How to get motivated to read a book

[Mr Keshy]

Hey guys,

I've had my holiday break since December thi last year and now the new year has begun and it's time for me to start knuckling down on VCE. I've had a great start in all my subjects now, I've either completed them before (still plan to revisit and expand throughout the holidays), or am steadily making good progress now.

But the one thing I'm struggling with is picking up a book and reading it. English is one of my favourite subjects oddly enough, but I just cannot find the motivation to pick up a book and read it.

I can't seem to explain why though. I can take my methods/chem books out and start questions but I can't get my novels and start reading. Reading sort of makes me feel as though I'm wasting my time. (But I weirdly know I wouldn't be as well).. I know I need to read the books to do English properly as well. Very strange haha.

Maybe I should just force myself to read before bed. Maybe after a while, I'll enjoy it. Is anyone else feeling the same or similar, or am I alone on this one..

[Mao]

Go to your bank, withdraw $100 in $10 notes. Insert into various parts of the book.

Don't take lunch to school for 10 days. The meaning of hunger will generate enough motivation.

Unless, of course, the book is actually interesting. In which case this is not necessary.

[Mr Keshy]

Go to your bank, withdraw $100 in $10 notes. Insert into various parts of the book.

Don't take lunch to school for 10 days. The meaning of hunger will generate enough motivation.

Unless, of course, the book is actually interesting. In which case this is not necessary.

Why are you under the assumption that I have $100 in my bank account.

[nisha]

I planned out my holidays so that I WOULDN'T have time to do anything other than the holiday homework. So I made it a point that whenever I was:
- Sitting on the plane going to the holiday and back
-Infront of the TV watching test matches
-In the car on road trips
-Before I went to bed
-On the train

doing those things. I would just read my texts. Ofcourse, I sat down with a highlighter and copied down anything I thought of, but I found it fun. I would later sit down with my study guide and cross reference my own notes and jot down any new ideas.

[Mao]

Why are you under the assumption that I have $100 in my bank account.

In that case, the stakes are even higher. Get to it.

[Mr Keshy]

In that case, the stakes are even higher. Get to it.

I must, before it's too late.

I planned out my holidays so that I WOULDN'T have time to do anything other than the holiday homework.

Were you able to stick to it? Personally, for me it feels a little excessive, test matches are fairly important too.

I just find that reading books is just a mundane task, I'll force myself to start reading and get rid of that sort of attitude I guess. GUAIA is actually an awesome book, but I just can't be bothered reading it.

I'm just going to have to focus and force myself. How long do you think it'll take to read the entire GUAIA?

[Planck's constant]

I must, before it's too late.
Were you able to stick to it? Personally, for me it feels a little excessive, test matches are fairly important too.

I just find that reading books is just a mundane task, I'll force myself to start reading and get rid of that sort of attitude I guess. GUAIA is actually an awesome book, but I just can't be bothered reading it.

I'm just going to have to focus and force myself. How long do you think it'll take to read the entire GUAIA?

Kesh, which books are you doing for Text Response and Context (other than GUAIA)

[nisha]

I must, before it's too late.
Were you able to stick to it? Personally, for me it feels a little excessive, test matches are fairly important too.

I just find that reading books is just a mundane task, I'll force myself to start reading and get rid of that sort of attitude I guess. GUAIA is actually an awesome book, but I just can't be bothered reading it.

I'm just going to have to focus and force myself. How long do you think it'll take to read the entire GUAIA?

I was able to stick to it because I gave myself no option otherwise. I needed to take a proper break.

I actually love reading. Always have. Always will. So it wasn't hard.

I loved GUAIA. BUT DUDE. SERIOUSLY. Read one book at a time. In the holidays the only book I studied was TRF the first text response and thats it. I didn't touch context until halfway through the year. You have to pace yourself.

It took my 2 days. But I enjoyed it. And while I read it I had a notepad of any awesome ideas I thought of and any quote I could use. Best. Thing. I. Ever. Did.

[Mr Keshy]

I was able to stick to it because I gave myself no option otherwise. I needed to take a proper break.

I actually love reading. Always have. Always will. So it wasn't hard.

I loved GUAIA. BUT DUDE. SERIOUSLY. Read one book at a time. In the holidays the only book I studied was TRF the first text response and thats it. I didn't touch context until halfway through the year. You have to pace yourself.

It took my 2 days. But I enjoyed it. And while I read it I had a notepad of any awesome ideas I thought of and any quote I could use. Best. Thing. I. Ever. Did.

Alright, that makes me feel a lot more confident. Thank you

First thing we're doing in English is our Oral and then GUAIA so I'll focus on reading just that instead.

I'll read each story and create a bank of summaries and important points for each story as I go. Does that sound like a good idea? I think it might be useful come SAC's and Exam because then I can use it to sort of jog my memory? 2 days?? woooow, I'd imagine it'll take me a lot longer than that!

Kesh, which books are you doing for Text Response and Context (other than GUAIA)

I'm doing, GUAIA, Cosi and A Christmas Carol. I'm also doing Skin (film)

[JellyDonut]

Is this for school or leisure?

If the former, plan it out like how english teachers did when they didn't have a lesson planned/being lazy. If the latter, don't bother. If you don't want to do it, it will feel like a chore and you'd have a horrible experience.

[Planck's constant]

I'm doing, GUAIA, Cosi and A Christmas Carol. I'm also doing Skin (film)

OK.
Start with A Christmas Carol.
You will not need any motivation. It's a great story. Very entertaining.
Then watch the film.
Take it from there.

[pi]

Why do you need a motivation? Just get off AN and read the damn book. Simple.

But if you are actually in need of motivation (I'm assuming you are heavily procrastinating by posting so much) then Mao's suggestion is awesome. We can ban you to help you too.

[FlorianK]

Just read it on train rides to the city and back and read it in bed before you sleep, also make funny summaries of your texts.

Like for Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol:
An old man with a boring life goes on a 12 hour acid trip and, in a drug-induced trance, decides to spend his entire fortune on a turkey and charity.

[Jenny_2108]

Maybe I should just force myself to read before bed. Maybe after a while, I'll enjoy it. Is anyone else feeling the same or similar, or am I alone on this one..

If you force yourself to read the book, you wont understand it deeply and will get bored soon

I suggest you to ask someone who willingly read the whole book out loud, you record it and then listen again when you are on the train, before going to bed etc :p

I know some novels have audio versions as well

[Mr Keshy]

I actually started reading GUAIA again yesterday before I slept.

Don't know why I didn't sooner , I think I'll find it good to read at least before bed. I feel that my quality of sleep has slightly improved too..

Why do you need a motivation? Just get off AN and read the damn book. Simple.

But if you are actually in need of motivation (I'm assuming you are heavily procrastinating by posting so much) then Mao's suggestion is awesome. We can ban you to help you too.

I'm not sure it's procrastination, I mean I have no trouble with doing all my other work at all. It's just the books I had trouble with. But I guess now it's improved.

If you force yourself to read the book, you wont understand it deeply and will get bored soon

I suggest you to ask someone who willingly read the whole book out loud, you record it and then listen again when you are on the train, before going to bed etc :p

I know some novels have audio versions as well

I actually forced myself to read the book to be honest, but after the first page, I didn't feel that way


I guess all I needed was a kick start or something.