Reading Wisdom
I read a lot, but I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of books I have waiting to read. Before I share my list, I want to give you a few thoughts about books. I have come to accept that I will always own books I haven’t read.
Timing is important. Sometimes I buy a book and can’t get into it, and then suddenly, I am drawn to it and devour it. I have one sitting here right now that has been highly recommended. I was given it as a Christmas gift, and I still haven’t cracked the spine. I am not getting rid of it. I think it isn’t the right time to read it.
Pick a format that is good for you. For a few years, I tried using a Kindle. I found myself purchasing books impulsively. I found this to be a problem when I was using an e-reader. I got on a mailing list that sent me book sales. I downloaded many books because they were on sale for $0.99, and I never read them. It was ‘out of sight, out of mind. My daughter stopped using the e-reader because she wanted her kids to see she was reading a book. She felt that if they saw her sitting on a device, they wouldn’t equate that with reading. I have another friend who loves her Kindle. She travels a lot more than I do. The e-reader gives her the option to have several books along with her. I have taken my Kindle with me this summer as a backup in case the six books I took to the cottage for two weeks weren’t enough. I don’t do well with audiobooks, although many people love them.
Curate your reading list. There are SO many good books. I have ten books checked out of the library and 38 on hold! I don’t plan to read all of them. I tend to go through the list of new books at the library and put books on hold that look interesting. I’ve decided I need to be a little more thoughtful about my reading. I’m compiling a list of topics I want to learn more about. Other books will find their way onto my night table, which is okay.
You don’t need to read the whole book. Not every book needs to be read cover to cover. You don’t read a fiction book the same way you read a non-fiction book. Some books I browse through. There are some books I read every word. I have also learned to accept that I don’t like long flowery descriptions in prose. I am pretty comfortable skipping over paragraphs that are beautifully written descriptions of landscapes. It took me three attempts to read Where the Crawdads Sing. Once I got into the story, I enjoyed it. If you are halfway through a book and not enjoying it, don’t feel like you need to finish it - no matter how many five-star reviews it got!
Join or start a book club. I’ve been discussing books with the same group of women for about five years. I love hearing what other people have discovered in a book. There are lots of online book clubs as well. Check out the Sage-ing book club if you are interested in conscious eldering or ageing. Local libraries often have book clubs, which are a great way to meet people in your community.
Support your library. My first stop when I receive a book recommendation is my library. If I can’t find it there, I will order it online. If I am in an independent bookstore, I will purchase books, but my lifestyle is such that I am not in them very often. I provide Amazon links on my website because they give you all the information you need about a book, including reviews. And although I am an Amazon affiliate, I know that purchasing books through them isn’t always desirable. I usually check several websites, including Book Outlet, Book Depot and Indigo. These are all Canadian websites. There is an excellent website in the United States that gives you the convenience of purchasing online and supporting your local independent bookstore. Bookshop isn’t available in Canada. I make my decision on price. I am living on a retirement income, and because of the number of books I purchase, it is an important consideration. You may have different criteria.
Reviews and Recommendations. You can support authors by leaving reviews when you’ve enjoyed their writing. It helps them get discovered. And use social media to recommend books. You can also pass on books you like to friends and family when you find something you’ve enjoyed.
I wanted to share some of my thoughts on reading with you. Email me if you think I’ve missed something, and I will add it to the list.