Reading habits

[Barbas]

What sort of magazines, newspapers and books do you find yourself returning to, and what is it about them that appeals to you?

I occasionally pick up and enjoy a copy of PC Gamer, but my local store only carries about three copies. If there's a cover that mentions enough games I'm interested in, I'll give it a go, otherwise I'll pass unless I'm desperately bored. I've enjoyed the humour that came with the publication for many years, but that appears to have faded somewhat. An understandable consequences of staff changes, but a bit of a shame nonetheless. I also get a bit of a kick out of reading through the Message Board and Coalition Academy features of Private Eye. Their satirical stuff is most amusing, though reading through the serious articles is predictably depressing. Oh, I like their reviews too. Yahtzee put it well, there really is art to be found in a negative review.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I occasionally buy Metal Hammer, read the two articles in it about bands I really care about (then maybe a review of a gig I was actually at or a CD I already own) and then whine about the rest. This happens about four times a year and I have no idea why I keep doing it.

 

[Albino Boo]

As a tremendous pervert I have found the best reading habit is that of a carmelite nun but made of rubber. I spend many hours happily ensconced in my rubber reading habit whilst pursuing many learned works on the history of Italy. I am also a subscriber to the chap magazine and its wonderful advice page. I also instant buy any work by the art critic Andrew Graham Dixon. When tweeded up for the commute I do reread works by Isaac Asimov and Michael Moorcock, at 6 am you dont want to be reading something that is heavy going but has enough story in it to grab the mind. Every few years I read the Dune novels and Lord of the Rings again.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

I tend to buy 40K and Warhammer fantasy novels to read on long train journeys. I'm familiar with the settings so it's stuff I don't have to put too much thought into reading.

Also Private Eye, though not very often, as OP it just makes me angry and depressed.

 

[Barbas]

(Snip).

You read any Ciaphas Cain (by Sandy Mitchell/Alex Stewart)? It's a bit Flashman-esque, and I've gotten some good laughs out of it. I also tried sitting down to read Dan Abnett's Ravenor omnibus one summer's day and struggled a bit before grasping the thread of the story. A few chapters in, I was pretty much hooked. Highly recommend it.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

You read any Ciaphas Cain (by Sandy Mitchell/Alex Stewart)? It's a bit Flashman-esque, and I've gotten some good laughs out of it. I also tried sitting down to read Dan Abnett's Ravenor omnibus one summer's day and struggled a bit before grasping the thread of the story. A few chapters in, I was pretty much hooked. Highly recommend it.

Yup, all of 'em. Once you get to books 6-9 it starts feeling a bit tired, but that's not really unusual with a long series.

Yup, Eisenhorn, Ravenor, and the 1st of the Bequin (to become a) trilogy novels.

I tend to go for the less fighty ones if I can find them, having a look at the society of the Imperium is a lot more interesting than shooting IMO.

Currently half way through the Shira Calpurnia trilogy. Police novels in Spehss.

 

[Albino Boo]

You read any Ciaphas Cain (by Sandy Mitchell/Alex Stewart)? It's a bit Flashman-esque, and I've gotten some good laughs out of it.

Yup, all of 'em. Once you get to books 6-9 it starts feeling a bit tired, but that's not really unusual with a long series.

May I recommend the Space Captain Smith novels. They feature Nazi Space Ants, Psychotic Lemming men, things that can't be my little ponies for copyright reasons and a nudist commando. They are deeply silly and entertaining.

 

[sanquin]

My only reading 'habit' is forum roleplay, really. For some reason I can't get myself to read books, even though I want to. And any information I can get from magazines and such, I can easily find online whenever I want.

 

[s0denone]

Magazines, no.
Newspapers I read daily. Danish newspaper "Information [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagbladet_Information]" specifically.

On the subject of books my taste and joy is fleeting. I read anything and everything as long as I find it interesting. I'm sure most of the book-readers here know of being on crime-novel sprees. I certainly have been.

Just yesterday I finished my latest read: City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg.
A grand read, honestly, and one I would recommend to just about anyone.

On the subject of "habit" i like to find myself reading at least one book per two weeks. It takes the mind off other things and is an excellent way to relax. Honestly the hardest part is dedicating time to actually doing it, since you're always being pulled in ten different directions at once.

 

[happyninja42]

I actually don't read recreationaly anymore. I do audiobooks exclusively. It's just way more convenient based on my work schedule and life.

What I listen to is mostly scifi, with some fantasy peppered in there. I've found myself having less patience for sword and board fantasy these days. It's just...meh.

 

[sageoftruth]

The Economist has been my main magazine lately. It's pretty much my only source of current event news. I still find myself glazing over most of the financial news, but the rest can be pretty interesting.

Generally I go back and forth between reading those and reading Terry Pratchett Books. Commuting gives me plenty of time to read them.