Teenagers and reading
Author Lili Wilkinson has some very choice things to say about what is considered “real reading” when it comes to teenagers.
Taking a swipe at people (headline-seeking journalists in particular) who sprout on about kids spending more time using electronic media than they do reading, she points out that there is more than one way to engage with story.
Every time you read a book, an article, a piece of fanfic, watch TV, go to the cinema, you are feeding your story machine. It’s like breathing in.
And when you write a story, or blog, or draw a picture, or tell someone a lurid anecdote about what your crazy aunt got you for your birthday, or make a video, or write a song… you are also feeding your story machine. You breathe out.
Do yourself a favour and go read the whole post
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- You do not have to finish a book just because you started it
- A couple of recommended reading lists
- ReadingHacks poll: Does reading make you sleepy?
- Insomniac linkage
A couple of recommended reading lists
A few months back, Books Alive 2008 (an Australian Government initiative) produced a booklet listing “50 books you can’t put down”. Not the most earth-shattering list but worth a look if you can’t decide which Australian book to read next. If you missed out on a hard copy, you can browse the list online or download a PDF version from any of the past four years.
Also a few months ago, the Guardian published the article, Summer reading: how to pick the right book for any trip. Being from Australia, I couldn’t bring myself to mention this summer focused story when it was published in the middle of our winter so I’ve managed to hold off until spring.
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7 ways to find more time to read
It is with some regularity that library users tell me they wish they had more time to read. They also tend to say how wonderful it must be to work in a library and read books at work all day. I hate to shatter the myth, but although it certainly is great to work in a library, we don’t just sit around reading all day. We still have to slot in our reading time around work, commuting, families, housework, and so on. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to help you find more time to read.
1. Turn off the TV. This is a pretty obvious one but seriously, if you want to read more, just turn off the TV. One episode of NCIS/CSI/Law&Order/SVU/Criminal Intent/Boston Public/House is a solid hour of reading. Do that a few nights each week and you’ll knock of a book in no time.
2. Take a book with you. Whenever you go somewhere, take your book. Read while waiting to pick up your spouse/kids/friend or when you’re sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. If you have your book on hand, you can take advantage of any 10 or 15 minute period when you would normally be twiddling your thumbs or reading a 5 year old magazine.
3. Catch the train or bus to work. This may not be possible for you, but if you can swing it, it can be a big one. I get more reading done on the train than anywhere else. Ironically, for other reasons I am keen to start riding my bike to work which will knock this on it’s head for me.
4. Follow less blogs. Yes, I know, this is a silly thing to say on a blog. However, if what you really want is more time to read books, then something has to give. Do you find yourself wading through hundreds of blog posts everyday like it’s become a chore, then bemoaning the fact that you can’t get through the latest Lee Child book before it’s due back at the library? Then think about it.
5. Get up earlier. Are you a morning person? Buy yourself an extra 30 minutes or even an hour in the morning by tweaking your alarm clock.
6. Go to bed earlier. Do you read in bed at night? Then go to bed a half hour earlier. This might combine with the idea of turning off the TV.
7. Diarize some reading time. Book yourself some reading time on the weekend, an evening, or during the day if you’re able. Make it formal by allocating a couple of hours to “Discourse with Dostoyevsky”, “Relaxing with Rushdie”, or “Hanging out with Haddon”. You don’t even have to alliterate it if you’d prefer not to.
I know that all of these are pretty simple, perhaps even obvious. Sometimes however, it’s the simple and obvious things that can make a big difference.
Similar Posts:
- You do not have to finish a book just because you started it
- Teenagers and reading
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- Insomniac linkage
- A couple of recommended reading lists
Some reading suggestions
Leo over at zenhabits has listed “50 amazing and essential novels to enrich your library“. While I’m very wary of one person’s preference being considered essential for everyone else to read, it’s still a worthwhile list to get some suggestions. Have a browse, see if any jump out at you, there are also a whole bunch of comments where people have added their own favourites.
Similar Posts:
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- Insomniac linkage
- You do not have to finish a book just because you started it
- Teenagers and reading
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ReadingHacks poll: Does reading make you sleepy?
I was thinking about reading habits today. It is my job afterall. In particular, I was thinking about the fact that when I read in bed at night it tends to make me sleepy and I often struggle to get through more than a handful of pages. My wife on the other hand may start a book in the evening, and depending on the book, it is quite possible that she will find herself unable to sleep until she has finished it.
This may just be a function of whether you are a night owl or and early-to-bed type person. I’m not really sure.
What about you? Is reading more likely to put you to sleep, or wake you up.
