Start with some easy, fun books. I'm not saying you need YA-level books (not that there is anything wrong with reading YA when you're an adult) but there are plenty of very good stories out there with an easy, breezy writing style.

And try not to focus on page numbers or word counts. If you want a schedule, make it time-based - 20 minutes a day or whatever works well for the rest of your daily life. Whether that means you read 20 pages or 5 pages, you should like what you're reading and be eager for the next installment. Enjoy that time, enjoy the story.

I’d note that your examples are all fairly serious works that can give difficulties to even fairly accomplished readers and have been adapted to a very different flow on screen.

You might specifically try books that are reviewed as fun and fast paced, not part of a series, and aren’t something you’ve seen adapted.

I’d also suggest leaning toward quite recently published books. The closer you get to now, the more competition with movies and tv is baked into the process. For some books this means exaggerating taking time in order to differentiate the experience. But for books reviewed as fast paced, they’re often taking into account the idea that the expectation of the speed of story has changed. So the current bestseller lists may give better results than classics.

Basically, try to reach enjoyment first. Leave the work of broadening your horizons until after you already enjoy reading.

You might also enjoy trying a short story collection instead of a full novel, stuff you can read in a single day instead of dragging it out.

Try picking books that really peak your interest instead of going for the ones considered great. What genres or settings do you like in TV series or games? You can probably find a book that matches those interests and it will make your reading life way easier. The books you picked also aren't necessarily 'beginners' books I'd say.

Also, why make it a task by creating a reading schedule of number of pages? If you do that to motivate yourself to read, you could just try setting aside some time, e.g. before going to bed, during your commute, in between 2 tv episodes when binging… You name it!

maybe you haven't found your genre yet, try to explore different genres and start with smaller books 100-200 pages, there are many good books out there contained within those pages.

The easiest way to kill your love of reading is setting an expectation on yourself based on what you perceive other people think a reader should be (something I learned the hard way).

I may not read 500 page novels often, but I know I'm a reader because I enjoy the urge to read books I genuinely care about based on my personal tastes.

For example, I finished reading the visual novels Higurashi and Umineko last year. They're not traditional novels in hand, but I'm sitting and reading, immersed in the story and pictures. As a school teacher, I also tell my students that graphic novels (a book type that typically holds the attention for ADHD children) ARE real reading!

Plus, both visual novels are 100 hours+ long. I couldn't read it through one sitting. Both novels took me 2 and a half months to read. That's fine by me. It made me look forward to read every day in those months.

Right now, I suddenly have the urge to read "The Kybalion" because I'm attracted to occult knowledge, and one of my favorite childhood singers, Omarion, wrote a book titled "Unbothered: The Power of Choosing Joy" thats themed around spirituality. Kybalion is a very hard read, but my interest in it keeps me going. Omarion's book is an easy read, and I don't feel bad. It's about the content, not other people's perceptions.

To sum it up, pick a book that matches your tastes, interest, and style. Read for fun and pleasure. If reading YA or middle grade books will be easier, go for it! I enjoy the Dragon Masters and Magic Bunny series my 3rd graders love.❤

I do think you may have just picked the worst spot to start.

I read a lot and have for years and while I enjoyed it at times I could not get through the first Lord of the Rings book.

The other two I read but they are definitely a bit on the heavy side for a start into reading.

One general thing I would like to recommend is to not limit yourself to one book, I often have a similar problem of loosing interest in a book even though I really like it but since I tend to read 5 book in parallel that is not a great hindrance.

Also don't force yourself to read, it may be worth a try to get back into after a while but if it does not click after a few pages there is no Point.

For the moment I would say try a few shorter books and maybe some short stories.

Have you tried Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, it's a good book and I see the risk of loosing interest as lower since it is only partially carried by it's story and mostly by the jokes.

Short interesting books, I'm the same way. It took me 4 months to read 1984. Read 3 or 4 pages a day if that's all you want to do. It's not a race.

Maybe you are reading the wrong books for you. I suggest trying different genres rather than classics. Find something that's really fun.

