The year is 2023. You have a new perspective to most things, and you have your reading goals set in place. But weren’t these the same goals that you didn’t follow in 2022?
Take a pause; don’t set a goal for the number of books to read this year. Let it flow, let your reading habits breathe, let your headspace decide what to read next, and not your #TBR pile. Feel invited to take a pause and look at reading from a new perspective.
Read the unconventional way
Often, we read books as a task, as something we need to get off our checklist for the day and more often than not, this leads to slump. Reading when we don’t have a headspace to read that particular book, reading when we don’t like what we are reading and when it doesn’t align with our thoughts. Next time, when you attempt to read something, read about it and what it talks about first, analyze if you are in that headspace, and then pick it. Never worry about finishing a book (though finishing one gives closure) for it can wait.
It should be for pleasure; it should be for imagination. Let the words sink in. Let, what you are reading, soak your mind for a while and that’s when the real process begins. Of reading mindfully. This January, read No Wonder, Women by Carissa Foo, a collection of stories about women. A glimpse into the lives of women who are trying to love without unloving themselves. You will fall in love with yourself, and the art of telling stories – it easily offers both.
Give books the time they deserve
I have often come across books that need more understanding of the scenarios than usual. You won’t want to read a historical fiction without knowing about the events it is associated with. In such cases, highlight more, read more, read diversified perceptions about it, and you’ll feel a sense of fulfillment. Fulfillment of knowing what the author is talking about, without jumping in the sea cluelessly. Pick a book that interests you, read an article associated with it, listen to a podcast where the speaker is talking about a different idea about the event and you’ll be more interested in getting back to the book. You might enjoy reading Destination: SEA 2050 A.D. It’s an anthology that’s based on scientific projections. It showcases the world of the year 2050, the same year when 90 percent of the planet’s coral reefs are expected to decline, when plastic is found inside 99 percent of all the world’s seabirds, when there is severe water shortage in Asia, and so much more.
Read to reconnect
There is a book for everyone, and there is a book on everything. Pick an author whose writing you adore, see what they like to read and maybe that way you stumble upon your next read too. Quite often, we get influenced by what’s out there, and quite often we get influenced by who we trust. Reading is just that, putting faith into something that could ignite that spark in you. Reconnecting with our older selves sometimes help, re-reading books help, and often reading new books from the authors we liked earlier, helps. So, give it a try and maybe you’ll enjoy the journey you have earlier experienced, only this time you’ll find more things in that book that you missed last time. Try reading We Are Not Alone Here by O Thiam Chin who has also written before, The Dogs.
Consume a book the way you want
Be it an audiobook, be it on your e-reader, or you like carrying the paperback around – it’s your wish and there is no correct way of consuming art. You could be the one who likes to knit and listen to the audiobook alongside, you could be the one who relies on their e-reader and read multiple books at the same time, or you could be the one who carries one book for a week and believes in the process of annotating with pencils , highlighters and colorful tabs. There is no correct way of reading. Surprisingly, you could also switch the mediums and often that increases your capacity to read more on a particular day. Whether you are on your way to the office in a public transport or are on your evening run, a good book’s company can never disappoint. Read this exciting book titled Kopi Dulu by Mark Eveleigh that talks about a journey of 15,000 kilometres – by rail, road, on foot and under sail – through about 50 Indonesian islands, shining a light on what has been described as the world’s most invisible country.
As the clock strikes midnight, and we hit the refresh button. A new day is upon us.
But shouldn’t it be more in the flow, rather than a goal setting process?
It’s a thing with New Year’s Day – most of us wish to start everything afresh – including the books we want to read. This year, however, make it count not by the number of books you read, but by the lessons you learn, and fulfillment you get. This is a safe space for your to rediscover your love for reading.
Happy Reading, and happy rediscovering-your-love-for-reading!
– by Rupal Vyas
