I’ve been reading quite a decent amount since I was a kid, and I’m now in my late 20’s. I’ve recently realized that the books I’ve read in the last couple of years, I struggle to remember much about them.

I can remember the general outline of the story, or most of the major plot points, but any character names or place names I struggle to remember.

I’ve been going through and reading many fantasy/sci-fi series, and it usually feels like once I get to book 2 of whatever new series I’ve picked up, I can’t remember the previous series I read.

For example, I’m currently reading The Thief series, and really enjoying it. However I’m finding that I can’t remember much of the names or characters from the Red Rising series, which I read just before this. I can remember most of what happens, and I remember really enjoying it, but names just get lost entirely.

If you were to ask me what happens in the books I read the last couple of years, I would be able to tell you in quite decent detail, but I’d struggle with any names.

The only exceptions are books I read when I was young, like the Lord of the Rings books or the Hyperion books.

Does anyone else have this issue? How can I better remember details like this?

  • alphabethunter@lemmy.world
    7·
    10 days ago

    Your memory is limited, things that are not essential will get thrown away. Books you’ve read as a child are core memories, things that shaped you up to be who you are today. Something you’ve read as entertainment/habit the last few months is just not as important. The plot? Yes, important, so your brain keeps it. Names? Nah, that can be forgotten most of the time. It’s a “perk” of being a biological entity of blood and flesh, with a brain that works in mysterious ways, but can somehow store huge amounts of information.

    • ghost_laptop@lemmy.mlM
      2·
      10 days ago

      i dont think it’s about memory being limited but about data processing efficiency. the brain knows it takes a lot more effort to remember those things which are not that important so we forget them, but we could totally remember them.