So, You Want to Be a Reader?
By: Jenna Downey
Over a year and a half deep into COVID-19, many of the hobbies we started during the first few months just aren’t keeping boredom away anymore. Last summer, I picked up a book recreationally for the first time in years, and I’ve had my nose stuck in one ever since. Almost 30 books and one and a half semesters later, I still manage to average a book every week. So, how exactly have I managed to keep up with my pandemic hobby?
Maintaining motivation is the key component to becoming a successful reader. Sounds easy enough, right? This secret to motivation is to find the right materials. If you are unsure of your taste in books, base it on what movies and television shows you enjoy.
Figuring out if you enjoy plot-based or character-based stories is also a key measure to staying consistent. In other words, does the book explore the plot through the characters or the story?
Now, you’ve found a book you’ve decided you want to read. The next step is to figure out how you’re going to pace your reading to ensure it is something that is realistic for your own habits and schedule. This may entail creating page or chapter goals for yourself, but the key is to start out slow. You might decide it’s a chapter a day or 100 pages a week, but consistency relies on being practical.
Personally, I aim for 50 pages a day, but I don’t put too much pressure on this goal. Some days I may read 150 pages and some days I read none. Not putting pressure on yourself also helps you stay motivated. Remember, it’s a hobby, not a chore.
Using apps like Goodreads to measure your progress can help you feel much more accomplished than you may think you are. You can measure how far you are into the book, keep track of all the books you have read, and make lists of books that you want to read in the future.
I usually buy my books new or purchase my readings online through my Kindle. Other great ways to get access to books (that are also environmentally friendly) are book exchanges, borrowing through a library, or purchasing from thrift stores and used book stores.
— Jenna’s Recs —
If you’re just starting out, the internet-famous The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a great option that also lives up to its hype. The novel follows the story of the Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo and her marriages, career, and queerness through the use of her last interview as a means to tell her story. Trust me, by the end of this novel, you will be crying.
Next, popular from its movie adaptation, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age novel that follows Charlie, an introverted teenage boy, through his freshman year of high school. You won’t help but empathize with his often awkward observations and interactions as he explores adolescence. The end will leave you wanting to give him a hug.
Okay, now that you’re better acquainted with reading, maybe you’re ready for more.
To start off, I highly recommend Sally Rooney’s Normal People, which follows the complex friendship and relationship between Connell and Marianne throughout high school and college. The combination of Rooney’s tone and the ups and downs of characters' time together manages to relate to a variety of readers, regardless of their own experiences. When you’re done, feel free to enjoy the television show adaptation on Hulu which is equally as good!
Beartown (TW: mention of rape) follows the series of events leading up to the rape of Maya, the daughter of the coach of the town’s famous hockey team. Set in this tight-knit hockey town, the consequences of the star hockey player, Maya, their families and the community are explored through Fredrick Backman’s brilliant writing. As one of the best books I have ever read, this is a must-read.