Book

The longest time I have loved books. I think most of us did. We liked books when were younger, and then the teenage years came and went, then a lot of us fell out of it. I did for a few years, as reading wasn’t cool. However, it was only a few years before I got back into reading. I was getting into Young Adult gay novels. Which were for obvious reasons. Then I never really stopped. Then I got on the current trends in books, your Twilights, and any other supernatural books series. Then I went to uni and I had to read several books a week, so I started to lose my interest in it again. Then adult life happened, and then fell out with them again. Now though thanks to oh so many lockdowns, I love reading again, and I won’t be stopped.

What Do I Read?

The kinds of books I read is a wide range of genres and styles. I used to be all about fiction. This year I have dropped in a few nonfiction books into the mix. What I used to read was nonstop Young Adult Novels. In recent years I have finally shed the young adult new adult books, and going the realms of adult fiction. Don’t get me wrong, none of it is your long flowery kind of writing. It’s your modern types of books. You know the ones you see on the best sellers list. For once in my life, a lot of the books that are being made in two tv or films I have read them. I am excited about how it turns out.

One of the thing I have also started doing is reading the classics. Yes I have become that person who has read some of the classics. The way I came about them is understandable. Yet for a long time, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in reading them. There are two reasons for that, one being the length. When I see it’s more than 500 pages; I sometimes worry about the time it will take me to read it. The second is print size. However, in some cases I can overcome all of that and finally understand why certain books are classics.

I also love to read comics and manga. Some people feel like they aren't reading. To those people, I say go to hell! Reading is reading no matter how much is on a page. For me it’s a different way of enjoying a story. It's very visual. Which is nice. And unlike prose, you have to imply a lot of the delivery of the speech. Also, it is one of the very few mediums where the onomatopoeia is king. As a teacher, if a kid is willing to read one, I don’t see the problem, as they are READING SOMETHING!

The English Teacher

To some people because I am an English teacher, they are not surprised that I read. Some of the teachers I’ve met don't have a lot of time to read for pleasure. It’s all reading for work, making sure you know how to teach the material. Which is the reason why I started reading the classics. Not because I had to teach it, but because I read extracts from novels and was like how does the rest of that go. Which is why I have now read them. But as I say, I like to read a lot of stuff that I could recommend to students to read for pleasure. While also being able to bring in a story I like to teach from. You know, making my lesson a form of book club.

A big reason why I got back into reading was teaching. When I was training a lot of the schools were driving to make sure students were reading in and out of the classroom. Which made me think, am I reading enough? The obvious answer was no, but I was busy. That was my excuse. I knew I would deal with it when I had time off. All I needed to do was make sure the kids were reading. But I knew I should practise what I preach. If they are going to read, I need to read too. Which I need to do because, such and such likes video games, well, read Ready Player One. Oh you like superheroes, well, read Gone. You like murder, read One Of Us Is Lying. You know so I can be a well-rounded tutor, and get them hooked on something. A sad truth is, even my niece has fallen out of reading, just like I did, oh so many times. Why does this keep on happening?

Falling Out

The reasons I give for falling out of reading are so numerous. Just like anything in adult life, we always say we are busy, or too tired. Then when we have time, we can’t be bothered to do anything other than rest and chill. I also like to say I had way too many other things to do, and not really finding a time that felt right to read. Even now when I read I have to really make time to read. Or make an evening of it. Which seems like a boring time to spend four hours reading. If you are enjoying the story, you will enjoy your time with it.

Similarly to video games, its me having way too many. I’ve been collecting books for almost 20 years, and I have so many books I haven't read yet. Some of the books I got because I fet like I would read it, or people knowing I like books would get me them as gifts. Which is why I have so many baking books. Which is why when I am going to read a book, I would look at my shelves and think where do I start. Which can be overwhelming. In the end I would spend so much time, even up to an hour, looking to pick out something before I would read anything at all. Tell me if any of this sounds like you.  Eventually I just pick a book and read.

2020

This was the year I was going to get back into books. I made it my new year’s resolution to read 12 books in the year. Something I said I would do the previous year. This time I was going to stick to it. One book a month, that would be all. I was at this point trying to be the best teacher I could be, reading one book a month would be easy. I said I would use my commute to read. I was then travelling 2 hours a day, I should be done in no time. Things didn’t go to plan right away. Till eventually it was mid-February and I had abandoned a book for another. Then we had lockdown and my commute was gone.

It was around this time when I realised, I have all this time on my hands, lets actully pick up a book and read. Then I did something I hadn’t done since Deathly Hallows, I read a book in day. From then on, I just continued to read. I kept on the tradition of 12 books a year, to not stretch myself thin. I did fall into the trap of picking out my books for the year, but eventually I just picked whatever I felt like reading. Now I can’t see myself going a year without reading 12 books.

But You Read All The Time

When I tell people I love to read, depending how they know me it’s a little surprising. Reason being, I am dyslexic. Which some people don’t think goes with a person who enjoys reading. Which is why no one noticed I was for such a long time. I have always been a strong reader. I used to think I was fast one too, but it all depends the book. The print size, the page and the general set up of the books. Sometimes I do have to read a page twice because my dyslexic brain reads it and don’t process the information I had just read. Even though this happens once an while, it doesn’t stop my enthusiasm for reading.

One of the ways I try to overcome this is digital books. I know there is this big riot between digital and print. I like both. I like physical things because I can see my collection, but with digital helps me with the dyslexic thing. As I can change the font size, change the background colours and highlight where I meant to be following on. Another way I get help is audiobooks. It is reading, and just like comics if you don’t think so, go to hell. It allows me to focus on the story without having to do all the other things with reading. This way my vivid mind can just focus on the imagery and descriptions of the scene. Which is why, if I’m going to do an audiobook, it has to be the only thing I am doing, because otherwise I can’t concentrate.

How I Read Now

Now I am in 2023 I have now kept up my yearly goal of reading 12 books. Which I am proud to say this year I had it beaten by July. Which was all done by freak circumstance. One the reason is, re-joining the library. Even though I joined when I finished uni, this is the first time where I am actually using my membership. Which is one the main reason why I have read 1x books this year. Now when I read a really good sample of a book, I don’t have to think about going out and buying it, and let my money go to waste. I see if my library has it, and I go and check it out. I am also glad they now do digital borrows, so it makes it even easier to get a book.

As time continues to go I am going to keep up with my 12 books a year. If I do more, great, if I only do the 12 it’s great. I also should point out that re-reading a book will also count; as there are a few things I’ve only read once, and I would like to revisit. However, I will still like to read some the new stuff, and whatever #BookTok is going on about. What I will say, as a PSA, please don’t get me any more books. I have enough, and even though I know I will never read all of them in my life, I’d still like to enjoy the ones I have. Also do visit your library before they disappear too.

If you would like to know what I’m reading, or have read, look me up on Goodreads. One of the more helpful social media apps out there. Since September was Treat Yo Self-Month, I treated myself to a few digital books, 99p is a steal. Now time for me to decide what to read next.