Michel Houellebecq explains.

Those who love life do not read. Nor do they go to the movies, actually. No matter what might be said, access to the artistic universe is more or less entirely the preserve of those who are a little fed up with life.

From H.P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life, English translation by Dorna Khazeni, on p. 30 of my 2008 Gollancz paperback edition.