how to get more into reading

Bonjour folks!

Today's post will be about  b o o k s! I am an avid reader and I always have a book with me, wherever I go. However, it's hard to get in the reading mood sometimes. Over the years, I have accumulated a few things that make me want to pick up a book again!

1. read books you like, not because you feel like you have to

Oftentimes, we read a book because it's been lying around for some time or because it's a bestselling novel or an overrated classic (hello Hemingway). In this case, reading feels like an obligation which will discourage you from keeping up with it. Luckily, there is no need to read boring books or books you're simply not interested in. Try to find your style of books. It will probably be similar to the movies and shows you enjoy. When you've found a book you're really into, you don't even want to stop reading because you're so invested in the story.

I am aware that especially students often have to read books they don't care about at all. This is something that most people just have to go through and there's no way around it.

2. find your genre 

As I have already mentioned, your preferred genre is most likely going to be similar to the movies and shows you watch or simply the kind of stories you enjoy. If you like romantic comedies, you might consider reading romantic books. If you want to escape reality, fantasy or even young adult novels could be your thing. The real world is good enough for you? Try non-fictional books or perhaps even biographies. There is no end to all the stories people have to tell, you just have to find the right ones for you!

3. maybe start with audiobooks?

You love the stories but you simply lack the time to read? Start with audiobooks! You can listen to them while doing chores, on the bus, or even whilst driving. Moreover, a lot of audiobooks are read by voice-actors who try their hardest to convey the emotions behind every line. It is easy to immerse yourself in the world of the book. Audible is a great app for audiobooks and Spotify has a few very good ones, too!

4. read a short book first, and then read longer ones

Books that have more than 400 pages scare you? No need to read those then! There is a myriad of books on the market that have 200 pages or even less and they're still marvellous. You do not have to force yourself to read 1000-page-long book just so you've read it (see 1). Once you've managed to read a few shorter books, you can venture out into the realm of longer books. It won't be as hard and upon a finding a story you love, no one will be able to get you away from your book.

5. take it with you and read when you have to wait

If you're going out and you know you'll have to wait for some time, why not take a book with you? It's an alternative to the endless scrolling through Instagram and Twitter and it's more rewarding, too. Once you've taken it with you, you don't want the weight to have been in vain. Furthermore, you will be so proud of yourself when you've been reading while out in the world. 

6. set aside some time for reading every day and read before bed

Setting aside a fixed time for reading every day will motivate you to sit down and do it. It can also be your time to calm down and relax for the day. 10 to 15 minutes are enough to get you hooked and maybe you will want to read even longer than this one day. This can be at any time of the day, whenever you like. Perhaps you can make it a ritual to read before you go to bed to detox and let go of the day. Reading poetry before bed has benefitted me a lot because, after a stressful day, it helped reshift my focus onto something completely different.

7. wanna watch a show/movie? check if there's a book! impress your pals with insider information and stay motivated because you want to watch the show!!!

Most movies/shows are based on a book or a real story that has been written down and turned into a book. Take for example Game of Thrones, Orange is the new Black or The Hunger Games, all of which books that have been turned into movies or shows. The majority of books contain more information than their counter-screen part and are a lot more detailed. You can also stay motivated because the show or the movie series you're currently into hasn't finished yet but you desperately want to know what happens. Well, the books are there for you!

8. you don't necessarily have to buy a book if you don't have the money, get a library card or borrow books from your friends

Sometimes, money is tight and books are the last thing on your mind when you'd rather get food on the table. Fortunately, there is a way around always paying the full price for a piece of literature. Most towns have public libraries where you can easily access a plethora of different books without paying a dime. Ask your friends if they can lend you their books. If you do have a bit of spare money, consider buying used books.

9. books can be written into and used!!!

A book is not something sacred. It can be used, written into, highlighted, annotated, bent, heck, even broken. If there's a passage you adore, go ahead and highlight or take notes and put a sticky note on the page. Whatever you wanna do, please do so! Preferably only when the book belongs to you, of course. Your book can be as much a piece of art as any painting.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS

Oh my, I have so many recommendations. I'll categorize them.

Fiction

• Action and adventure: The Lost World (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
• Chick lit: The Last Piece Of My Heart (Paige Toon)                 
• Children's: BFG (Roald Dahl)         
• Classic: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (James Joyce)             
• Coming-of-age: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky)
• Crime: A Caribbean Mystery (Agatha Christie)          
• Drama: Brooklyn (Colm Tóibín)  
• Fairytale: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Caroll)          
• Fantasy: The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)                 
• Graphic novel: The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman)                      
• Horror: Carrie (Stephen King)
• LGBTQ+: Carry On (Rainbow Rowell)
• Mystery: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
• Paranormal romance: Obsidian (Jennifer L. Armentrout)                 
• Poetry: The Sun And Her Flowers (Rupi Kaur)                           
• Romance: Me Before You (JoJo Moyes)                    
• Science fiction: The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien)       
• Short story: Birthday Girl (Haruki Murakami)
• Thriller: The Final Girls (Riley Sager)
• Young adult: The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas)

Non-Fiction

• Autobiography: Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)
• Guide: The Zombie Survival Guide (Max Brooks)
• Memoir: A Streetcat Named Bob (James Bowen)
• Self-help: The Four Agreements (don Miguel Ruiz)
• Travel: Lonely Planet
• True crime: Columbine (Dave Cullen)

(source for book categories https://reference.yourdictionary.com/books-literature/different-types-of-books.html)

And that's it! Those are my tips on how to get more into reading. I hope they are of help to you. 

Last but not least, I would like to commemorate Toni Morrison who passed away today at the age of 88. She was an African-American author who dedicated her life to writing about racial problems and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. In "The Bluest Eye" she wrote:

"He does not see her, because for him there is nothing to see."

a line that has been with ever since I read it. Thank you, Toni, we will never forget what you have done for the world and the world of literature. May you rest in peace.

Bonne nuit,

magdalena