images keep playing in my head as a slow-motion movie. Enough that someday I could lend my brain cells to Elon Musk to make an extraordinarily brilliant movie.

All these emotions and memories are something that is beyond description.

Books have led me to a web of my past, present, and future, like an island universe that’s interlinked but not yet linked.

For me, a book does affect me; I feel pangs of grief, motivation, empathy, and all the emotions in between as the character develops. It is a small, intimate space of mine that nobody else has access to—sort of a mysterious realm.

Nothing is linear in life, and as life progresses, one of the things that I gave up was books.

Is there a specific reason? No 

But I kind of discovered recently that one of the reasons why I had given up on reading was the anxiety in choosing a book.

The fear that I would miss out on this year’s nominations, what if it isn’t good, and this eventually felt like a job, not the one I liked, Going through reviews and feeding on people’s opinions got so tedious that for me reading lost its wonder in this process.

I missed picking out random books from shelves, going with my gut, and thinking it might be a hit. Even if it wasn’t, I would at least be able to take something away.

Now, this screams of slobbishness and elitism, but it is what it is: I was consumed by valorized reading, and I started mimicking other people’s choices instead of giving in to what my heart wanted.

Now, why am I writing this? Humans as a whole are very creative animals, and creativity being the buzzword in this digital era, I wanted to start reading again , be soaked in creative juices .

And I have started again, and the feeling is amazing—not bound by social pressures but doing something from a thick desire.

I don’t want to be a person who is limited to WhatsApp archives; I want to go beyond the perfect sentences and let imagination take its toll. And for this reason, books are my comfort space.

Feel sheer joy and delight, feel uncomfortable, have butterflies in your stomach, cry, and feel all the emotions as I turn every page.

I would say you also just need to give a short

I’m not going to preach a lot, but in the end, there’s so much knowledge to consume. Take anything—a newsletter, audiobooks, nonfiction classics—to feed your soul.

To bring calmness into this fast-paced life 

To hold back and embrace emotions and to know yourself better, a book is all you need.

My current read is The ISIS Hostage by Puk Damsgard.

I’m ending this blog with a short poem I wrote on books.

“Now, it’s all being done in the past,

It’s all been written in the book,

and makes you think nothing ever lasts.

Maybe it’s something worth another look.

A string of words floats with fear.

And it encompasses all the emotions in this book.

Nothing is ever black or white.

Nothing comes easy off the hook.

I see people holding on to their past as a book.

Hating themselves more as they look”

If you have read till now, you have discovered my writing is as haphazard as it can get.

And that’s me, all over the place.

So do reach out to me and connect with me so we can share our books and recommendations and get chatty about it.

For more freshly brewed content ,do subscribe to my newsletter and also follow me on Instagram !!!

124 thoughts on “Has reading lost its charm ?”

  1. Hi! I enjoyed your article, and I have found myself wondering the same. Has reading gone the way of the Do-Do? Just this week, I sat down and read All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg. It’s a fantastic memoir about his mother and her sacrifices. Anyway, I thought I would let you know that I enjoyed your article and poem. Take care.

    Reply

  3. Great post! I used to read (books) almost every day, it was just part of my life. Somehow I’ve trailed off in the past year or so. Maybe it’s because of stress and changing life situations. I still read things, just not nearly as much in terms of physical books. Looking across the room at the bookshelf now, trying to see which one I might like to dust off… 🙂

    Reply

  4. I love your post about reading. I agree that reading is not what it used to be. I love just the sheer smell of a bookstore. Hardbacks, paperbacks, it doesn’t matter. I think a lot of people have short attention spans and as such just look for a short video or things that are not as complex as an entire book. Thank you for posting this.

    Reply

  5. I agree about getting back to reading books. This was a reminder for me and I no longer feel like I am the only one who loves books too. 🙂

    Reply

  6. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Reading has sadly lost its charm for most, thankfully not for me…I still love good old fashioned books, none of that kindle reader stuff. There’s some gratification to flipping pages and seeing progress in my reading that appeals to me over an e-reader. I’m also determined to raise a voracious reader by the example I set. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Reply

  7. I always jumps genre when it comes to books to not get bored and to experience things I’d never experienced in my life through reading. Iike living between the pages and hey your poem’s good!