Why don't you try reading for the enjoyment? Forget what books are considered great, just get to a book store or a library, open any book that catches your attention, try to read a few lines, read the description on the cover and see if the plot catches your attention.

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don't stop. one day you'll start a page-turner and realize that's the kind of book you've been wanting. and you'll be hooked

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I'm 49 and have diagnosed ADHD and am medicated for it. I decided I wanted to become a "reader" so many times in my life-- bithe before and after my diagnosis.

Then, at the end of 2022, I decided to research "adults reading with ADHD.". There were so many suggestions, but the one that kept coming up was: don't try to read something that doesn't interest you! And that, although so simple and obvious, was a huge revelation to me.

I stopped trying to read Stephen King, the classics, and other popular books. Instead, I thought about the TV shows that I enjoy: crime shows like Criminal Minds, Blacklist, etc. So I found a book that I thought would be fitting to that genre. It's January 29th and I'm on my 10th book if the year (I have been laid up for the last few weeks after knee surgery, so that has to go into the number being so high.)

My point is, read something that interests you. Don't try to power through books that you think you should like because they're so popular.

If you have a Kindle, download samples and try those. If you don't have a Kindle, get the Kindle app and do the same. Or, go to your local library, get a library card (you can do this online with some libraries,) and get the Libby app. You can read samples there, borrow e-books, read the books on the app, or have them sent to your Kindle, Kindle app, or other e-reader. A great, no cost way to get started.

Also, be very, very careful with online ADHD self diagnosis. Most people have some symptoms of ADHD throughout the day or week. But ADHD goes beyond loosing your keys every now and then. Beyond not being able to concentrate at times. Etc.

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If you want to truly investigate this, I would try short stories to see which authors have styles and characters you enjoy. You can find lists on r/suggestmeabook. I would also try narrative nonfiction to see if you like it better. Devil in the White City or Endurance by Lansing or into thin air tell compelling true stories. Or maybe you prefer books that explain something like the Man Who Mistook his wife for a hat for neurology or And the Band Played On by Shilts about the history of the AIDS crisis or Cadillac Desert about water issues in the Western United States or Flow by Csikzentmihalyi on the psychology of happiness.

However some people prefer podcasts or videos to books and that is ok. As long as someone is generally curious about life, I don't think there is a wrong way to learn or enjoy art. To my mind many video games today play a similar role and are just as artistic as opera was before television and radio. Bottom line, figure out how you enjoy your life.

Just to add to what others are saying, some books are written in a way that very much "speeds" you through the text, and the books you're mentioning are pretty intellectually dense. Reading for "fun" means different things to me depending on how I'm feeling. If I'm stressed or tired, but I still want to read, I need something that fits the bill. 1984 is something my brain will want to chew over, so it's more of a fit for when my brain is feeling frisky. I'm very much a person that needs to pick media that fits my mood, or I'll have a miserable experience when I might otherwise be reading my new favorite book. If I find I can't get into a book no matter how much I think I want to, I take it as a sign to just put the book away for now. I've had a lot of success just moving on to something else, and coming back to "problem" novels later.

I’d also suggest starting with collections of short stories. You seem to have jumped right into the deep end with your first picks. I’m a lifelong reader and it took me a few attempts to get through LotR. If you find your attention drifting after a while, short stories are a good way to go. Especially until you get dialed into what peaks your interest.

Try going back to the golden oldies like Tom Sawyer.

Actually, I am almost exactly like you. My problem is that I don't have the mental capacity to simply sit and read a book after a tiring day. However! I will let you in on a little secret. Books do not have to be digested in one specific method only.

Audiobooks! I know you mentioned that you listened to them while reading, but did you try to only listen to them? Personally, I use transportation a lot, I clean, cook, and do some chores. Simply putting in my headphones and playing an audiobook helped me finish more than 8 books in the past 4 months. That is more books than I read for the past 5 years - combined.

Also, try different genres. For me, I am focusing on non-fiction books. Once you realize that you are not meant to remember everything in the book, you will start to actually enjoy the experience. For the fun of it, I sometimes also open my note-taking app and type some interesting points that I listened to, and by the end of the book I have a good summary of the book that I can go back to anytime.

