Three Reasons I Love Reading

Lately I have been enjoying making more time to read fiction books. Having always loved reading books, I was finding that work was taking up too much time and I wasn’t spending enough time absorbed in a novel. Now I have made sure I read every day again and I am really happy. If you love reading, you may identify with the same reasons.

Here are three reasons why I find reading a great way to spend my time:

1) Stories are engaging

A good book can really entertain and make you think. Being gripped by a dramatic story is thrilling. If the narrative is strong then you find yourself invested in the characters and locations. It can be very therapeutic to spend time immersed in a story, engaging with its plot twists and caring about what takes place.

2) Books are good for your mental health.

Reading a book can be soothing. It helps people to relax and reduce stress levels after a busy day. With a storyline to care about, readers can find solace in a story and gain a lot of satisfaction from following characters on their journeys and adventures. Reading is a wonderful hobby that can help you to unwind.

3) Books are talking points

I love talking to my friends about books that we have both read. I have one friend who tends to read the same book as me at the same time. It is fun to share our thoughts about the narrative and discuss what we think the characters will do next.

Book clubs are also great places to chat about stories and unpick plot points together. I like to see what Booktube readers think of books, especially when I am considering buying a new book and just want to know how others felt about it.

Summary

In my view, books are very entertaining and I find reading them very relaxing. Having a good book to go home to is reassuring and I love nothing more than to make a cup of tea and read a chapter or two every day.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope that you will consider following my blog for future similar content. For a review of a book that I really enjoyed reading, check out my opinion of Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty.

Book Review: Different Class – A Gripping Novel

It has been a while since I finished a book and wrote a book review on the blog. This week I got to the end of ‘Different Class’ by Joanne Harris and I am keen to share my thoughts on it.

Having read the first book in the series, ‘Gentlemen and Players,’ I was really looking forward to get to find out what happened next. St Oswald’s Grammar School in North Yorkshire was once again the setting for a complex drama which revolved around Roy Straitley, the Latin teacher who was devoted to his job.

The Plot

The story jumps back and forth between 1981 and 2005. Back then some boys had got into some bother related to a missing lad and some drowned mice. Later on, one of those boys returned to St Oswald’s as the head teacher. His presence shakes Roy and begins a suspicious set of events that rock the whole town.

Straitley is soon under pressure to retire so that a fresh group of staff can come onboard. He smells trouble and finds himself in the middle of a confusing set of events. In the background, a disappearance, a staff reshuffle and some fairly offensive policies make St Oswald’s seem much less popular than before.

As usual, Harris can be relied upon to unravel a gripping storyline which soon engages you and sucks you right in. Twists and turns are written cleverly and help to keep you guessing. Each chapter is told by one of the key characters and the quality of writing is wonderful.

Summary

If you like a mystery drama then this novel is for you. Although it follows Gentlemen and Players, it also sits well as a story by itself. The characters are interesting and fully developed. Definitely download a sample of this narrative and I am sure you will find yourself wanting more.

I hope that you enjoyed my book review. For more of my bookish content, check out Books that are satisfying me . Please follow my blog and share a comment if you have read this or another of Joanne’s books.

Read, Watch, Listen Again

Every now and then I love to share what I am currently reading and enjoying as well as something I am watching and listening to. As November looms, it may feel like the right time to snuggle up on the sofa with a good book or TV show. You may want a new podcast to zone into when you are going for a run or, like me, whilst having a bath. Or maybe you need something to send you to sleep. Here are my suggestions for things to read, watch, listen to if you are looking for stimulus.

If you missed my October instalment, it is here. Last time I mentioned the funny paramedic TV series, Bloods, as well as a very nostalgic book, The Former Boy Wonder. I also spoke about the Dragoncast podcast which accompanies House of the Dragon.

Read: Normal People by Sally Rooney

I am incredibly late to the party with this one. Having seen the BBC series, I wondered whether I would appreciate the book as much. It was a lot to live up to.

A rich Irish girl who is antisocial and oozes confidence alongside an intelligent yet rugged guy who has met his match. Hiding the fact that he is attracted to his mother’s employer’s daughter, we witness the intriguing story or Marianne and Connel unfold.

The book is amazing! I found it weird that Sally doesn’t use speech marks but soon got used to that style. I can absolutely see why people rave about her writing. It is fascinating how she shapes a story in short chapters which are insightful, captivating and built around social challenges.

Watch: The Watcher on Netflix

When I first came across the advert for this I was instantly attracted because of Jennifer Coolidge, who recently appeared in The White Lotus. Later on I found out that Ryan Murphy had scripted this series based on real life events. I had to watch it for those reasons.

When a couple moved out of New York to the suburbs and bought a dream home, they quickly found themselves freaked out by the neighbours and some unusual occurrences. A letter arrived which was threatening and overshadowing, signed by someone who called themselves ‘The Watcher’.

I am half way through and loving the mix of scares, comedy and general weirdness. I cannot predict who The Watcher is but I am having fun trying to identify this menacing character.

Listen to: Calm

I have been using the Calm app for quite some time as a way to ease myself to sleep at night. I heard about it from a friend and have found it full of so many soundscapes, stories and relaxation pieces.

Sometimes I play some light piano music or raindrop sounds while I sleep. Other times I hear great sleep stories told by brilliant readers like Tamara Levitt or celebrities like Kate Winslet and Harry Styles. I suggest trying a free trial and seeing what you think. OK so it isn’t quite a podcast but it is a fantastic resource for those of us who struggle to get to sleep.

I take a nap a few times a week while listening to one of the half an hour nap stories.

Putting It Together

I hope your Autumn started well. It is incredibly warm in England which is worrying as it is meant to be cool by now. Climate change is definitely messing with our weather. So my way of distracting myself is keeping busy with books, TV shows and podcasts. I would love to know your thoughts on those I suggested. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.