Hello and welcome to the March edition of Not Just a Mom Link Up! If you are blogging about your reading habits, please link up below! And then check out the other posts.
First of all I love reading, I have always loved it and consider reading to be the best route to being a good human (if I do say so myself). You have one story for your own life, but to be able to peek into the lives and experiences of others (through fiction and non-fiction) gives you an opportunity to learn, have empathy, understand others' motivations, process your own stuff, and feel your feelings. Movies and other media are fine, but books are superior in my opinion since you're forced to take in all of the nuances that go with the words used.
So without further ado, my reading habits:
When & Where - Mostly on the subway back and forth to work. If the book is really good I'll find times at home to read too. I like to take a book on trips to read while on the plane or sitting on the beach/by the pool. I cannot read in the car!
What - I have a running list of books on my phone from various sources of recommendations and each year I put together my own reading list but will pick up other books. My favourites tend to have one of the three characteristics (or a combination) - Canadian, war themed, or heartbreaking. I also like thrillers and some lighter reads (aka Chick-Lit), or the odd autobiography, but I don't like self-help books.
Who - Some authors I've read more than one of their books - Liane Moriarty, Fredrik Backman, Clare Mackintosh, Ruth Ware, Jill Santopolo
Why - See above.
How - Paper books only for me. I mostly get library books but will buy the odd book or ask for them as gifts. I also read fast. I can usually get through 70 pages in a day when travelling to and from work (just over an hour of travel time)
Some reading notes:
I read Gone with the Wind (and its sequel Scarlett) a lot as a teenager, like probably more than 10 times. I definitely romanticized that time in history and I feel a little guilty about that now. I don't know if I will read it again.
I have cried out loud while reading in public, a few times on the subway (Nine Perfect Strangers and After the End) and once on a plane (The Shock of the Fall) incidentally they were all about children being sick or harmed.
I like when books I've read are made into movies or TV shows, but the book is always better.
I used to belong to two different book clubs but I prefer choosing my own books now and reading them when I want to.
I really hate being interrupted in the last 50 or so pages of a book.
I have an English degree so I did read a lot in university.
I have a million bookmarks and I usually end up using a post-it or library receipt to mark my page.
Check back next month when we talk about another of my favourite things, lunch!
I read fast too - I guess that's obvious by how much I read! I love your paragraph about why reading makes good humans.
ReplyDeletei can not read in the car either
ReplyDeleteI agree with so many things in your post! I also used to be in two book clubs but I quit them after being forced to read several books that weren't my cup of tea. One book club meeting in particular where someone knew the author and we all read her book, but it was HORRIBLE. It was very hard for the group to have a discussion about it while still being polite at book club. After that I decided to pick my own books. :)
ReplyDeleteI am one of the few people I know who can read in a car; I love it as it helps the time pass quickly! I too tend to use sticky notes or library receipts as my bookmarks despite having a bunch of them. A few of your favorite authors would make my list too but I see a few new ones I'm going to have to try!
ReplyDelete"I have always loved it and consider reading to be the best route to being a good human (if I do say so myself). You have one story for your own life, but to be able to peak into the lives and experiences of others (through fiction and non-fiction) gives you an opportunity to learn, have empathy, understand others' motivations, process your own stuff, and feel your feelings." I LOVE this quote. It's very true. Also you should definitely read Tide of Honour since it's basically all of your favourite things :)
ReplyDelete