January 2026
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    I was pondering on this after trying to read Rayuella, from Julio Cortazar. I was gifted this book on christmas and really liked the concept. However, I felt like I was not enjoying the book because it felt like it was demanding, and it definitely required morw attention than I could give it at the moment. This is not the first time it happens to me, and I can recall some other times when I tried to read more demanding literature. Hence the concept of the retirement reading list: books that require some time and that I feel like it is not likely that I have that time to enjoy them fully while I work and have some other responsibilities.

    This is in part also due to my reading habits. I like to read whenever possible: lunch break, while waiting for transport, before bed, in work lulls, etc. This, alongvwith th fact that I don't like to juggle multiple books at the same time, makes it impossible for me to pick a "heavier" book and read it for a while then put it down and go do something else. Still, I wonder if this is something that changes with age. Older people, do you feel like your reading habits have changed throughout time? Do you enjoy sitting with a book that requires more of you, now that your life is less demanding? Does the concept of retirement reading list makes sense to you? I am very curious about how people percieve this and how they feel towards it

    by MonicaYouGotAidsYo

    3 Comments

    1. Seeing as how I’ll never be able to retire, no. No I don’t.

      When I get books like that I just read them as I can. That’s why it took me half a year to read House of Leaves.

    2. ImmediateDrink1030 on

      Yeah I totally get this, I’ve got a mental stack of books I keep telling myself I’ll read “when I have more time” which realistically means never lol

      My reading habits have definitely shifted over the years – used to power through dense stuff in college but now I’m way more picky about what’s worth the mental energy. If a book doesn’t grab me in those little pockets of free time you mentioned, it usually gets shelved indefinitely

      The retirement reading list is such a real thing though, like I have Infinite Jest just sitting there judging me

    3. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Don’t really see another point in life when I’ll feel like I have enough time and focus.

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