Are you in a reading slump?
Tip #3 to help you SNAP OUT OF IT!!!
This is gonna sound weird, but…
I’m woman who believes in carrying a big purse. It’s a vestige of early motherhood, when having baby wipes and an assortment of snacks on hand was of the utmost importance. Those days are long gone.
Now if you were to take a quick peak into my big ole purse (with permission granted, of course), you’d find along with the hand sanitizer, chap stick, and a wallet bulging with old receipts, a novel…maybe even two.
Reading is my favorite pastime. So if I have a free moment, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, it’s comforting to know I have something to read right there alongside me.
And because I love reading so much, I hope to impart at least some of my enthusiasm onto you.
Yes, you.
Right there.
The one with her head craned over a phone, reading random blogs by strange book nerds.
This is for you. Tip #3 to get your reading groove back.
Tip #3: Join a book club!!!
Book clubs provide a space in which you can discuss books with individuals who share your love of reading. And depending on how titles are selected from month to month, it can also broaden the types of books you read.
For example, one of the book club members in my group is a huge mystery fan. I rarely read mysteries on my own, but when it’s her turn to choose for the group, she often picks something from this genre. And I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed all of her recommendations.
Here’s the link to one such recommendation that I featured on booksandbevs7: https://booksandbevs7.org/2021/03/10/ever-so-slightly-condensed-book-review-time-because-not-everything-needs-to-be-written-in-500-or-more-words-the-long-call/
Although book clubs are obviously about the books, it’s the sense of community that makes these groups so very special. Personally, I’ve established some of the most meaningful and lasting friendships through book clubs.
And speaking of connections and community, have you ever read Olive Kitteridge? https://www.elizabethstrout.com/books/olive-kitteridge
I’ve been on an “Elizabeth Strout” kick, having recently read several of her novels. And the Pulitzer Prize winning, Olive Kitteridge is probably her best known work.
If you haven’t read it yet, don’t worry I won’t spoil it for you. But there is something relevant about this novel, and in particular, its title character, when it comes to the broader message of this post.
Olive is a prickly woman. And when I say prickly… she is so g**damn prickly, it’s infuriating at times. Therapists would have a field-day with this woman. And in one scene, her son makes it clear that this field-day has in fact already occurred.
But what’s interesting about this character-driven novel with various story-lines, is that Olive, in all of her mercurial splendor, acts as the point of intersection. She holds this patchwork of intimate stories together. Whether she’s actively involved or merely an ingrained memory, her imprint on this small New England community is undeniable.
She’d probably tisk at that statement. But it’s true.
It’s fascinating-the people and things that bind us to one another.
If you interested in other novels about book clubs and reading communities, check out these booksandbevs7 recommendations:
So, try out a book club and let me know how it goes. If you’re already in a book club, feel free to share your experiences in the comment section below.
Happy reading!!!
~G
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This is fun Ginny. I have never been in a reading slump. Ever since my primary school teacher said we should read three books a week I have aimed to read every day. Mum took us to Wimbledon Library every week. Only time has prevented me a little. Now, on retirement, I am working my way through my own library with plenty of time.
Love this. Thank you for sharing, derrickjknight