Making time for reading

Do you wish you had more time to read?

A short little newsletter this fortnight, to get you thinking about reading. I’d really love this to be more of a conversation than me talking at you about reading (because I so love talking about books and reading), so please do share your thoughts in the comments! Someone told me the other day that they ‘aren’t a reader’ and while I know these people exist, it’s hard to comprehend. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t read. It is a habit that is well and truly ingrained in the very fabric of my days. Even if I am really tired, or it is late, I will still read a page or two before I go to sleep. It forms a little buffer, for me, between day and night. A moment of stillness - or rather, a moment of otherness: another story, another place, another realm. Something other than my story, my day, my place, my ruminations.

While I usually read at night and not so much in the daytime, last year I was frustrated with my habit of pulling out my phone at any opportune moment (often before even realising I had done it). I didn’t feel like I was doing it that often, but the nasty little timer in your phone will illustrate just how quickly those minutes throughout your day add up into hours. Back then, I thought I might take the opportunity to see if I could use some of those scrolling minutes for reading, and while I’m still tapping at my phone more than I would like, I am now much better at pulling a book out instead. The key for me is to remember to put it in my bag or basket before I head out. I’m curious; when and where do you read?

All the different places and moments you might choose reading over scrolling: while waiting for your coffee, at school pick up, in waiting rooms, on the train, in the car (if someone else is driving and you don’t get car sick), while waiting to meet someone, while waiting for the water to boil or for your click and collect, before bed, before the kids get up, in the quiet hour before school pick up on your day off, on a Saturday afternoon while the kids watch a movie and you’re meant to be folding washing, in the bath, on your lunch break… ___________ (you fill in the gap).

Other readerly things…

• I loved this video about becoming a better reader, but equating that to reading more deeply, as opposed to more books.

• After mentioning Jean Sprackland’s book, These Silent Mansions last month, I listened to this interview on the London Review of Books.

• I have Robbie Arnott’s new book Dusk on my bedside table, and I almost don’t want to start because I’m so looking forward to reading it. Aside from being a fan of Arnott’s work, I’m also fascinated by the idea of panthers in the bush (who isn’t at least a little intruiged?). I listened to this interview on the fabulous Read This podcast with Robbie on my way to work last week.

Another question (two): what is it, that books bring to your life? Why do you read, to begin with?

And that’s quite enough for now.

Until next time, travel light,

L xx