    Reply

  8. You mentioned Elon Musk in your post; have you read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX , and the quest for a fantastic future? Ashlee Vance did a marvelous job. (Link to my book review)https://byjolenerice.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/book-review-elon-musk-tesla-spacex-and-the-quest-for-a-fantastic-future-harpercollins-2015/

    Reply

  10. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article and can relate to many of the points you brought up. In this fast-paced world, it can be easy to forget the joy and value of reading. Like you, I have fond memories of reading from a young age and always having a book in hand. However, as life progresses, it’s easy to fall out of the habit of reading, and I found myself consumed by the pressure of choosing the “right” book and following others’ opinions.

    Your reminder to let go of those pressures and trust our own gut when choosing what to read is so important. Reading should be a source of joy and creativity, not another item on our to-do list. I appreciate your encouragement to read anything that feeds our souls, from newsletters to nonfiction classics, and to embrace the emotions and self-discovery that can come with it.

    I look forward to hearing more about your current read and connecting with you to share book recommendations. Thank you for reminding us of the value and wonder of reading.

    Reply

    1. OMG !!!! This is so sweet of you thanks a tonn!!!
      I totally agree with you , i had gone on a reading slump because i was picking books way out of my genre just to be cool and those books didn’t resonate with mee
      I also look forward to your writings and book recommendations
      Thanku you made my day

      Reply

      1. You’re so welcome, It’s always great to connect with someone who understands the struggle of trying to read books just to fit in, rather than reading what truly resonates with us.

        I’m excited to share more of my writings and book recommendations with you, and I hope they bring you as much joy as they have brought me. Let’s keep the conversation going and share our love for reading and great books!

  11. I agree with you 100 percent. Sometimes, I just wish for a pause button, so the world would stop for a while. Everything’s so fast-paced. It’s seems like 24 hours a day isn’t enough anymore.

    Reply
  14. Pingback: Has reading lost its charm ? – Título do site

  16. I believe that reading has not lost its charm. While our world has become more digital and fast-paced, reading still holds a special place in our lives. It provides an escape from the screen-heavy culture, stimulates our imagination, and allows us to connect with stories and ideas in a unique way. The joy of flipping through the pages of a physical book or getting lost in the words on a screen can never be replicated. Reading continues to be a valuable and enriching experience that can inspire, educate, and entertain us. It’s up to us to keep the charm of reading alive by making time for it in our busy lives and passing on the love of reading to future generations

    Reply

  17. Well written! I think most of us here share the same opinion but few could have articulated it as well.

    I agree with you in that attention spans are getting shorter and there is a false sense of urgency permeating our lives. The way I try overcoming that is by introspection and prioritization. Also, idleness is important to counter the sense of urgency in life. That is when you realize that a lot of urgent things are not only unimportant but also completely avoidable. All of this gives you more time for things that you actually value (e.g., reading).

    P.S. I have written a bit on this on my blog too: takemetothatplace.home.blog.

    Reply

  18. For me I prefer to listen to the audio version of books. But when it comes to blogs, I can sit and read for hours.

    Personally I feel like I’m connected with the blog writter on a deeper level. I love that!

    Reply

  21. I find myself in the exact same situation. Reading was my favorite thing to do growing up. I was the kid who was ordered outside in the summer instead of being inside reading all day (I’d just sneak my book with me). The pandemic stress took that away from me. I gravitated toward simple disconnect my brain tv, and I lost the habit of reading. Now I push myself to reestablish the habit. And it’s a tough push some days. I just finished John Steinbeck’s “The Winter Of Our Discontent”. Brilliant as expected. Now I’m pushing on to something totally new – Chris McKinney’s “Midnight Water City”. It’s work to establish habits. It’ll come back to you.