So basically:

1. Try different genres
2. Understand your daily schedule and if you have large periods when you cannot work or be productive, why not put headphones and listen to a book
3. Start with easy books (300-400 pages ~ 6 hours)

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You need to figure out what interests you. The genre, author, length of a book, setting, style, the year it was published, etc. are all very important when choosing what to read. Personally, I'll pick up several new books and start reading them around the same time, and eventually I might find that one or two are that I keep going back to.

I don't think you have to have a disorder or be destined to never enjoy reading. It takes practice to enjoy a quieter, slower, and less stimulating activity in a world that moves so fast and is filled with sensory distractions.

For people wanting to start reading, I recommend setting aside time on a schedule, shorter times to start, and reading something that really interests you. Save all the "great books" for when you are into a routine, and mix them in with other interesting books.

I think it's helpful to follow the advice that's given to people trying to start meditating. Set time aside regularly, start with short periods, take a few minutes to clear your mind, and keep a notebook nearby to jot down thoughts that you can't set aside.

Try James Patterson for fiction or Malcolm gladwell for nonfiction. They are kinda for ppl who don’t read but who want to read.

If you don’t like it don’t do it 🤷‍♂️

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Short. Chapters. I’m reading The Thursday Murder Club at the moment and it’s so easy to read because the chapters are short and to the point, no waffling.

Read at night laying in bed before you go to sleep. I usually get 6 to 10 pages in then drift off. Might be a good way for you start.

A really short read is War of The Worlds. Almost 200 pages and very good nonetheless. If you want a read you can get done fast, I highly recommend it. I've been doing that lately with Jack London stories and I've gotten myself back on my feet thankfully.

I love to read. Sometimes I read three books in one week. Sometimes I don‘t touch a book for months. Don‘t pressure yourself. It is okay if reading is not your thing. Or maybe, like others suggested you haven‘t found your genre yet.

When I was 16 I really thought I should read more classics. I bought Robinson Crusoe, Dracula, Pride and Prejudice… because others consider them great but I hated them. I think they were so boring, they didn‘t speak to me, I didn‘t feel a connection to any of the characters. And decluttered all of them 😅 My advice for you would be: go to a library or a book store and just pick the first book that speaks to you. If it is a romance book or children’s book doesn’t matter just go for it. Or maybe ask yourself what you like to watch. For example if you really love Fantasy or dragons or horror movies, you could go to a store and let a employe suggest you a book in that category.

And if you netherless you want to have a few specific suggestions from different genres, here are a few of my favourites. Maybe you can try some of them out, if it’s too overwhelming for you to just walk in to a store a library and choose a book.

Fantasy: Harry Potter is amazing, or maybe you like A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Historical Fiction: I really enjoyed The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley. Or if you really interested in life in 1665 London you could read At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper.

Classics: the closest to classics I enjoyed were the Sherlock Holmes books (my favourite is The Hound of Baskerville), and Journey To the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Romance: If you want to read a good romance book I suggest Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid was amazing too. Or Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.

Maybe you love to read a good book about traveling. My favourite ones are all in German, so I don’t want to assume you speak German. So maybe look for a country or a region you find fascinating and look if there are any travel books about it. I just started Walking The Americas by Levison Wood and so far I like it.

If you are into Horror maybe try Stephen King.

If you enjoy Military Science Fiction try the Gaunts Ghost Series by Dan Abnett.

Some of the other books I really love but don’t know to put in a category: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid I‘m glad my mom died by Jenette McCurdy (Biography) The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben Life without Limits by Nick Vujicic. (Biography)

These were books I really enjoyed. If you don‘t like them it is totally fine. They are just my cup of tea. And I know you said you wanted to read to learn something new. I learned much from biography as well as from romance novels.

Put away the internet while reading. Seriously, just don’t look at any of your devices. It will destroy your flow.

Eh, I doubt it's a disorder. None of those books you named are particularly light, easy reads. I remember it taking me a while to get into Lord of the Rings (I was 15 when I read it, 29 now), and even once I was finished I'm not sure I had a full appreciation for the writing style. It's one I plan to go back to. Whereas with Game of Thrones/ASOIAF, I loved the first 3 books while taking a lot of time with them, trudged through the 4th and DNFed the 5th.

