Tag: read

5 Ways to Get Back Into Reading

Guest Post: By NotSoModernGirl

I am so excited to feature my very first guest post on the blog today. Eleanor (NotSoModernGirl) has kindly agreed to share her thoughts about returning to reading after some time away from books. As usual, her ideas are relevant and useful. I’d like to thank Eleanor for putting together such a wonderful post. Here it is:

 

I’ve always read books ever since I was little, but after going to University- and having to read so much for my degree- I fell out of love with reading for pleasure. I would always have a book on the go, but I rarely finished it- and if I did it would take me months.

 

Ever since finishing University, I’ve tried to get back into reading. However, with lockdown and the uncertain world situation, I turned to Netflix to distract me- and it’s only since things started to get less intense in the world that I’ve started to pick up books again as a welcome hobby.

 

Now I love reading almost as much as I did before. Yes, my attention span isn’t what it used to be, and I still take a while to finish a book, but I’m so happy I managed to get back into reading, and I’m finally finishing all the books I start- and enjoying them!

 

In this post, I’m discussing 5 ways to get back into reading for pleasure. It might take a couple of weeks or a couple of months, but there are definitely a few ways to improve your reading habits and get back into a hobby you once used to love.

1.   Read a bit at a time

 

You shouldn’t force yourself to read a lot in one sitting, because it’s not going to happen and you’ll feel disappointed in yourself.

 

Push yourself to read a little bit at a time, such as before bed or in the mornings. You might only read 5 pages, but that’s the best way to stay consistent, and actually enjoy reading as a hobby rather than as a chore or something you do for your degree.

2.   Choose a book- not your phone

 

It’s so easy to pick up your phone when you have 5 minutes of downtime, but try to choose a book instead. Make sure to have your book close to hand, and any time you would be mindlessly scrolling on your phone- read instead.

 

It’s a hard habit to get into- and I’m still working on it- but it’s a great way to give your mind a rest from bright screens, and get some valuable reading time.

3.   Mix it up

If you can’t decide what to read, try something a bit different. You don’t need to read the same genre as you always used to, and there are so many book blogs and recommendations out there to find the perfect read for you.

 

Choose books that are different from each other to keep yourself interested, and try out different types of books, such as non-fiction reads.

 

I loved reading ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller during lockdown, as it was unlike anything I’d read before. I also found that choosing non-fiction reads got me interested in reading again, and this is a great way to try out different books and find out what you like now, after a brief period without reading.

4.   Take your book everywhere

 

This is an idea I’ve started recently, and it’s really paid off!

 

If you take your book with you in your bag, you always have it whenever you have some down time. If you have a break at work or you’re waiting for the bus, pull out your book and read for 20 minutes.

 

This is a great way to pass the time, and when you have your book on you then you have no excuse not to read!

5.   Choose books that interest you

 

There’s no point reading books that don’t interest you. Don’t read an old classic if it’s not something that makes you excited to get back to reading, and don’t read a popular book because you feel like you should. If you want to read a Romance novel, go for it. Or if you want to give Sci-Fi a go, then do that.

 

You should be reading whatever gets you interested, and you’re not going to get back into reading by choosing books that don’t inspire or interest you. You need a book that pulls you back to it, and finding that perfect, fast-paced book is the most important part of getting back into reading as a fun activity.

 

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Thank you so much to Jamie for letting me post on his blog today!

 

I really hope my tips help you fall back in love with reading, or encourage you to pick up a book instead of your phone next time you’re taking a break from work.

 

It can be hard to get back into reading for pleasure after a short or long break, but it is such a rewarding and fun hobby- so it’s definitely worth pushing yourself.

 

 

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This guest post was written by Eleanor. She is a freelance content writer from the UK, and she loves writing lifestyle posts for her blog and other websites.

 

Check out her blog, or connect with her on Twitter to find out more.

 

Reading Update

Today I thought that it would be nice to share what I am currently reading and some of the books that I am excited about. During the summer I got a bit lost in a pile of books and usually I keep track of them all but actually I forgot where I put a few of them and now I need to play catch-up.

One such example is a non-fiction book by Matt Haig, called ‘The Comfort Book.’ Having read a few of Matt’s previous non-fiction books I knew that this would be interesting. Written in short chapters or segments, it is a positive book which is full of hope. In line with ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’, it analyses modern life and finds ways to really make you ponder and value everyday routines.

Another book I had started was ‘Flat Share’ by Beth O’Leary. A colleague lent me this in June and I have only just got back to reading it. What a great idea for a novel! A guy is looking for more income and rents out his flat, knowing that he is never there at night. The catch is that whoever rents the flat has to share the same bed as him. In theory the two residents will hardly ever meet.

People think it is strange that I have different books on the go all the time but usually I keep up with them all. Hopefully when I complete these two I can get back to my normal pattern of having a YA book, a contemporary, a biography and something lighter to read. I like dedicating different times to each. For example, a contemporary drama is ideal before bed.

Alongside these I am deeply into ‘Apples Never Fall’ by Liane Moriarty and have a brand new copy of ‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman. With this one, I wanted to see what a web comic looked like as I had heard a lot of good things about her work on this porject. Both of these writers are talented and create stories that are very easy to become drawn into.

Anyway, enough of me babbling on. I wonder what books you are currently immersed in. Let me know in the comments or share your thoughts about the two books I signposted. For more about another book that I recently enjoyed, click here.

Writers and Lovers – A Book Review

AFF – There is a link to buy this book below, for which I would get a small kickback at no extra cost to yourself. My opinions of this book are my own.

Love of writing and romantic love are different. One is instinctive, the other is confusing.

This is a book that I just finished reading. I read it in bite size portions due to my recently hectic schedule and every time I came back to it I was totally enthralled by the story.

The main character, Casey, was an in-debt waitress who longed to be a writer. Having just lost her mum and with a father who humiliated her during her teenage years by being sacked for something inappropriate (not with her), she was feeling a bit lost. Her spare time was spent refining a novel, which not only confused her but also drove her dreams.

Dating two guys, Silas and Oscar, she just could not decide what she really wanted. Torn between two guys who were also passionate about books, she was really confused. One was a published writer with a family of his own and a dead wife. The other was a fly-by-night romantic who was difficult to pin down. Ironically she met Oscar because of attending a book signing, taken to by Silas.

Review

Lily King is a new writer who has made a massive impact on the book market with this gorgeous debut novel. Her skilful narrative, written in the first person, from the viewpoint of Casey, has relatively short chapters but these are not numbered nor named, simply indicated by indentations.

I absolutely love the insights into Casey’s character. Her inner monologue is modern, clever and dabbles in mental health as she discusses the bees coming for her when she is stressed. Her constant sadness over her mother’s passing is an important backbone to the story but it is her love of writing that drives everything forward.

When she sends off her manuscript to multiple literary agents and it comes to crunch time for deciding who to properly date, what will she eventually decide?

I hope that you enjoyed my review. This book is a definite 5 star read, with bells on. If you want to read more reviews click here. Please consider following my newish blog and helping me grow.

US Amazon Link

UK Amazon Link