    Reply

  22. Liking the room. Seems like a goof variety of choices. Books are the best – and with so much more character and better way to read the, then on the zombie device 🙏

    Reply

      7. Well that’s s it’s good to be inquisitive about that field – or that’s my personal opinion. But in these days i almost feel every one should explore their inner self.

      14. Thank you. I actually don’t likt social media, but this is just writing. And it’s some good stuff on here as well. Plus i got a little motive to be back again 🙂

      1. Ah alright – i understand. I definitely want the house i buy to have a room like that. I was so so sure it was yours and you i that picture

  24. I really enjoyed this! And several other posts from you. So I wanted to follow you!

    Maybe I’m just new to WordPress, but I had such a difficult time finding a button to follow you. There’s a subscribe button at the bottom to receive your posts via email, but I do so enjoy the Reader in WordPress. In the end, I had to go into my own WordPress settings to where you manage your followed sites and do a search for “Poestoryporium” in order to properly follow.

    I myself had to find the option on WordPress to add a Follow option to my page. I don’t know if this is something that others struggle with when it’s not a big, bright, obvious button… But I thought sharing this feedback might help other WordPress newbies figure out how to follow you!

    Thank you for extending the heartfelt invitation to be a reader again. I found this deeply relatable!

    Reply

      2. Sure! It depends on where you want to put your follow button. Wherever you can add a WordPress “block” on your site, you can insert a follow button in it.

        For me, it’s in my sidebar, so this is how I got to it:
        From the main WordPress menu, left-hand side, go to Appearance > Customize > Widgets > Sidebar > You can add a new block and search “Follow button”

        You might have to poke around a bit!

        I love your latest. You rock <3 Looking forward to reading more!

  27. It’s one of those things that seems like it’s obsolete and it can feel like “wasting time” (not to mention that actual hard copy books are more expensive, bulkier, heavier than electronic options). But for me, taking the time and effort to read hard copy books, makes me appreciate them more. It’s excercise for your mind to use your own imagination without a screen or pictures. It seems I get so many more benefits out of it than just entertainment or learning the material I’m reading.

    Reply

  28. Wow, really enjoyed this post! You express yourself really well. I’d agree with you – when I was a wee kid I loved reading, and now it’s a matter of ‘What short book can I get from the bookstore, to finish quickly and be mildly entertained for 2 hours!?’ Somewhere along the lines I lost the passion. But yeah, it can be ignited too… enjoyed this post a lot! Thanks

    Reply

  31. I love reading. I started reading on a Kindle but hate it. I like the feel of a book, the smell, especially if it is an old marked up book.

    I make it a point to work reading into my life. I find it relaxing and allows me in some ways to build a life I want to live in in some ways. When I am reading a good book, all time stands still I am so absorbed. It is like gardening, you need to make time for it. When you do, the rewards are great. ✌️🖖❤️

    Reply

      1. Oops, yes, I read constantly. I read maybe 3-4 books at a time. Some are new and some are old. I buy them, borrow them, steal them, sometimes rent them from the library. I am immersed in the life of FDR. Mainly I am reading old books written by people who knew him, but long since forgotten.

  32. One more thought. When still a kid, my next door neighbor could not read. She would ask my father to loom over documents. I felt so sad for her. What a world missed. When she died, I was left her dining room table. She was like an aunt to me. Etched into the top of the table was her name. When she needed to sign her name, she traced it.

    Reply

    1. We are way more privileged than so many others . I also feel people who read undergo adulting way more sooner
      But now i m inquisitive about her thoughts and her world

      Reply

  33. Nope. Reading will NEVER lose it’s charm for me. There’s always the next great book, poem, essay, magazine. I love my local library. The thrill of coming home with a stack of unread books has never grown old. I wasn’t able to read until almost third grade, but once that door opened, I realized there would never be enough time to read all the books.

