Authentic Life / Books / Creativity

Before I could read, I used to sit with piles of books next to me.

I’d go through them one at a time and look through every page. And then, when I learned to read, you can imagine what happened. I have always loved reading; I spent most of my time in grade school flipping through countless pages. I just couldn’t get enough paper and ink.

My mom used to punish me by taking away my books for a day. (To which I would say through my sobs, “I can’t even read the Bible?!”) Yes, that’s the kind of kid I was. šŸ™‚ Trust me, I couldn’t imagine a worse punishment.

I <3 Reading

Why do I love reading so much?

Almost anything you want to know, learn, or experience, you can find in a book. There are non-fiction books that tell about interesting people, places, and things. There are personal development books that help you to be your best self. There are books that make you laugh, and books that make you cry. There are books that transport you to exotic lands and books that remind you of home.

Books are windows to other worlds and endless opportunities.

I still love reading today, although the way I read has changed a little. I read lots of articles online, and I do quite a lot of reading at school. But there’s nothing like opening a book and reading straight through. So I still try to incorporate reading full books into my personal time. Here are 3 tips that have helped me to read more often:

1. Read Before Bed

This is one of my favorite things to do before I check out for the night. It helps me wind down and fall asleep. Actually, I fell asleep reading last night! It helps me to get my mind off the events of the day and relax. It also motivates me to get to bed a little earlier so that I have timeĀ to read. So set aside a little time to open a book tonight.

2. Pick a New Genre

We all probably have genres of books that we like to stick with.Ā But if you’re finding it’s hard to motivate yourself to read, your genre may be getting a little stale. If you usually read historical fiction, try fantasy. If you’re a non-fiction junky, try poetry. ThereĀ are so many types of books out there, and something new might just be the boost you need to start reading again.

3. TakeĀ a Trip to the Library

In my experience, buying books is more common than going to the library. Even for me! I would love to get back to the library, because the deadline for return gives me a timeframe to finish a book. I also love the philosophy of sharing behind libraries. Books in the library have been read and loved many times before you read them, and will be afterwards. Libraries are also a great place to discover new books.

My Favorite Books

If you’re looking for some recommendations after all of this reading motivation, then you’re in the right place. Here are a few of my favorite books, both recently and from years ago.

Fiction:

  • The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
  • Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
  • The Hired Girl – Laura Amy Schlitz
  • Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
  • The Giver Quartet – Lois Lowry
  • 1984 -George Orwell
  • The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
  • All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

Nonfiction:

  • Essential – Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus
  • The Little Book of Hygge – Meik Wiking
  • Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass – Frederick Douglass

Poetry:

  • The Poetic Underground Collections – By Erin Hanson

 

You might have noticed that many of the books on my list are classics. This is because I’ve generally found that they are called ‘classics’ for a reason.

Happy reading!