Book Worming

A few years ago I decided to get back in to reading books.  I say this because before kids, I loved to read for fun, but once I had my son I just didn’t make it a priority anymore.  One in awhile I would read a parenting book out of desperation for answers but nothing for pleasure. I found satisfaction in quick blog reads or social media entries or articles people would post on Facebook, but not a real book cover to cover.

So I decided it was time to get my eyes off the screens for awhile and really delve in to some juicy reads.  The problem was that I didn’t know what to read and I didn’t want to spend too much money and take up too much space with books.  So what I decided to do was peruse the library bookstore. We were always at the library for storytime or so that the kids could borrow lots of books.  I tried borrowing books myself but I ran in to the issue of not being able to get the popular books I wanted and not reading them fast enough and kept having overdue books, so that got stressful.  I started a routine where I would give myself 15 minutes to go through the paperback book trolleys at the front of the bookstore and would grab as many books as I found remotely interesting. Sure these were not all prize-winning life-altering novels, some were and some weren’t. But it was a fun way to get a variety of books so I could have a selection to choose from at home without any pressure to finish in a week or two and they were inexpensive so I could re-donate them or give them to friends when I was done.

By doing this (and I continue to do this now, years later) I have been able to start and finish mounds of books.  It’s been fun to go through the books I chose and change up the types of books I am reading. It is satisfying for me to finish the books and it is an escape for me at the end of the day to immerse myself in a world different from my own.

There are unique books that I do seek out and for those I will buy them at the store or on Amazon, but those are one in 10.  I find pleasure in reading the recycled reads and have been surprised at the different types of books that I find interesting.  I am supporting my local library and I am getting back to something I always enjoyed doing. I always want to foster a love of reading for my kids and now I do the same for myself!