In terms of non-work related reading, dropped off over the last couple of years. Really had to force myself to get back into a regular habit of reading, and having a meaningful effort each day. Means balancing around baby duty and putting phone away, but definite improvement since new regimen. Seeing positive signs too for wellbeing, esp. mental health.
Positive effects for me are helping to clear my head, better thought process in terms of being able to organise thoughts, and just to get me thinking about issues and ideas, which always invigorates me. I live with ADHD and am only now, thanks to medication, recognising its negative impact on my concentration reading, but reading more helps manage the ADHD too.
A notable impact of reading is that it helps me do crosswords - I find it easier to recall words and think of synonyms.
I have eclectic interests (biggest are environment, politics and history & science-fiction, fantasy and surrealism), and I switch between fiction and non-fiction (fiction, then non-fiction, then back to fiction etc.).
Oh I absolutely hear this! My love of reading was totally displaced with a need to read for learning during uni and it took me a long time to find my way back to it! I agree that in some way we like our books to tell a story. I've curated the books in the most public room of the house to show my political beliefs and interests (your books are in that bookshelf) Nothing wrong with an easy to read novel though. I absolutely love Matthew Reilly. They might not be winning Pulitzer's but they are fast and fun! But yes, growing up with access to books is a privilege I am very grateful I had!
Hi Louise - also, thanks so much for becoming a Paid Subscriber, I really appreciate it! Your comments also bring me so much joy; I see you and thank you :) Funny you mention Matthew Reilly, he was one of my FAVS growing up, and the only books the high school boys would be seen reading...
I love the term 'lapsed reader'; I've finally found a way to describe the majority of my 20s. Like you, I grew up reading to escape, and with restricted access to the internet, TV and video games, it was my main form of avoiding participating in the real world. All of that stopped when I started university and became more independent. I was only reading comic books, fanfiction and social media, all of which I still enjoy but don't count as reading to me. I don't know if it was the pressure to keep up with whatever books were popular at the time or the need to make sure I'm reading something 'productive' to make the most of my time, but a book always felt like an investment I couldn't afford to make.
I'll be 29 this year and I've fallen in love with reading again. I've stopped thinking of it as an investment and more of a break from daily life. A good non-fiction is still a form of escape to me. I don't know if it's the best method for absorbing information but it's definitely brought the joy back into reading for me. I hate measuring reading with numbers but I went from struggling through one or two books to reading 16 last year. Might not be a lot for some, but feels like it to me!
Sorry about the long comment. I came across these words on instagram and wanted to read the full thing as they're very timely for me; I've been thinking about this all month! Thank you!
Thanks so much Aditi - I was quietly pleased with the term lapsed reader myself, so am glad it resonated! Love that you have fallen in love with reading again. I'm finding that it matters so much what else is happening in my life... although maybe I should be trying to make it more of a habit that can withstand the changing tides! PS never apologise for a long comment, they're my fav!
Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff ; The Great Believers & I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai ; I’ve just started Edenglassie by Melissa Lauschenko - one for the Brisbane in you ( it’s NOT Trent Dalton :)))) Loved Wifedom ( Anna Funder) it’s not not non-fiction ..
and wow … just noticed that’s all female authors for the past 6 months or so.
Currently doing an online read along of War and Peace with @SimonHaisell on substack.
All the Best to you - It’s coming up to Invasion Day here, this Friday , Lest We Forget
I read a lot. I read less than I used to because I commute less with the transition to hybrid work (thanks pandemic!). I have a massive to-read pile containing science fiction and fantasy, and non-fiction books on topics that interest me (the history of garlic in Australia for example). I am often found reading on my kobo because that is easy to fit in my bags.
I grew up with way more than 30 books, my mother had a huge book collection and was also an avid reader (my father's dyslexia makes reading harder for him, but he still likes to read a good story). Books have always been in my life, and I too was one of those children who would attempt to borrow the maximum number of books from the library to read them all (and often would).
I do often wonder how things like dyselxia change people's relationship to books - although you're right, *story* is quite a different beast to *literature*. Love that you were also a child that tried to borrow all the books in the library!
How do you find the kobo? I've had an e-reader in the past bt haven't been able to bring myself to get one again...
I find the kobo convenient, especially in a case. There are some minor niggles, turning the page isn't always immediate because I didn't touch in the right area for example, but the fact that it has a backlight means that I can read in all levels of brightness and the battery lasts a good amount of time. With the number of story bundles and humble book bundles, I have more books on it than I'll ever get around to reading and definitely don't think of it as my "to read pile". The biggest drawback is that I can't pick up a book I've just finished and push it at a friend/partner/family member and say, "omg you must read this!".
That's the one. I started reading it and put it down because I couldn't fit it in my work bag at the time. I think I can fit it in now, so I want to go back to it as it was interesting.
In terms of non-work related reading, dropped off over the last couple of years. Really had to force myself to get back into a regular habit of reading, and having a meaningful effort each day. Means balancing around baby duty and putting phone away, but definite improvement since new regimen. Seeing positive signs too for wellbeing, esp. mental health.
