Poll: How old is the average reader on this Forum?

jneni said:

[...]have you ever finished reading LoTR or HP? I think both books cater to different readers, HP is more like a young adult's fiction (though, as an adult, I enjoyed it thoroughly)[...]

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Both must be great books since everybody says so. But I don't like this kind of reading. I couldn't read any book of those series for more then 10 or 20 pages... It's because a story entertains me only when it’s about situations (fictitious or not) that catch me in a way I'd like to know how it will end... But the situations narrated in LOTR or HP seems meanless for me... I mean I don't get involved with the story, maybe because it's not about serious matters and that’s why it makes me not interested about the reading... I watched the first and second movies of the LOTR trilogy. But the NZ landscapes seemed to be the only thing that really entertained me. I did not like the movies either for the same reasons.

(But it's a matter of likeness, for sure. An individual cannot say for instance an opera is bad or good if he don't like the opera music genre. All he can say is that he don't like (or don't understand anything about) opera. The same applies to books - and everything else: I cannot say LOTR or Harry Potter are bad readings because I don't have any interest in this particular genre of reading. This “genre of reading” may be called "fantasy". But I like other kind of readings rated the same, resembling "Lost Horizon", by James Hilton, which one in point of fact is a completely different kind of fantasy. That’s why I don’t know how to determinate exactly in what kind of genre this book or the both HP and LOTR are inserted. So I don’t think what I read is better than HP or LOTR. It would be folly to think so.)

book.lover said:

nowadays whenever time permits, which varies from several books a week to a book a month.

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Several books a week??? God, I wish I had that kind of time! Of course, the last few books I've read have all had around a thousand pages in them. Maybe I should pick shorter books.

I'm under 18. I've been reading since about the 4th grade. I really started getting into it more when I moved and we had these things called AR tests, which I'm sure some of you know what they are. I've been reading ever since.

bookworm fellow said:

why don't younger people don't read?? is it because the nowadays' books are not good as the classic ones? I myself don't like things like LOTR or Harry Potter. I never did.

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I think there are too many other easy distractions these day - like video games, and the internet.

I wish there were more than 7 less-than-18 yr old, like me. Only if more people were on...

I'm 37 for now

Just turned 28

I'm 28 and have been reading since elementary school. The Librarian there just dripped with all the loveliness of books, and she inspired in me the love of the printed page. My parents, at that time, were non-readers, and I was the only who owned any books in the house. This has since changed, as my Father became a Pastor and loaded his study with Theology books (which I still crave) and my Mother now reads books at my suggestion.

I do wish to say that I disagree that comic books are "useless" reading. They may be less dependant on reader co-creation in the imagination, since the scenes are all drawn out; but the storylines in many comics are very complex, dealing with issues as large and deep as many a good solid novel. However, I would never substitute comics for a good "real" book...they should be the "privilege" of those who have first tasted the fruits of the original.

I'm 22 and don't read nearly as much as I used to, or would like to. It's so hard to find the time now that I'm all grown up and have responsibilities.

Woo! The under 18s are rallying! finally. I suppose that's good I just hope we're reading more than crap.

BeerWench13 said:

Several books a week??? God, I wish I had that kind of time! Of course, the last few books I've read have all had around a thousand pages in them. Maybe I should pick shorter books.

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lol. Gone with the Wind is certainly a long read, I know what you mean. I read it in a few days only because I was on vacation. I completely understand not having this kind of time, having just realized that I haven't finished a single book in December. Vacation's coming up though, time to catch up on lots of reading!

nick_m100 said:

Woo! The under 18s are rallying! finally. I suppose that's good I just hope we're reading more than crap.

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9/88 votes for under 18. Not so good. It equals not such a big percentage .

I'm 27, soon 28 and I have been reading for as long as I can remember.

nick_m100 said:

Woo! The under 18s are rallying! finally. I suppose that's good I just hope we're reading more than crap.

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I am one of the few people who have clicked on the "Under 18" for the poll. I am actually not under 18 but just 18....didn't really give me that option though But I wanted to let you know Nick that I am reading more than crap lol

Woo! More than crap! Recently I've been reading more political kinds of things like Orwell. This month I've read animal farm and 1984 and for some reason part of a physics textbook. Now I'm starting ulysses. Anyone here read that? if so is it a hard book what with the stream of consciousness aspect?

I'm 26 and I've been reading for as long as I can remember.

bookworm fellow said:

why don't younger people don't read?? is it because the nowadays' books are not good as the classic ones? I myself don't like things like LOTR or Harry Potter. I never did.

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Oh! But many young people ARE reading! Every time I go to the book store or library I see young people browsing for books. My six nieces are all bookworms! My nephew and son are readers. And there are many many excellent books out there for young people today. Since I write for young adults I like to browse that section of books stores and I've seen plenty of great books for young people.

Forest Elf said:

However since one is only as old as one feels

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Feels or acts? If you're only as old as you act, I'll be 23 forever! However, some days I feel 80.

Forest Elf said:

Since I write for young adults [...]

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Oh that's very nice. What's your name/pseudonym ??? I'd like to read anything by someone from this forum, it would be nice.

See, as a bookworm (lol) I've always been writing short tales for myself but I never published or even shown it to anyone, because even tough the tales seemed interesting for me, I don't know if anyone would read it just because I was asking them to and lie telling me it was great as it actually wasn't... lol. So I’m ok with my anonymity in writing concerns... But you went a lot far from me and eventually published your works. That's very brave. Keep it up, girl!