“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” ~ Garrison Keillo
Did you know that March is National Reading Month? Its objective is to motivate Americans to read every day!
Today is also World Book Day in the UK, an annual celebration to encourage children to read for pleasure.
In honor of such a festive moment, I want to dedicate today’s post to YOU—my readers! Without your dedication to reading my blog, I wouldn’t have an audience to support my writing or people to share my life’s story with. Whether you’ve been a part of my journey from the beginning or just joined the Thriving Thoughts community, THANK YOU for reading!
A Reader’s Journey
The purpose of World Book Day inspires me! As a writer, blogger, and author, appreciating books and reading for pleasure are valuable habits in my life. I think it’s important for people to know that being a reader isn’t boring, it’s revitalizing! When I was a little girl, I loved listening to family members read to me, their voices taking me on each character’s unique adventure in my mind’s eye. I got off the reading bandwagon during high school and college because so much reading is required for homework assignments. (That, my friends, is not an example of what being an avid reader is like). In recent years, I’ve begun reading for pleasure again, finding books of interest that entertain, inspire, and enlighten me.
Identifying routines and goals that work best for my lifestyle has helped me enjoy reading again. Not every reader reads for hours on end, completes a book in a matter of days, reads across multiple genres, or finishes nearly 100 books in a year. Being a reader isn’t about how many books are in your “read” repertoire; it’s about enjoying the time you invest in reading.
Here are three tips to help you become an avid reader:
1. Utilize Your Interests
Reading should be a hobby of pleasure! Take time to find books you’re interested in. Try different genres, ask other readers for recommendations, read different works by an author you’ve enjoyed, and peruse bestseller lists for new ideas. Having a TBR (to-be-read) list helps keep track of books of interest and explore similar reads.
2. Choose the Best Format for Your Lifestyle
Personally, I love an old-fashioned paperback or hard-cover book! Reading without the eye strain of a computer screen, physically flipping through pages, and adding each book to my bookshelf after completion thrill my heart.
However, reading doesn’t have to include a hard-copy book! If time is limited or your attention span is fried, try audiobooks while driving, cleaning, and making dinner. Listening to the author’s message is what matters most!
Are books too much of a time commitment? Find articles, magazines, or blogs of interest and invest in supporting those authors! Reading practical works like these can provide similar content and experiences to published books in a condensed version.
E-books are another convenient option for busy lifestyles! They are often cheaper and more readily accessible than hard-copy versions.
3. Create Goals & Track Your Progress
I am goal-oriented and love the feeling of accomplishment! Creating reading goals motivates me to read regularly and helps me be more strategic in my book selection. Tracking my reading progress improves my reading endurance and helps me recognize what I like or dislike about certain books.
The Goodreads app has been a game-changer for my reading goals! I use the app to designate my yearly reading challenge (how many books I want to read in twelve months), track my progress as I complete each book, explore new books, and maintain my TBR list. The app helps me keep pace with my reading, choose books I’m interested in, and provides a sense of accomplishment each time I finish a read.
Books That Made Me Want to Read
“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” ~ Mortimer J. Adler
Personally, I like to dabble in a few different genres. When I read, I value learning new things and enjoy engaging stories.
Here are four books I absolutely loved reading:
"Educated" by Tara Westover (Memoir)
Educated is Tara Westover’s personal story of self-discovery, family loyalty, and the value of public education. With vulnerable eloquence, Tara shares about her isolated and abusive childhood, the challenges she faced going to college, and the resilience she exuded to become her own person.
This was the first memoir I ever read back in 2021. I appreciate Tara’s honesty in telling her story and enjoyed learning about someone else’s trials and triumphs. Memoirs are a favorite genre of mine because of their human connection and the courage it takes to share a personal story.
"People We Meet on Vacation" by Emily Henry (Contemporary Romance)
People We Meet on Vacation is a light-hearted romance full of intrigue and entertainment. Poppy and Alex are best friends who vacation every summer together until one fateful moment when everything is ruined. It’s a story that showcases the value of friendship and fighting for those you love.
I loved this book mostly because of the author’s brilliant writing. It’s uplifting, entertaining, relatable, and funny. Whenever I read a book by Emily Henry, I can’t put it down! I become attached to the characters, see every scene in my mind’s eye, and always want to reread it as soon as it's over.
"Get Out of Your Head" by Jennie Allen (Christian Literature)
Get Out of Your Head is an inspirational read about the power of your thoughts. Jennie Allen shares personal experiences about toxic thinking and the lessons she’s learned to correct those beliefs and renew her mind in Christ.
I loved this book because of Jennie's authenticity in explaining the significance of positive thinking. I related to a lot of the topics detailed in the book and discovered practical ways to correct my thought life. Tying science to scripture was also a highlight of this read!
"Black Cake" (Fictional Novel)
Black Cake was a read that kept me on my toes! It tells the story of two siblings who discover an audio recording from their deceased mother, Eleanor. In the recording, Eleanor shares a heartbreaking tale about a young girl and her mysterious connection to the child. Charmaine Wilkerson’s writing is stellar and engaging, taking readers on a back-and-forth journey to learn the significance of Eleanor’s story and bring her children back together again.
I loved the cultural influences throughout the book and the mystery of discovering the main character's origin. This book is full of love, suspense, sorrow, hope, and compassion. It’s one I just couldn’t put down!
"One of the many gifts that books give readers is a connection to each other. When we share an affection for a writer, an author or a story, we also have a better understanding of people unlike ourselves. Books cultivate empathy." ~Sarah Jessica Parker
In celebration of reading month, pick a challenge below to join the fun:
Choose one new book to read this month
Visit a local bookstore and start your TBR list
Ask a friend to be your “book buddy” and read together
Happy reading!
“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
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