Lots of different views here!

A good-quality hardback will last almost forever, because the pages are properly sewn in - they won’t just peel off like a paperback. The hard boards [the covers] protect the book from wear and tear. I have hardbacks my parents had since college and they are still in good condition. [the books, not the parents! ;:)

One the other hand, poor quality hardbacks are as bad if not worse than paperbacks. I got a cheapish hardback textbook on history, the spine is already coming apart and the pages have been sewn in too tightly.

Best option: buy hardback, used, and only buy the ones described as ‘very good condition’.

Ook indeed! :)

‘Grilled rat - onna stick’ - any Pratchett book. I just love the way he writes that.

Cringe indeed! :)

Cringe indeed! :)

I’ve done this - brought the old book but didn’t buy the new one; the author signed the old book but the atmosphere was a tad frosty and I felt slightly embarrassed! [wouldn’t do this again.]

If you’ve already bought the new book, he’ll be more than happy to sign both, you don’t have to buy it on the day you meet him - it makes no difference, it’s all income for his book.

Humour is in the eye - and mind - of the reader, so if PG doesn’t make you laugh, another writer will.

I like his humour, but even at its funniest, it’s never a ‘lol’ thing, more of a smile.

If that Wooster book didn’t work for you, PG is not your jam , don’t sweat it. Plenty of comic stuff out there!

‘History’ covers a helluva lot of information! Back in the day, people had whole bookcases devoted to a set of encyclopedias - maybe 15 or 20 - covering just about all human knowledge to date. This meant you could just reach for a volume and what you wanted was there. Almost better than the Internet!

I have bought a concise encyclopedia - one volume - that covers all the most important events/facts etc, and I use it when I’m doing general knowledge crossword puzzles, saves me getting distracted by the internet - but hey, here I am on a Saturday, being distracted by Reddit…

I think it’s just practice! You’re used to reading factual information, and you’ve got accustomed to it so fiction seems hard work to focus on.

But you can read poetry, so clearly you do indeed have the ability to use your imagination and think/feel when presented with the written word.

I like the idea of one Redditor of trying audiobooks, as the extra dimension of voice, tone, and acting skills can bring out the story more and engage you more deeply.

If you find this works for you, then try reading again [from a book] and it may then be easier.