Reading: Is It an Addiction?


Hi, my name is Christina Berry, and I’m addicted to reading.

[all of you]: Hi, Christina. You are in a safe place here.

Seriously. Despite finishing two editing jobs in as many days, I managed to read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. This is definitely an R-rated book, with one sexual situation that really bothered me, but the storytelling is divine.

Despite being Ms. Setterfield’s debut novel, it is a fantastically rich, modern gothic read. I spent the majority of my reading time trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Even this morning, as I was driving back from taking the kids to school, I placed another piece of the puzzle in the correct spot, though I had finished the book more than twenty-four hours before.

The discussion questions at the back were extremely interesting. The one that haunts me still is this: “Margaret says on page 4 that reading can be dangerous. In what ways do you think this is true?”

Ms. Setterfield raises a marvelous point that reading, perhaps, could be classified as an addiction. She says, “I’d be interested to know just what happens inside the brain, chemically and structurally, when someone reads.” It alters the mind. One always wants more, the craving never seemingly satisfied for long. Allowing one paragraph of reading often leads to hours missing from your life. An alternate world becomes so real we can laugh, cry, or get angry. A person can neglect relationships, obligations, chores, sleep, exercise …  all to get a few more pages in. Just one more chapter …

What do you think? Can reading be an addiction? Are any of us willing to seek treatment? Or rather, are we the dealers on the street trying to hook the non-readers, tempting them with free books at first, and of only the best quality?

6 Responses to Reading: Is It an Addiction?

  1. Lourdes February 26, 2010 at 3:38 pm #

    If I am an addict it is because of writer’s like you, who write such great books that you can’t put down . Which was the case with a Familiar Stranger I couldn’t put it down. Guess that mean’s my name is Lourdes and I’m addicted to reading.

  2. Loren February 26, 2010 at 8:33 pm #

    I agree with Lourdes…When a book is good then YES ~ it’s absolutely addictive…can’t put it down ~ no way are you going to sleep because you HAVE to know what happens next! When I finished Familiar Stranger my daughter said “MOM, I have NEVER seen you finish a book so fast! I just couldn’t put it down! That’s addiction at its best 🙂
    Have a blessed weekend!

  3. Judy Gann February 27, 2010 at 9:14 am #

    I confess, I’m not only a reading addict, but in the top echelon of dealers–a children’s librarian hooking young children, tempting them with the best of children’s literature. Best job in the world!:-)

    P.S. Those of you with young children (birth through preschool) see http://www.judygann.com for tips on how to raise book addicts and some tempting book recommendations.

  4. Grace Bridges February 28, 2010 at 2:21 pm #

    You’d never say you were addicted to water, right? I don’t see how it can be called an addiction when it is so necessary to life. Food. Water. Books. Nuff said 🙂

  5. quietspirit March 1, 2010 at 5:41 pm #

    I agree with Grace. Reading is fundamental to our existence. Are we addicted to Oxygen? Don’t we have to breathe? Case closed (for me).

  6. Christina Berry March 2, 2010 at 10:21 am #

    I LOVE the necessary-to-life argument! Thanks, all, for your comments. They always encourage me to keep writing, reading … and occasionally blogging. 🙂