If it weren't for the fact that I have ADHD and dyslexia,
I probably would be quite the bookworm.

I tend to get rather adicted to audio-books --- meaning
that I definitely have the capacity to enjoy and get
immersed in the stuff that is found *in* books. But I
realized that for some reason, I have trouble (most of
the time) getting as adicted to books *themselves*.

It also must be noted that there are *certain* books
(more about that later in this message) that I *can*
get glued to -- even if they're in the traditional
print form.

My mom thought that my problem with books was my ADHD
combined with my powerful imagination --- she said that
audiobooks will continue if I drift off, unlike print
books. But I assured her that that could be ruled out
as the reason --- because I have a tendency to hit the
"rewind" button if my drifting mind causes me to miss
any part of an audio-book.

Eventually, while talking to a friend about this
problem, we concluded that the cause of it was my
dyslexia. My folks don't think about my dyslexia
much more, because I've gained a full ability to
read despite it (due to hard work which I'm often
not well credited for). But though I'm *capable*
of reading (despite my dyslexia) reading is still
a much more *difficult* task for me than it is
for many other people (percisely *because* of my
dyslexia). This extra difficulty - though not
enough to stop me from reading if there is
someone standing behind me *forcing* me to read
- it *is* enough to take away the *enjoyment* I
would have derived from reading.

Now - I should mention that there *are* books that
I *can* read (and *enjoy* reading) even in print
form. Most notable among these are the Harry
Potter books (of which I have read every one).

I was recently talking to a friend about this --
how J. K. Rolling is able to write in a style that
even has someone like *me* glued to the book.

My friend told me that this is probably because
(officially speaking) the Harry Potter books are
considered to be Children's books --- and are
therefore written in easier-to-read language
(so that children can read them). Because of this,
the task of de-coding the letters isn't as
difficult for me as it is with books that are
intended for adults -- and is therefore not
a big enough chore to take away the thrill of
the story.

I'm hoping that if I find *enough* books of the
kind that I can read and enjoy -- I can build up
the neural pathways in my brain, and increase my
reading ability so that I can eventually move on
to books of a higher reading-level, and *still*
enjoy them. (For though I am greatful for the
existence of audio-books, without which I would
have *never* made it through LORD OF THE RINGS,
I would rather not be so *dependant* on them.)

Now, here's the other problem. Though the level
of reading-difficulty that I can undergo without
loosing enjoyment of the story is at a chidren's
level - I am still an intelligent 31-year-old -
and I therefore need books with *stories* in them
that are sciophisticated enough for a 31-year-old
to enjoy. The HARRY POTTER books are abile to
fulfil both requirements -- and I've been told
that the NARNIA books by C. S. Llewis also does
the same.

However, just reading the few NARNIA books that
exist - and grabbing each HARRY POTTER book as
it comes out - won't provide me with a long enough
reading list to build up the neural pahtways needed
for me to ever hope to move on to harder books and
still enjoy them. And as the requirements I have
for a book I can currently enjoy (a child's reading
level, with a story stimulating to an adult) might
be by-and-large *paradoxical* in nature - and
therefore books that fit both these criteria might
be few and far between.

So here's what I was wondering -- can any of you
suggest *more* books that meet both these criteria
- so that I can add them to my reading list?

Thanks,
Adam