Readers, especially in the age of social media, like to place a large emphasis on their yearly reading goals and habits. Personally, I actually quite like this, which is why I want to offer some tips and suggestions to help spice up your year of reading.
I hope you’ll consider some of these, even if only to experiment!
Choose Books of Varying Length
Thick books look impressive, but they take an awful lot of time to get through when compared to shorter works. If you enjoy long reads, that’s perfectly fine, but sometimes it’s okay to have a go at reading a novella, or short story collection (which can sometimes be long, too), in an attempt to diversify the pace at which you’re reading books. It’ll also increase the amount of books you’ve read for that year.
Alternatively, if you share my preference for shorter reads, it’s good to pick up a longer story every now and then. Being able to remain invested in stories, even if they are long and complex, is a necessary trait for most readers.
Read a Multitude of Authors
I’m guilty of sticking to a selective range of authors, but I’ve tried hard to branch out across 2024, and I think anyone in my position should do the same.
Assuming you like their work, reading new authors can open the door to their entire catalogue and entice you to read stories you previously would’ve never given a chance to. Equally, all authors write in a slightly different manner and for different reasons. This means the themes, topics, and opinions expressed within their stories can be wildly different compared to your usual selection of writers.
Try a New Genre
If you exclusively read fiction and all the genres within it, maybe pick up a non-fiction work for a change. Equally, if you’re a fiction reader and stick to the same old genres (e.g. thriller, romance, fantasy), then maybe go out of your way to find a novel with a different theme.
Just like trying new authors, this can open you up to picking more books in a genre you just tried and enjoyed for the first time.
Consider Re-Reading a Book
When I say this, I don’t mean read a book you read just last year — more like a book you haven’t read in many, many years.
A lot of readers grew up reading, and you likely did, too. This means there are books out there that you haven’t looked at or enjoyed for the better part of a decade, so why not revisit them?
Going back through previously read books often allows you to look at them from a new perspective and with your modern, matured mind set. You might notice details, themes, and commentaries that you missed all those years ago, or you’ll come away with a new theory for how a cliffhanger or conclusion played out following the end of the story.
At the very least, you’ll feel something. Whether that’s nostalgia, amusement, a sense of embarrassment that you once loved this story that’s actually pretty mediocre, or whatever else. Ultimately, re-reading a book you once read isn’t going to do you, or it, any harm.
Remember to Take Breaks
We all enjoy reading, that’s why you’re on this website and why I’m writing this. But you don’t have to love it 24/7.
Taking breaks is an important part of anything, whether it’s work, exercise, or any other activity. Stepping away from books to enjoy other things, or simply letting your excitement and desire to read come back after a period of burnout, can actually strengthen your enjoyment and consistency with regards to all things book related.
Even if you take a month or two away from books, they’re not going to go anywhere (well, unless you have a digital subscription service). So feel free to take some time to yourself and indulge in other hobbies and sources of entertainment. Books can be enjoyed any day, any time, and essentially anywhere.
I talked about the importance of taking breaks here, too.
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