Reading is, in my humble opinion, much more pleasurable when your bookshelves are stocked with a diverse selection. So, with that in mind, and following my last post about finding more time to read (which can be read here), here is a brief list of reading goals that I hope you might interesting, inspirational, or at least enjoyable!
A book that means a lot to someone close
When I read a book I feel as though I am immersing myself into its world. The characters, the world they inhabit, become a little part of my own world each time I open the covers. I know that I am not the only one! Books ask a bit more from us, in my opinion, than do films and television. And, because of our having to engage that much more, the connection with the world inside can be that much stronger. With that in mind, it might be interesting to immerse yourself into a book that means a lot to a loved one - not only might you find a new book that you love, you could come away learning something about a person in your life. Conversely, perhaps you could try this with someone you're not so close to!
Reading aloud and sharing
If you have children, you know how great it can be to do this one. I discussed how this can be beneficial in a previous blog post here. But, there's no reason that we should only be reading aloud to our kids. Reading to our partners can be a beautiful, intimate, fun experience. And, in just the same way that reading a book that means much to someone else, reading aloud to someone else allows us to share an emotional, pleasurable, or interesting experience. Or, perhaps, when we can have get togethers again, pull out a book of selected poetry and get people to read from that. Bear in mind though, this one only really works if all parties are enjoying the experience - don't go reading out loud to anyone that doesn't ant to hear it!
Read outside your comfort zone
Most of us have our favourite genres. However, life is that much more interesting when we explore, at least a little, outside of our comfort zones. If we don't, we risk getting stuck in a rut. So, if you like horror, why not give romance a go. Or, maybe you can usually be found with your eyes firmly glued to the pages of a fantasy novel; well, why not give YA a chance? Do a little research, find something that sounds appealing, and see if you can't lose yourself a little in something unfamiliar.
Read a book set locally
Do a little internet search for books that are set locally to your home town. It might be interesting to look at your world through the eyes of the author's characters. If the book is a romance, a horror, or historical, how has the author made use of the location to tell the story? Does the atmosphere of the novel make you look at your home town a little differently? I did a post previously on site specific reading here which ties in nicely with this suggestion, if you fancy some other ideas on how to add to the world in the book you are reading.
Research reading
So, you've just finished a novel and you loved the world that you found yourself immersed in between the pages there. What now? Well, what if you go read some non-fiction relevant to the novel you've finished. Just finished The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton? There must be some interesting history books about seventeenth century Amsterdam. Or, if you have been reading Dickens, perhaps you could read about Victorian era London. If fantasy is your thing, then maybe you'd be interested in reading about the origins of mythical creatures. Pick up a non-fiction book, perhaps it will add to your appreciation for the world of fiction you've just left behind.
Well, I hope that helped, or at least entertained. If you did enjoy this post, please do consider supporting me on ko-fi - it keeps me writing and is very much appreciated.
Thank you. See you again soon!
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