Hi, I am a complete beginner when it comes to book reading so I guess my best attempt is by introducing who I am & hope for suggestions. I (24M) am an university student who is relatively academically competitive & is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Which lead to a habit of reading only to congest the vital informations, which lead to really bad experiences when it comes to reading as a hobby. I have recently started trying audiobooks as a result.
I have listened through 'Norwegian Woods' recently. I generally loved it but the feeling of nostalgic introspection and topics of suicide felt too close to home. But I enjoyed the general story very much. I am currently listening to 'No Longer Human' but I am not enjoying that as much. I am not interested in fantasy genre like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Lord of the rings. Could you recommend me some books & hopefully a technique to enjoy actually reading books? I have heard many friends describe reading books as a meditative hobby & want to try to enjoy that feeling.
by MilkWithPineapple
1 Comment
Yeah put down No Longer Human immediately, considering the themes you don’t enjoy. Here are some great books that do have a somewhat melancholic and contemplative vibe without being overly depressing:
The Birds, Tarjei Vesaas
Stoner, John Williams
Bonjour Tristesse, Francoise Sagan
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers
The Eight Mountains, Paolo Cognetti
Edit: as for technique, be ok with it being a skill you develop. We are all damaged by our phones etc, and most don’t immediately find reading soothing and relaxing, it comes with time. I would start with short amounts of time, for example 15 minutes, with a timer. Put away all devices and read. Do it every day. Gradually increase the time, and after a while you won’t bother with the timer, you’ll enjoy your new hobby and your new skill.