The Busy Person's Guide to Reading More - Part II: Go Back to Your Roots

Review your To Be Read (TBR) list

If you are like me, there is a stack of books next to your bed or chair, make that multiple stacks, that you have yet to read. That backlog of things, you would like to read but haven't gotten to, seems to magically grow in stature as new books (you just couldn't resist picking up) are added to the pile. I blame library book sales. The titles in this category make up your To Be Read list. If your list is like mine, it grows every day. I used to feel guilty about this tsundoku, as Marie Kondo would call it, but then I read how being surrounded by unread books was a sign of intelligence and decided to stop feeling guilty. Yet as hard as it is to admit, there are books on the TBR list that we just will not end up reading. Also, the list can sometimes be overwhelming when it comes time to choosing your next book. Here are some tips to help manage your TBR list.

• Take some time to look through your TBR list and prioritize the books you want to read versus those you feel like you "should" read. Move the books that "spark joy" (Marie Kondo would approve) to the top.

• I'm a nerd and have a substantial collection of reference books. Between my husband and me, we have an entire bookcase of art books. I am a firm believer that these are great additions to any library so if you have the room, by all means, collect away! These should not count towards your TBR list.

• Do you have a book you started and never got around to finishing? Guess what? That is ok! If a book doesn't have you engaged enough to keep reading maybe it isn't a book for you. There is not a cardinal rule sent down by the literary gods that say you have to finish everything you start.

• If you are short on room and are looking to free up space (for books you will read) consider donating books at the bottom of your list to a charity. They often have book sales as fundraisers.

I will be the first to confess to being a slacker when it comes to social media. But I love my GoodReads account. GoodReads is a social platform for readers. You can keep a list of everything you have read, and all the books you would like to read, all while getting suggestions for new books from your friends. When I go to the bookstore and find interesting titles, I scan the barcode into GoodReads and it gets added to my 'want to read' list. Then I try to find these titles in my local library (because tragically, my shelves are bursting). Check out my GoodReads shelf and be my friend!

Rediscover Children’s Literature

Many of us started reading as children and I imagine most of us can point to more than one children's book that inspired us and fostered a love of literature. However, as an adult perhaps you haven't kept up with children's literature as a genre. Even those of us with kids may only see or hear about the books preferred by our kidos. Children's literature is not just for kids! Here are some reasons to include this genre when looking for your next read.

• Children's books can be great! Like any genre, taste and quality are subjective and variable, but from picture books to young adult books, there is much to love.

• Keep an eye out for award winners. Every year they recognize some truly amazing books.

• Children's books come in a wide variety of formats. Picture books, poetry, graphic novels, verse novels, and every genre that adult literature can claim.

• Children's books and some YA novels are shorter and easy to consume when time is limited.

• Good children's literature offers great insight into the experiences of children. It is a great way to get a new perspective on any topic and help us to be more empathetic with the children in our lives.

• You can share them with your kids and grandkids! Foster a joy for reading by asking the little people you know for book recommendations.

Re-Reading totally counts

One way to get back into a regular reading habit is to go back and re-read one of your favorite books. I talked about the idea of comfort books in Part I of this series, but here are more advantages to going back to your favorites when you are short on time.

• You already know what happens next. I have lost track of how many times I have read some of my favorites, and they bring me joy every time! If you are frequently interrupted when you sit down to read, being familiar with the storyline will make it easier to find your place and remember the context of the chapter when you get to pick it up again.

• Have you seen a good movie lately? Read the book it was based on.

• Have your favorites accessible. I have digital copies of the Jane Austen collection on my phone. If I'm waiting in line somewhere, instead of catching up on social media, I can read bookmarked parts of my favorite stories.

• Some books become friends over the years. They deserve to be visited.
  

Here are some of my favorite children's books to read as an adult:

A Wrinkle in Time (Sci-fi series) by Madeline L'Engle

The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Picture book, 534 pages ) by Brian Selznick

Other Words for Home (verse novel) by Jasmine Warga

The Graveyard Book (fantasy/horror) by Neil Gaiman

The Golden Compass (fantasy) by Philip Pullman

New Kid (graphic novel) by Jerry Craft