    Reply

    1. I m so glad that you never lost your habit of reading !!!! It’s phenomenal don’t ever lose that spark i so agree i started reading when i was 5 and that feeling the rush is like no other high

      Reply

  35. My mind has regrettably been rewired by the internet and social media. It is so much more difficult to give my undivided attention to a book now than it was ten years ago.

    I don’t get very far into reading when I feel the pull (like a mermaid’s siren) to check my phone.

    I hate what I’ve become.

    Reply
  38. Pingback: Has reading lost its charm ? – Xurbat 21

  39. You’ve definitely hit a nerve here! Great post!! I love audiobooks for daytime, listen at every free moment I can. Just before bed, I love reading an old-fashioned book <3

    Reply
  40. Pingback: Book review – Lessons in chemistry - Poestoryporium

  41. You said that your writing is as as haphazard as it gets. I can’t say that I agree with that. It’s much more coherent than some of the articles on WordPress. Apart from that, I think the lack of reading in the 21st century is an extremely important topic. If humans become too addicted to passive forms of entertainment who will write the scripts for movies and audiobooks etc? Will we be left with nothing more than A.I’s well disguised combinations of old stories?

    Reply

    1. It’s really sweet of you!!! i so agree with you the quality of shows have degraded so much over the years
      How much can we read a.i stuff it just writes the same thing again and again

      Reply

  42. People miss out big time by not reading.
    I read a few books per month. I used to read more before I became a professional writer, like a book or two per week!!
    I also read blogs, magazines, newspapers, zines, bulletins, and old diaries.
    That’s why I’m on WordPress, not Facebook or Instagram.
    It’s disturbing how little those people read.

    Reply

    1. I agree but I feel like the world is changing so fast . I was an avid reader 2 books a week sometimes 3 and then I stopped I did get time any more we just have to find that reading spark again

      Reply

  43. I remember one year picking up a book off of our shelf of miscellaneous readings. It was an old and unfamiliar one– The Works of Mark Twain. Don’t know how it ended in my possession. Normally, I would’ve not picked it up– thinking that Twain only wrote Huck Finn/riverboat stories. To my surprise there were many diverse stories– some of them almost supernatural. It once again showed me never to jump to any one author’s style of writing.
    Art

    Reply

    1. That really sounds amazing you are right we really shouldn’t confirm ourselves to boxes explore everything !!! Thanku for opening my box !! Will explore the box

      Reply

  44. Maybe it’s because I’m older, an English lit major, or started reading when I was four, but I have and still do devour books. Many at a time, in fact (5 currently in progress). Perhaps that’s why when I write a book, it actually feels like I’m reading it. Of course it requires more work and research, but every day I can’t wait to find out what my characters are doing. My husband and most of our 7 kids (and 11 grand kids) are readers too. But I started reading to them before they were born. Maybe that isn’t something people do anymore. All of that said, I thank you for taking time to read my blog and pointing out the importance of reading for so many reasons. I wish you all the best whether you are putting words on a page or taking them from one. 😉

    Reply

    1. Maybe , i loved books growing up and worluod devour 5 books a week and then i got overwhelmed . Because my studies required my full attention i m not making any excuses but i stopped reading and then i started it again. When talking to lot of people i found the same pattern but i m glad we have people like you , you motivate us to read more and that’s exactly what we need

      Reply

  45. ‘the age of wire and string’ by Ben Marcus, charmingly requiring work and lots of thoughts you can ultimately call your own. just a suggestion.
    Waltz
    bas

    Reply

  46. I am hoping that there is an ebb and flow, that is that we’ve moved to shorter and shorter pieces and even shorter videos, from YouTube to TikTok. But I’ve heard that some young people are starting to read long novels, like War and Peace. It’s kind of a getaway from the short, randomness of social media and of life today. At least I hope so. It is pretty awesome to get lost in a book.

    Reply
  47. Pingback: Unveiling the Remarkable Journey of Poestory Porium: A Rollercoaster Ride from 0 to 717 Subscribers - Poestoryporium
  49. Pingback: 8 Haikus: My Liberation In Books - Poestoryporium

Leave a Reply