I used to be an avid reader. Always had a novel with me I was reading. Most years, I probably read anywhere from 8 to 12 novels. But for the last couple of years I have only finished reading a couple of books, and started reading several more that I just couldn't finish, or even barely begin. I can't seem to retain an interest in a book.

I have begun to wonder if it is related to cognitive issues. I really miss reading, but no matter what book I try I just can't sit and read for long periods of time any more.

Any one have a similar experience? Just curious.

not sure but its sort of the same here I just cant get a book going i find i reread a paragragh, or lose my spot I have upgraded to large print novels and history books and such, it seems to help the losing my spot and rereading.

Similar experience. My hubby thinks I'm going insane because I got a gift card for barnes&nobles for christmas that is still unused. I just haven't had the stamina to wander around a bookstore lately.

It takes a lot out of me to browse through books to find one that would interest me.

YES - exactly what you said.

I used to read CONSTANTLY and now I miss it and try - but cannot seem to finish a book. I just recently bought yet another book - the one Oprah is currently pushing - looks to be a WONDERFUL book - but after a week, I am still on the first few pages - around 30 or 40. It is a good book but I have so much trouble understanding and / or more so - just being able to follow the flow of the book. And constantly losing my place and re-reading the same paragraphs over and over. It is this way with all books I try to read. Everything I try to sit and read seems to be beyond my comprehension if I get beyond just a few paragraphs...

I am determined to finish this book somehow.

Me too. The size of the print, and just holding the pages open. My arms get tired. I SO want tha Kindle ereader thing. Then all I'd have to deal with would be my cog fog. And you'd think reading would be good for that.

They work for inducing sleep in me.

I think my issue with reading has more to do with my eyes, which probably has more to do with getting old then anything MS-related.

Inspirational books, like "Climbing Higher" (Montel Williams) or "My Journey Back to Life" (Lance Armstrong), seem to keep my attention. I think they made the words in large print for a ME!

No more Harlequine Romance for me . . . I find fantasy depressing now. Ho-hum . . .

Cherie

Catch....I used to be an avid reader for ever until kids were born! Then when I had time to read (after my last bout of MS attack) I was like you. I could not read anything longer than a couple of pages....magazine articles were best in those little women's mags that have 1 page articles!

I did advance to bigger things. And can now read a novel....

When I forget things in the novel, I either go back and look or just keep reading! I'm not going to remember enough details about the book anyway! I either enjoyed the book or not!

One thing you might want to look into reading are light weight books that don't require a lot of remembering from chapter to chapter. I found that the Ladies Number One Dectective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is like that and thoroughly enjoyable. Go get it from the library...there is a whole series!

Don't give up reading!1 You might want to do games and puzzles to help you out...come join us in the game forum here in Lighter Topics.....

I have a sure fire test for your reading attention span and concentration for staying with the plot.

If you haven't already, start reading the "Harry Potter" series of books. If they don't capture your attention within the first chapter and keep you wanting to keep reading at all expense then you have a definit cog fog problem. These seem to be the only books lately that I have been able to read and stay interested.

I've never been an "avid" reader because I read slow and my eyes go blurry with fatigue. I swear I've read "Harry Potter" until I couldn't focus on anything and STILL wanted to continue.

I must admit that I'm only half way through the "Half-Blood Prince" and haven't picked it up since on vacation in October. I don't know what my problem is with this. I always seem to have something else to do.

"Harry Potter" brought back and reopened the doors to reading for fun. Normally I felt I had to read business books to get something in exchange for my time.

I hope your love of a good book comes back.

the cat who series by lilian jackson braun come in large print, they are easy enjoyable reads and fun start at book one

"The cat Who Could read backwards"

if you like a mystery type and cats those of you who have cats will so be able to relate to her writings about their antics

I LOVE to read!

Altho, I havent read many real books in the past few years other than the Harry Potter series.

What I do read now is on the computer. I read fan fiction. (it's free)

Fanfic is stories about current or now-defunct television shows that are written by the fans. Sometimes fanfic written by amateurs can be almost as good as stuff written by professional writers.

I have a little HP pocket computer that I can transfer some of the stories to. I was going to get one of the Sony Readers (similar to a Kindle and actually probably better than a Kindle) as a christmas present, but decided my PDA was doing just fine.

When I had optic neuritis in 2006, it was really difficult to read on the internet, so my dad bought me a program called TextAloud. I use that program to read when I have vision problems, or sometimes when I want to crochet and knit, I'll put a story into the program and then I'll "read" and crochet at the same time.

The cool thing about the TextAloud program is that I can also use it to turn the text into an mp3 and then I can put the mp3 into my PDA or onto my mp3 player and I can listen to it thru headphones or even on my car stereo.

When I first downloaded the free version, it had the usual computer voice (like the computer voice in Wargames) but when I bought the full version the "Naturally Speaking" voices sounded almost normal. They pronounce some of the words a little strangely sometimes, but they sound pretty good. Not nearly as monotone as the Wargames computer voice.


Now, a lot of times, when I cant sleep, I'll put a story into the program, and will let the computer read to me. Doesnt always put me to sleep, but at least I'll be laying down and relaxing, instead of sitting there wondering why I cant sleep.

Oh, and aside from fanfic, sometimes I'll go to Project Gutenberg and look for something to read there. Project Gutenberg is a nice archive of books that have entered the public domain (no longer copyrighted) and you can read those books for free. It's a great site too...and sometimes a lot better than reading fanfic.

I've also been listening to audio books. I've got about 4 or 5 of the Harry Potter audio books, and I've got a couple of other books on cd. (Star Trek novels mostly...maybe one novel about Zorro) Those are usually a lot more expensive than buying an actual book, but they're usually pretty fun to listen to...and also most libraries have a decent selection of audio books that you can borrow for free.