I have pretty severe ADHD that got worse with age and after concussion. I stopped reading over the past several years, and I feel far less intelligent and articulate.
I’m looking for books that are a fairly easy read, but captivating. I want to build up with easier reads to work my way up to heavier literature ( if I started right now, I’d have to read the same sentence 5 times and then give up entirely).
All genres welcome except horror and anything depressing.
by Princess_and_a_wench
6 Comments
Maybe young adult books like these?
*The Cay* by Theodore Taylor
*Swiss Family Robinson* by Johann David Wyss
*My Side of the Mountain* by Jean Craighead George
*Treasure Island* by Robert Louis Stevenson
*Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH* by Robert C. O’Brien
*From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler* by E. L. Konigsburg
*The Westing Game* by Ellen Raskin
*Island of the Blue Dolphins* by Scott O’Dell
*The Phantom Tollbooth* by Norton Juster
Depending on whether this is something you’d be interested in doing— what about some books from childhood that you used to really enjoy? That is my go to when I am having a lot of trouble focusing and haven’t been able to finish a book in a long time. I’ll go back to middle grades or young adult fiction, and usually they’re high-interest enough to help me rebuild my reading stamina so I can branch off to other things. I’ve loved revisiting classics like The Secret Garden and Anne of Green Gables, as well as series like Nancy Drew. The Westing Game and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler are great books.
My husband also has ADHD and struggles to stay engaged while reading. Here’s what has worked for him:
-Sometimes short story collections can be easier to get through, because you get the dopamine hit of finishing something much faster and more often than trying to make it through a longer novel. They also don’t spend as much time getting lost in backstory.
-reading while listening to the audiobook can help you keep focused on the words.
-using an e-reader can allow you to change the font to something that is more engaging/easier for your brain to pay attention to.
-graphic novels can also be useful to get back into the habit of reading. There’s some pretty complex storylines and the visuals can sometimes help to keep you focused.
-you may also discover that exclusively listening to audiobooks works best for your brain.
We read mostly horror/magical realism/weird stuff, so if you want recs for short story collections like that, lmk. (I know you said no horror)
Try reading some Carl Hiaasen. His books are funny and have great stories that move.
Also, Elmore Leonard books. They read like watching a movie. Jackie Brown was based off of one of his books. Get shorty was one of his also.
it’s not necessarily smart but if you want something ADHD-friendly, gripping and hilarious i recently read Several People are Typing, where a man’s conscious gets uploaded to the work Slack. it is entirely told in slack messages which sounds ridiculous (and it is), it’s surreal and funny and i read it in like 2-3 hours
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