We all love to read. Well, sort of-- if you're anything like me, you love to say that you love to read. But I'm just going to come out and say it: I didn't actually read The Book Thief. I barely even finished the Sparknotes summary for Heart of Darkness when I read it in high school, and even though I tell my friends that I'm caught up on all the Game of Thrones books, I've only seen the show.
Of course, TV is all fine and good. This is the Netflix generation, after all. However, I would like nothing more than to return to the elementary school glory days, when nothing could compare to sitting down with the newest Harry Potter release, and I think it's safe to say that I'm not alone in this fantasy. So whether you're aching to get back to your favorite childhood hobby, or trying to pick up a new habit so that you feel a little less pathetic around your friends, here are five concrete and easy-to-follow steps to help you get a few more chapters under your belt.
1. Do a buddy read!
Like going to the gym or robbing a bank, it's much easier and more fun to read when you're doing it with a friend. The great moments in books are made so much better when you have someone who knows exactly why you want to buy a dog just so you can name it Peeta. Also, if the book you're reading stinks, it's beyond hysterical to quote all of the cheesy lines to your friends every time you see them. I point you now to a quotation from Rick Yancy's The 5th Wave, the source of many treasured excerpts between me and a friend of mine: "I watch him out of the corner of my eye, barely noticing the way his powerful shoulders roll beneath his flannel shirt, or his faded jeans with the frayed back pockets, definitely paying no attention to the roundness of his butt inside those jeans." Simply poetic.
2. Watch some BookTube videos!
BookTube is a corner of YouTube where a surprisingly large group of content creators regularly upload videos about books they've read, books they've purchased, books that are coming out, their thoughts on books, and a million other bookish topics. The cast of booktubers is so varied that there are bound to be a few that can put a smile on your face; their fanaticism for books is so infectious that you'll almost always want to pick up whatever life-long favorites and new releases they're raving about.
A couple of personal favorites are Ariel Bissett (ArielBissett) and Christine Riccio (polandbananasBOOKS). Check 'em out!
3. Join Goodreads!
Like BookTube, Goodreads is an online resource designed for readers. It has a ton of features that make reading feel more exciting and like more of an accomplishment: you can track the books that you want to read, keep a list of the books you've read, rate the books that you complete, join virtual book clubs, and explore user-created lists that might lead you to your next favorite book.
Don't be surprised when you're up at 4AM trying to remember the title of every single book you've ever read so that you're list of read books isn't missing anything.
4. Get one book at a time!
It's no secret that libraries and bookstores are some of the best places to spend an afternoon. Like many, I would be content to make Barnes & Noble my permanent place of residence, collecting book after book after book. However, I think this is one of the biggest barriers we all face when trying to get some reading done. Coming home from the bookstore or the library with a stack of ten books is undeniably delightful, but when it comes to actually reading them, the panic sets in. First of all, you have to go through the grueling decision of which one to read first. After you finish the single chosen book, you must then return to the pile and hope that the pile of nine books that you bought a month and a half ago still interest you. Spoiler alert: they often won't.
Instead, it's much easier to keep your interest at home when you buy a single book at a time! It's much easier to maintain excitement over one book than a pile of pressure sitting on your shelf. Plus, once you're done with the book, you have the pleasure of picking a new one up at the bookstore instead of having to continue slogging through your backed-up personal library.
5. Read a graphic novel!
Comic books and graphic novels, while appreciated deeply by many, go pretty much unnoticed by much of the reading world. Comic art is often beautiful, and adds a certain depth to the story that standard novels can't achieve. Also, a big bonus of graphic novels is that they're quick to read! Especially if you've been in a reading funk, it's really rewarding to sit for only an hour or two and come away with the sense of fulfillment that comes with completing a book.
There's no shortage of great comics and graphic novels, but here are a few particularly outstanding entrees if you're looking to break into the genre: Saga, The Runaways, and Y The Last Man.
And with that, all I can say is get reading and enjoy!
