Why are books so boring?

[Dalisclock]

Easy, short answer: They aren't. Some are good, some aren't. Saying all books are boring is like saying all movies are stupid or are games are childish. It's a gross disservice to paint everything with the same brush.

Longer, more complex answer: Like anything, the tough part is finding books that you actually like to read, and that can be tricky. It usually involves finding something you do like and then branching out from there, either genre, author or writing style. Also, finding a way to enjoy them that works for you.

 

[Dalisclock]

I dunno about boring, but I do know no horror book has ever scared me. Stephen King, Lovecraft, Stoker, Dante...nothing even remotely close to a goosebump. I guess printed word isn't a good medium for oppressive atmospheres and jumpscares.

I'm kind of the opposite. I've gotten much more creeped out or even scared by books then horror movies, so much that I've more or less being scared by them. Video games, though, have had some more success then movies have.

 

[CharrHearted]

Being a guy who has no talents but is apparently creative, i write because its the only way to get my creativity across. But ofcourse in todays world everyone hates books so it makes me want to commit suicide xp The only thing im slightly good at and everyone hates it, makes me want to totally gouge my throat out in a backalley shed XD

Hahaha... I made myself sad... D:

 

[NihilSinLulz]

First of all, I've never heard of anyone getting into a book on the first page. Books can't immediately wow you with visuals and music the way a movie can so you need story investment.

I would have to disagree. There are a number or great books that grab you immediately due to a strong opening.

"Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler's pushing a gun in my mouth and saying, the first step to eternal life is you have to die. For a long time though, Tyler and I were best friends. People are always asking, did I know about Tyler Durden." - Fight Club

"My apartment in New York was on Perry Street, a five minute walk from the White Horse. I often drank there, but I was never accepted because I wore a tie. The real people wanted no part of me." - The Rum Diary

"I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife?s grave. Then I joined the army.? - Old Man's War

"Hughes got it wrong. In one important detail. You will have read, in Tom Brown, how I was expelled from Rugby School for drunkenness,which is true enough, but when Hughes alleges that this was the result of my deliberately pouring beer on top of gin-punch, he is in error. I know better than to mix my drinks, even at seventeen." - The Flashman Papers

"The Hegemony Consul sat on the balcony of his ebony spaceship and played Rachmaninoff?s Prelude in C-sharp Minor on an ancient but well-maintained Steinway while great, green, saurian things surged and bellowed in the swamps below." -Hyperion

Dear OP: what books have you tried (and failed) to get into?

 

[pearcinator]

Try reading a Matthew Reilly novel. I recommend Seven Ancient Wonders or one of the Scarecrow series (Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves). They are written like Hollywood blockbuster movies. Don't expect pretentious writing or overly detailed descriptions of things. It's all basically action setpieces that would be too expensive to be put on screen because it doesn't have 'Marvel' or 'Star Wars' brand recognition.

In the US it's titled '7 Deadly Wonders' I believe.

Think 'Indiana Jones' on a Global scale! It got me hooked on reading in my teens.

 

[NihilSinLulz]

I dunno about boring, but I do know no horror book has ever scared me. Stephen King, Lovecraft, Stoker, Dante...nothing even remotely close to a goosebump. I guess printed word isn't a good medium for oppressive atmospheres and jumpscares.

You may want to try Thomas Ligotti's short stories (all about dat nihilism), House of Leaves (meta-messing with yo brain!), or some of the cream of the crop of the SCP Foundation (here is a personal fav of mine: http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1981).

 

[Tiger King]

I grew up when internet didn't exist and telly was crap.
the thing about reading is that a million people can read the same book, yet can picture a different story.
i love escaping from reality, this is why i love books,games,movies and this website.
i dunno, i love stories, weather they are verbal or written. i guess some people can't sit for five minutes and read.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

I, personally, generally don't like Fiction Novels (With some exceptions, obviously). The only time I read fiction novels is/was for school/college. On the other hand, I generally do enjoy just plain text books, even for things that I wouldn't normally bother reading (like on Science for instance).

My guess is that books are boring to you because you live in the 21st century, and you were probably born and raised in the late 20th century. You're probably more audio/visually oriented, education or entertaining wise, instead of writing oriented. That's not necessarily bad, but considering a lot of places still use physical literature (or at least encourage it) over digital literature or other media, it could be a bit of a problem depending on what you want to do with your life. My advice is that you try several different types of physical literature; try novels, short stories, text books, poetry books, and other kinds of books. Try several of each group too. If you honestly have a problem getting through the first page for all kinds of physical literature, then your out of luck as far as I'm concerned.

