My problem with reading…
I have loved reading as a child I just lost interest and time when I got older. My adult life simply left no time to concentrate on a book long enough to actually finish it. Unfortunately I read less and less.
During last years Christmas break (it feels weird to say that 2022 was last year doesn’t it?) I actually had enough time again to pick up a book. Lo and behold I finished it, started a second one, finished it and then even read a third book! Can you belive it? I felt like I was 14 years old again grinding through City of Heavenly Fire in one night, wanting to finish it so badly and emerging myself fully into the world in the book.
Maybe the genre was the problem all along...
… because when I looked at the books I had read so fast in December I realised, that they were all fantasy novels. Very different from the other books I had tried and failed to read before. Reading those stories set in a fantasy world sparked my interest so much more than historical novels or books that were critical about society. I decided that I really didn’t need to read super intellectual books all the time if I clearly didn’t enjoy it that much. It was that decision that changed my relationship with books again for the better.
Reading as a form of selfcare...
… wasn’t something I had done in a very long time but I will try to do it more often in 2023. I know that it is good for me and a perfect wind-down before I go to sleep. I probably won’t be able to read every day but I did find a few things that motivate me even more to pick up a book every now and then.
The first thing is the GoodReads 2023 Reading Challenge. I do have to say that I am a very competitive person – even if the one I’m competing with is myself. I have set the goal of reading 30 books in 2023 and I’ll be damned if I can’t hold myself to that promise! At this time I have 3 down and 27 to go!
The second thing is a trend that I saw going around on Bookstagram (is that the correct term?). People mark their books with colourful sticky notes matching the colours of the books, they write in them, underline their favourite quotes and note their thoughts. Journaling in a book, cute stationery, and little doodles? Yes please, sign me up!
So many reasons to read...
… and still so little time. I know that I won’t be able to read as much as a lot of other people in 2023, even if I take more time for it. But I know that this new way of thinking about reading will change my relationship with books to the better and that’s all that counts!
If you want to check out some of the books I have already read and loved then this post might be for you. Keep your eyes peeled for some more recommendations to come very soon.
xx Leonie
