Three Methods:
- Finding the Right Reading Material
- Developing a Reading Routine You Love
- Helping Children Learn to Love Reading
In this day and age, many people
do not read for pleasure. There are many reasons for this. Some may believe
that reading takes too much time or effort. Others may never have enjoyed
reading at school and can’t imagine doing it for fun. Some may simply never
have encountered an environment that fostered a love of reading. However,
reading can greatly enhance your life experience, and there are ways to make it
even more enjoyable, whether you do it frequently or just for school or work
assignments. As George R.R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones books, once
wrote, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies...The man who never
reads lives only one.”
Method 1 of 3: Finding the Right
Reading Material
1
Consider why you want to read. People read
for a wide variety of reasons. Before you pick up a book, consider what you
want to get out of reading. Some people like reading books that teach them new
skills, from computer programming languages to skills for hunting or camping.
Other people enjoy narratives, whether fictional or biographical, to transport
them to other times, worlds, or situations. Think first about what you
ultimately want to get out of reading.
You are much more likely to learn to
love reading if you connect with something that seems purposeful to you. If
reading is just an exercise, or something you feel you “should” like, it’s not
likely to have a meaningful impact.
2
Identify what you want to read. Once you
know whether you want to learn, be entertained, or something else entirely, you
can narrow down types of books based on your answer. For instance, knowing you
want an entertaining story alone doesn’t narrow between poetry, literature,
popular fiction, memoir, and other types of writing, all of which could provide
an entertaining narrative.
Try doing an internet search for
popular books in the area that you’ve chosen. This can give you a list of
suggestions where you might start.
Consult with your local librarian.
Librarians are usually delighted to make reading recommendations. Once you know
what you’re “looking for” from your reading, ask your librarian if s/he knows
of any books that might suit.
Talk with the employees at your local
bookstore. Most people who work at bookstores love reading and love books. They
can be a great source of recommendations. Chatting with people who are
passionate about reading might even spark a little fire of your own!
3
Consider the genre you think you’ll most
enjoy. You can narrow down reading choices even more once you’ve picked a
general type of writing by considering the genre you want. If you’ve decided on
popular fiction, for instance, you can choose between horror, science fiction,
historical, fantasy, romance, mystery, or more realist books that take a less
whimsical approach to their characters and settings.
As another example, if you decide to
want to read nonfiction history books, then consider the time period and
subjects that most interest you. A book about D-Day in Normandy during World
War II will obviously be a very different reading experience than a book about
the politics of the Roman senate around the time of Julius Caesar.
4
Sample the genre to find writers who click
with you. Even within a particular genre, a particular writer’s style might not
work for you due to his/her particular voice. This can be due to when the book
was written, the tone, the point of view, or a number of other reasons. If you
don’t like a book in the genre you think you should most enjoy, try to narrow
down the reason why.
For instance, if you decide you want to
read horror novels, older novels such as Frankenstein or Dracula are going to
read very differently than Stephen King or Clive Barker novels.
5
Make connections between reading and other
interests. You may feel very passionately about social issues or something
else. Seek out books that connect to the issues about which you are passionate
or that frame the issue in a wider context.
Remember that you can read more than
books, too. Look at print and online magazines, blogs, and other places to find
other reading material.
6
Put down books you don’t like. People
sometimes feel obligated to finish a book even when they don’t like it. You’ll
develop an aversion to reading rather than a love of it if you try to slog
through a 300-page novel that you don’t like. Many books can start slow as they
develop the setting and people/characters involved, but if a book hasn’t hooked
you within 50-75 pages, then there’s nothing wrong with moving to another one.
7
Remember that reading is deeply personal.
Reading isn’t a competition. It’s a deeply personal, highly subjective
activity. There’s no reason why you should feel guilty for not loving that
award-winning novel everyone’s talking about. Nor should you feel embarrassed
if you truly love something that others may consider “lowbrow,” like comics or
romance novels. Read what you love, and don’t compare yourself to anyone else
No comments:
Post a Comment