 

[ariyana]

Well this is a very common problem. Even I faced the same problem when I was in school. One should try to grow an interest while reading book. While reading books one should love reading it. They should not feel that they are just forced to read books.Just think it as a story and read it.

 

[Vault101]

I've tried reading books in the past and they're so boring. I can barely get past the first page. I don't know if it's because they fail to grip me or something else.

People keep asking me trto try to read but nothing I can find is good.

most of the time its the book

sometimes though you're just not into it

ALSO reading is something that you have to "get back" into you've gone years without it, ESPEICALLY in this time of quick plot second attention grabbers

it is something that can be worked on, and there's always something satisfying about getting lost in a good book

But even while this is recognized, the mere act of picking up a book often leads one to think they belong in a museum, as dust on the cover contrasts so deeply with the sheer silicon shine of the digital world.

if the futre is games and the future is now then...blegh

I like games just as much as the next person but the closest they come to capturing the experience of a novel are (IMO) Bioware games like Dragon Age and Mass Effect

and I'm not even saying that games should have to emulate novels, but lets be honest most of the time as Narratives they suuuuuuuck,

all mediums have their strength and the strength of books is not only the fact that they are pure distilled story, but they can go places and do things too "boring" for games or too literary for "movies"

maybe I'm being elitist but sometimes people need to expand their entertainment choice

I'm also trying to envision a videogame verson of the House of Mirth...I am coming up short

 

[Vault101]

i'm an avid reader and I DON'T WANT TO READ because books nowadays are just boring... thank god for the crack that is fanfiction... free and more interesting then about 80 percent of the books in print right now -.-

uhhhh...fan fiction?

I like fan fic as much as the next person but....

and what books are you reading? 50 shades on repeat?

 

[Vault101]

I'm a big believer in show over tell, and books by their nature are entirely tell.

*facepalm*

no...that's not quite what it means, just because books can use detailed description doesn't mean they always fall into "tell"

I mean yeah there's more "tell" in novels...

but lets say I have a character who is a tough no nonsense cop and I want to convey that to the reader?

I don't constantly state it directly, I don't arrange for other characters to sit around and lay out their archetype, their motivations and drama

[quote/]she was never the same after her husband died, she doubled down to prove that she could be tough like the other guys. "Really?" said Marsha "well that explains why she pushes people away and is afraid of intamcey[/quote]

I show it through actions and dialogue

now that's not to say I don't use direct description, that's what novels essentially are. Otherwise I might as well be writing a screenplay, depending on the style, point of view and how important your character is these things vary

but blatant misuse of "show don't tell" is one of those things that when you see it, you know it

 

[Jopoho]

I mean, if it is the act of reading more than the stories, you might have luck with audio books. I know a lot of people that can't stand to sit down with a book but will listen to one read aloud.

That said, it always comes down to a "different strokes for different folks" argument. I love reading books but it's silly to think that somehow not enjoying reading is a bad thing. The format might just not be your thing.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I'm a big believer in show over tell, and books by their nature are entirely tell.

*facepalm*

no...that's not quite what it means, just because books can use detailed description doesn't mean they always fall into "tell"

I mean yeah there's more "tell" in novels...

but lets say I have a character who is a tough no nonsense cop and I want to convey that to the reader?

I don't constantly state it directly, I don't arrange for other characters to sit around and lay out their archetype, their motivations and drama

[quote/]she was never the same after her husband died, she doubled down to prove that she could be tough like the other guys. "Really?" said Marsha "well that explains why she pushes people away and is afraid of intamcey

I show it through actions and dialogue

now that's not to say I don't use direct description, that's what novels essentially are. Otherwise I might as well be writing a screenplay, depending on the style, point of view and how important your character is these things vary

but blatant misuse of "show don't tell" is one of those things that when you see it, you know it[/quote]

Yeah, I guess it wasn't an accurate use of the term because the term can't really be applied to books, but I don't think it diminishes my point. There's something more personal and visceral about SEEING a character get shot and other characters react with shock than just reading about it, no matter how well-written it is. Like I said, there are books I really liked, but I don't see them as a better/more fulfilling/deeper/more intellectually satisfying way to consume stories. I just think that's silly.

 

[RaikuFA]

Try Discworld, also has a guy that doesn't usually read the series is great and extremely engaging, Moving Pictures is a good start

I second this.

Terry Pratchett was quite possibly the single most brilliant writer in recent history (he passed away less than two months ago), and even if you don't find his stories gob-smackingly awesome (though you almost certainly will), his sheer wit is sure to get you! This man could make absolutely any topic both fascinating and hilarious. At the same time.

