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Comment by shadowerm | Hacker News Reader

This sounds right from my experience.

I read words all day, everyday on a computer. I have read hundreds if not thousands of non-fiction books but for fiction in the last 30 years, have only read 1984.

It is like a club that I am not dressed for to gain admission. I am just not able to get into the story. 1984 was different though because I think I was half in the story, half comparing things to actual reality.

It really sucks because works like The Brothers Karamazov or War and Peace are just completely impossible for me and I know how much I am missing out.

All the great classic science fiction...tried many times, failed many times, know how much I am missing out.

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As a frequent reader (I like to do an hour before bed), I will say that most fiction novels are hard work the first 1/3 or so, getting to know all the characters, the situation, etc. But once you "know the world" the middle third is usually very enjoyable, and the last third can be thrilling / addictive. Series books help there, you usually already know the characters / world a bit when you start.

That said it's often just entertainment / mental junk food, not some great virtuous act like it's frequently portrayed by libraries / kids shows / lit majors.

If immersing yourself in longer works of fiction feels challenging, you might consider exploring short stories across different genres. I would particularly suggest something like Asimov. Plays by people like Oscar Wilde (Lady Windermere's Fan comes to mind) could also fill this niche.

Another idea could be poetry. I particularly love romantic poetry (referring to the era and style here, not the genre) which is on the longer side. So, maybe W.B.Yeats[Second Coming], John Keats[Endymion, Hyperion], P.B. Shelly[Hymn to Intellectual Beauty].

These formats are in stark contrast to a novel in that their "plots" are simpler to digest, and these are often shorter, focusing much more on how the reader experiences themes and emotions.

Fear not, the brain is a muscle and you can develop the strength to beat up the bouncer and force your way in to that club.

Building on the idea, I think movies probably stimulate the same sense, except compared to books they do most of the imagining for you.

Some say audio books are a cop out, but they can really carry you through a story you wouldn't be able to finish otherwise. And as the saying goes, anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.

But really there are no roolz. It comes down to doing what you enjoy. Try to find fiction that plays to your interests and lean into it, see where it goes.

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