Like others have said, maybe try a less ambitious undertaking and see if you like it. I know it's one of the go-to books to name, but I read the first Mistborn book and loved it, and I'm currently on Well of Ascension (book 2). It's just deep enough with its lore/magic system but not extraordinarily complex or heavy, for me at least, and the writing helps with that.

First of all, if you do have some kind of undiagnosed disorder, that’s totally ok. If it’s something like ADHD for example, it basically means your brain doesn’t produce as much dopamine as neurotypicals, so you really need something more engaging than 1984 to keep you invested. 😅

I feel we tend to overhype the classics and it makes it embarrassing to say “actually that book is boring as hell.”

You’ve listed some doozies that are honestly difficult to stick with, especially if you haven’t been a huge bookworm your whole life.

If a book is not engaging you, abandon it and try a different one. Start with modern ones that can feel more relatable. You will eventually land on your niche book interests. I think there are books out there for everyone, but there’s so much pressure for readers to get through the classics.

You listed some sci-fi and fantasy, so I would recommend NK Jemisin, Rebecca Roanhorse, Octavia E Butler, Kurt Vonnegut, and maybe Jeff Vandermeer and RF Kuang. They have much more fast paced books with relatable characters and plot twists that made my jaw drop.

Good luck!!!

Iz like music, first you search fun, amusement, then feelings of all sorts, then you also have the patience to appreciate something by learning to love the particularity of it, even tough it's less accessible. And like music, you will find urself in a mood for good pop music, strong rap lyrics or smooth rnb, or in a I want to listen to 20 minutes tracks of american minimalists ahaha.

Daniel Pennac a French writer wrote on all of this pressure to read (we are the champs of that in France, country with the larger number of bookshop, but we still gatekeep reading lol), and in the end Pennac wrote just read, be with the worlds no matter how skip pages, chapters, wander away in your reading, never finish a book, no one cares, start with the end, whatever just read if you can. It's the best advice

An obvious question is: do you have a hard time reading non-fiction?

Great novels are not necessarily the best place to start reading. Just like you wouldn't recommend anyone get into movies by watching Citizen Kane or Vertigo.

I want to tell you that I had a 3 year reading slump because I was forcing myself to read books I thought “I should read”. Including the Russian classics. It turned me off reading cos it was not something I was enjoying and more like studying or something.

If you haven’t been reading much it is really a challenge to dive right into high fantasy like LOTR cos you need to follow all the characters remember the magic systems the races and everything. It is very overwhelming and I can imagine how painful it becomes.

Please find something you enjoy, watch some YouTube videos of book recommendations and pick up books you hear about and might like. As you build your habit and expand your knowledge of world building etc you might step back into fantasy or something else.

My advice? Start with books that are close to real life, with characters that you can relate to. If you game, read a book about gaming like Ready Player One. If you like sports, pick out a memoir by a favourite athlete.

Reading should be fun (unless it’s for school or work purposes) don’t force yourself to like things you don’t enjoy.

Audiobooks.

Fuck reading. Just listen.

Get Hoopla app, sign in with library card. It's free.

Not a doctor so I can't say if it's a disorder or anything. I personally have a hard time reading things that do not interest me. I wish I was the type of person to sit down with a non fiction book and learn something, but that is just not my genre. Even when I have an educational book on a subject I enjoy, I don't read cover to cover. I bounce around and read parts that pertain to what I am interested in the moment. Give me a dystopian sci fi novel and I will DEVOUR it. Have your tried 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia Butler. That's the book that revived my passion for reading after a lengthy literature break.

Reading is a skill like any other, don’t be too hard on yourself (:

There’s a lot of things going on when you read; reading the words and making meaning of it and building a mental image of what the author is describing, the people, scenery etc… are a couple of things among others.

As you keep reading these things will become easier and you’ll be enjoying the stories authors have to tell.

>I don't know if I have some sort of undiagnosed disorder

May be worth getting assessed for ADHD, or at least doing to online assessments to gauge if this is an issue outside of reading.