And he always did. Always.

I am not joking. I am not exaggerating. Check him out!

Last one I tried was a TP book. I couldn't get into it.

As I've said before, I loved reading growing up. I read Dr. Seuss and Bernstein Bears when I learned how to (and that was hard because I have a learning disability which might explain things). Then read Goosebumps when I was in 3rd grade. Then I think our required reading for school was just... boring.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Don't know what to tell you. I love reading.

I'm not sure if it's like this for most people (it's not for one of my friends), but when I'm reading, my brain is simultaneously visualizing the entire scene and it's almost like I'm observing the events happening.

I'd tell you that you just haven't found the book for you, but it seems like you've legitimately tried. Maybe try a genre you wouldn't normally be interested in? Perhaps you could try a graphic novel (I really hate these, but who knows, maybe you'd like them).

I don't want to sound rude, but how strong of a reader are you? This is not meant to be insulting, but if you are reading books that are too challenging, it can be very difficult to enjoy them. I know that from personal experience.

Other than that, I'd say that you may not be giving the books you are reading enough of a chance. If I gave up on every book that didn't grip me immediately, I'd have read significantly fewer.

 

[Risingblade]

Try an audiobook

 

[Ronald Nand]

I don't have a problem with reading a story, I like playing Ace Attorney and that is 50% reading and I can read a book when it hooks me in, however the problem is that I have huge problems starting books the first chapter just bores me and I can't get into the story. I remember reading the first Harry Potter book and the first chapter of that book was so boring I just stopped reading it.

 

[SadisticFire]

Different strokes for different folks. I personally love reading. Some things. I'm a big text based roleplayer. If I had a choice and the community I would probably spend my entire time roleplaying instead of doing anything else, because it's so fun to just.. find a story, and read/watch is play out, even in your mind. But that's not for everyone, it's possible that you might just not get the same kick out of reading words on a screen. It might be how you interpet and process the words, it might because you don't find it fun. I personally don't understand why sports are fun, and probably never will. Especially for the audience. It just is to them. Some things click for people, some things don't.

 

[Lightspeaker]

First of all, I've never heard of anyone getting into a book on the first page. Books can't immediately wow you with visuals and music the way a movie can so you need story investment.

I would have to disagree. There are a number or great books that grab you immediately due to a strong opening.

"Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler's pushing a gun in my mouth and saying, the first step to eternal life is you have to die. For a long time though, Tyler and I were best friends. People are always asking, did I know about Tyler Durden." - Fight Club

"My apartment in New York was on Perry Street, a five minute walk from the White Horse. I often drank there, but I was never accepted because I wore a tie. The real people wanted no part of me." - The Rum Diary

"I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife?s grave. Then I joined the army.? - Old Man's War

"Hughes got it wrong. In one important detail. You will have read, in Tom Brown, how I was expelled from Rugby School for drunkenness,which is true enough, but when Hughes alleges that this was the result of my deliberately pouring beer on top of gin-punch, he is in error. I know better than to mix my drinks, even at seventeen." - The Flashman Papers

"The Hegemony Consul sat on the balcony of his ebony spaceship and played Rachmaninoff?s Prelude in C-sharp Minor on an ancient but well-maintained Steinway while great, green, saurian things surged and bellowed in the swamps below." -Hyperion

Dear OP: what books have you tried (and failed) to get into?

Damn it, why do you do this to me?

I've actually not read any of the books you list here AND NOW I WANT TO READ THEM ALL. X-D

i'm an avid reader and I DON'T WANT TO READ because books nowadays are just boring... thank god for the crack that is fanfiction... free and more interesting then about 80 percent of the books in print right now -.-

uhhhh...fan fiction?

I like fan fic as much as the next person but....

and what books are you reading? 50 shades on repeat?

Nah, 50 Shades pretty much IS fanfiction so that can't be it.



Anyway I'm really not sure what else to say after my earlier post. I love reading. I've always loved reading. I read Jurassic Park and The Lost World when I was about eight. I was reading Tom Clancy books like Rainbow Six when I was about eleven. I've read Lord of the Rings something like six times. I've even gotten through a translation Romance of the Three Kingdoms (though boy was that a heavy read). My entire house is full of books and I constantly have a book backlog that rivals my game backlog.

Maybe it'd help if we knew what it was ABOUT reading that bores you. Is it the lack of stimulus? Or is it overly descriptive prose? Or what?

If its just lack of visuals you could maybe try some manga?