Ah, love this! What difference do you think it makes for the mental health? And are you preferencing any particular kind of books in this new regimen?
Positive effects for me are helping to clear my head, better thought process in terms of being able to organise thoughts, and just to get me thinking about issues and ideas, which always invigorates me. I live with ADHD and am only now, thanks to medication, recognising its negative impact on my concentration reading, but reading more helps manage the ADHD too.
A notable impact of reading is that it helps me do crosswords - I find it easier to recall words and think of synonyms.
I have eclectic interests (biggest are environment, politics and history & science-fiction, fantasy and surrealism), and I switch between fiction and non-fiction (fiction, then non-fiction, then back to fiction etc.).
Oh I absolutely hear this! My love of reading was totally displaced with a need to read for learning during uni and it took me a long time to find my way back to it! I agree that in some way we like our books to tell a story. I've curated the books in the most public room of the house to show my political beliefs and interests (your books are in that bookshelf) Nothing wrong with an easy to read novel though. I absolutely love Matthew Reilly. They might not be winning Pulitzer's but they are fast and fun! But yes, growing up with access to books is a privilege I am very grateful I had!
Hi Louise - also, thanks so much for becoming a Paid Subscriber, I really appreciate it! Your comments also bring me so much joy; I see you and thank you :) Funny you mention Matthew Reilly, he was one of my FAVS growing up, and the only books the high school boys would be seen reading...
You are most welcome. I love your writing, and the community you've created here. Ha, I've been reading Matthew Reilly since school too!
I love the term 'lapsed reader'; I've finally found a way to describe the majority of my 20s. Like you, I grew up reading to escape, and with restricted access to the internet, TV and video games, it was my main form of avoiding participating in the real world. All of that stopped when I started university and became more independent. I was only reading comic books, fanfiction and social media, all of which I still enjoy but don't count as reading to me. I don't know if it was the pressure to keep up with whatever books were popular at the time or the need to make sure I'm reading something 'productive' to make the most of my time, but a book always felt like an investment I couldn't afford to make.
I'll be 29 this year and I've fallen in love with reading again. I've stopped thinking of it as an investment and more of a break from daily life. A good non-fiction is still a form of escape to me. I don't know if it's the best method for absorbing information but it's definitely brought the joy back into reading for me. I hate measuring reading with numbers but I went from struggling through one or two books to reading 16 last year. Might not be a lot for some, but feels like it to me!
Sorry about the long comment. I came across these words on instagram and wanted to read the full thing as they're very timely for me; I've been thinking about this all month! Thank you!
Thanks so much Aditi - I was quietly pleased with the term lapsed reader myself, so am glad it resonated! Love that you have fallen in love with reading again. I'm finding that it matters so much what else is happening in my life... although maybe I should be trying to make it more of a habit that can withstand the changing tides! PS never apologise for a long comment, they're my fav!
every time I finish a (good ) non-fiction book, I wonder that I don’t do it more
agreed! what's your most recent fav non-fiction read?
Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff ; The Great Believers & I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai ; I’ve just started Edenglassie by Melissa Lauschenko - one for the Brisbane in you ( it’s NOT Trent Dalton :)))) Loved Wifedom ( Anna Funder) it’s not not non-fiction ..
and wow … just noticed that’s all female authors for the past 6 months or so.
Currently doing an online read along of War and Peace with @SimonHaisell on substack.
All the Best to you - It’s coming up to Invasion Day here, this Friday , Lest We Forget
I read a lot. I read less than I used to because I commute less with the transition to hybrid work (thanks pandemic!). I have a massive to-read pile containing science fiction and fantasy, and non-fiction books on topics that interest me (the history of garlic in Australia for example). I am often found reading on my kobo because that is easy to fit in my bags.
I grew up with way more than 30 books, my mother had a huge book collection and was also an avid reader (my father's dyslexia makes reading harder for him, but he still likes to read a good story). Books have always been in my life, and I too was one of those children who would attempt to borrow the maximum number of books from the library to read them all (and often would).
I do often wonder how things like dyselxia change people's relationship to books - although you're right, *story* is quite a different beast to *literature*. Love that you were also a child that tried to borrow all the books in the library!
How do you find the kobo? I've had an e-reader in the past bt haven't been able to bring myself to get one again...
I find the kobo convenient, especially in a case. There are some minor niggles, turning the page isn't always immediate because I didn't touch in the right area for example, but the fact that it has a backlight means that I can read in all levels of brightness and the battery lasts a good amount of time. With the number of story bundles and humble book bundles, I have more books on it than I'll ever get around to reading and definitely don't think of it as my "to read pile". The biggest drawback is that I can't pick up a book I've just finished and push it at a friend/partner/family member and say, "omg you must read this!".
love reading food history, gastronomy etc The Getting of Garlic, John Newton ?
That's the one. I started reading it and put it down because I couldn't fit it in my work bag at the time. I think I can fit it in now, so I want to go back to it as it was interesting.