4 May 2014

Rekindling My Love For Reading

What happened to my love for reading? It never really went away. I read for a living, actually. I read blogs and newspapers and magazines in my free time, too. But reading books – whole books – seems to have taken a back seat in recent years, which is funny, considering I studied creative writing at university. 
 
I remember when I was about eight or nine, spending a Sunday afternoon sorting out my bookshelf in the sunny corner of my bedroom. I had a straw-like chair, and after all my Jacqueline Wilson and Babysitters' Club books had been alphabetised, I sat down and read for hours, so content. Nothing could distract me. I just had to wait for the sun to set and the call for tea time.

I have been thinking about the joy that reading a good book brings, recently, and I miss it. I don't want reading to become a chore, which it sometimes felt like at school and university.
I want that feeling of shutting out the world for a few hours to fall into a story. It must be a form of therapy – stress relief, without any strain on your eyes I get when I use my laptop or mobile phone, and I want to get away sometimes.

It goes without saying that technology has taken over all of our lives, but books were my first love, and I am making a conscious effort to rekindle that love. I think about how content I used to feel when lost in a good book and I want that back. It's something with which, unfortunately, the internet cannot compete. So, from now on, reading in bed in the evenings and mornings will take priority over watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy or Luther.

Pictured above are the books I am currently reading. I have been reading Caitlin Moran's How to be a Woman for a few months now, and even though I am a bit of a slow reader, this one's taking a bit longer to get through – but a review on that will reveal all when I finally finish it. 
I have had the Neal's Yard Remedy Healing Foods book for almost a year now, but it's one that I like to flick through when I'm feeling motivated to sort out my bad eating habits (which is quite often, ha).
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey has been on my reading list for years. I finally started reading it yesterday and after two chapters I knew I was going to love it, and it was that excitement of a new story that prompted me to write this post.

Are you reading any books at the moment? Do you still make time outside of work and TV/internet browsing to read?
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8 comments

  1. I know exactly what you mean! I remember when I was younger and nothing could tear me away from the book I was reading, I would be so engrossed in it. I think maybe grown-ups just have more distractions, maybe? I find the best thing to do is just relax about it and take off the pressure, and then the right book will come along and you just naturally won't be able to stop reading it! xxx

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    1. Definitely more distractions now, unfortunately : ( but I think mornings are the best time for me. I am at my most calm then and if I wake up a bit earlier I can fit in reading time.
      N xo

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  2. Reading was my first real love, and although my 'to read' list keeps on growing I never seem to find the time to pick up one and start. It took me a while to get through How to be a Women as well, I think because it was easy to put down and start up again without forgetting what had been said. I think she is funny though and did enjoy it.

    Emma x
    Writing Essays With Wine

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    1. I'm exactly the same. I'm going to try and finish it soon, but my feelings are mixed at the moment.
      N xo

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  3. I love the feeling of opening a new book that you instantly know you're not going to want to put down until it's done! I finally got a library card last week, so I'm looking forward to lots of outdoor summer reads.

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    1. Ahhh I want to do that too! The library in my town is so small though. Maybe I'll just take my book out into the back garden next time it's sunny :)
      N xo

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  4. i'm so glad you've rediscovered your love for books! i've always been a big reader, but from time to time i also have had phases when i didn't read as much as i wanted to. these days my kindle has been abandoned for the time being, and i have towers of paperbacks to get through - although my kindle was and still is so useful, especially when i was living abroad, there is nothing quite like holding a physical book in your hands. x

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