Books

How I Read

Sale PSA: A pretty silk playsuit from Zimmermann, now $278, a woven cotton bucket bag from Catzorange, now $76, and shearling boots from Chloe, now $500

For Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Shoppers: This excellent Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit, this great Diptyque candle/fragrance set (Diptyque scents are some of my favorites), and the perfect slouchy sweater from Nili Lotan, now $314

Today instead of a fashion post I wanted to share a little bit about how I read. If you visit this blog regularly you know that I go through at least a book a week (but really it’s more! Because I read stuff that I don’t necessarily connect with and that ultimately doesn’t get posted). I do get questions about how I manage to read so much and I wanted to share some thoughts and tips.

I read every night. Without fail. Even when my kids were weeks old and I was running on no sleep, I still read at least a chapter or two before I went to sleep (for the next two hours). It’s a habit for me like brushing my teeth (and I read while brushing teeth too, but usually magazines, which is sometimes where I find the articles for the Weekend Updates!). Reading is a habit, just like anything else. So if it’s important to you, I’d really recommend carving out time for it. It’s worth it!

I put the phone down. I don’t want to be misleading – I love my phone. I have a hard time putting it down. That said, I know my attention span is really divided and fight hard against it. I know that often it’s just sucking away my time when I should be paying attention to the kids, enjoying “the moment”, etc. But it’s so hard! Even though my number one favorite thing to do is reading, I was STILL wasting tons of time each night browsing on my phone before I started reading. So now I also charge my phone at night in another room. Removes it altogether and allows me the uninterrupted focus to really get into a book.

I stop reading books I’m not enjoying. Do you know who first told me to do this? George R R Martin! And once he said it, I felt so free. I used to force myself to finish books and it was such a slog. Now, if I’m really struggling, I just put it down and move onto the next book on my giant pile. It’s nothing against the author or the book – we all have different tastes and having written a book I wouldn’t want someone forcing themselves through mine if they weren’t feeling it. Reading, at least pleasure reading, should always be pleasurable.

Know that it’s good for you! Reading is like exercise for the brain I really feel. As in – it’s good for you! You should feel good when you finish a book, you learned something new and focused on something for 300-400 pages. In this Netflix/smartphone age, that’s something! So give yourself a pat on the back. A bowl of ice cream! I always feel happy and that I did something good for myself when I finish a book – yes it was also a pleasure but also acknowledge that you took the time to read and you did a good “thing”.

And on that note – what are some of the ways you make room for reading in your life? And I’d also love to hear favorite books you’ve read lately. Please share all!

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11 Comments

  • Reply
    Nina
    July 15, 2019 at 9:17 am

    I love this post! I would love to read more on a regular basis. I usually start a book on a vacation, continue reading for a few months after, then gradually stop…until the next vacation. I do have a request, can you list some of your recommended books as an index? whenever I am trying to find new reading material, I would browse your blog and type “books” in search, but would have to go through each post to find ones that match my interests.

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 15, 2019 at 1:44 pm

      This has been a recurring request and I have one in the works!! I was supposed to put it up by the end of last year and honestly stuff just keeps piling on. I will do one by the end of this year! Thank you for reading!

  • Reply
    Montana
    July 15, 2019 at 9:25 am

    Hi Katherine: I read just the way you do, but sometimes I’m afraid, “I read way past my bedtime”. I also get blogs from some independent book stores, and “Crime Reads” as well as “Literary Hub” and Barnes & Noble, and your own blog, which I love. I have piles of books everywhere, and right now I’m reading Dutch Girl, The Pioneers, Bad Blood, and, my guilty favorite “The Long and Faraway Gone” by Lou Berney…causing me to lose some sleep, but worth it!

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 15, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      The Long and Faraway Gone is a great book! I’d thought I recommended it on here but just realized I hadn’t. It’s a great guilty pleasure but doesn’t even have to be guilty because Lou Berney is a great writer and the prose is wonderful. This is brain food! I also really loved his new book, November Road.

  • Reply
    MM
    July 15, 2019 at 9:31 am

    Thanks for this. I grew up an avid reader but lost the oomph and motivation to do it. I really want to get that feeling back where I’m super sad when I finish a book as if I’m saying bye to my friends. I can’t seem to read anything interesting and can only get through Harry Potter. 🙁

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 15, 2019 at 1:48 pm

      I’ll try to help! If you list some other favorites I can see what I can recommend!

  • Reply
    GT
    July 15, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    How do you read? Do you purchase the books, borrow from the library or friends, or do you always use a kindle?

    • Reply
      Katherine
      July 15, 2019 at 1:50 pm

      I probably buy a good 50%-60% from indie bookshops whenever possible. The other half are library, and if I buy from Amazon these days, it is usually through Kindle because I do love my Kindle. I’m the friend who is giving away books, but I think that makes sense as I love them and I have a vested interest in keeping the industry alive as an author!

    • Reply
      A
      July 18, 2019 at 8:54 am

      Yes, I would love an index too!!

  • Reply
    Anna
    July 16, 2019 at 3:53 am

    Is the picture from your real library? I am pondering on building one in my house! It’s really hard finding time to read after baby, but I found audio books to the rescue! They are so convenient. I listen to them on my commute, which used to be a good hour every day. And in countless sleepless nights – they usually put me to sleep, not that they are boring, but in a calming and soothing way!

    And just want to shout out: love love love your book recommendations!!

  • Reply
    Maria
    July 18, 2019 at 11:04 am

    Such helpful tips, thank you. I am impressed you were able to read even after the babies were born and running on little sleep yourself. Plus not finishing a book that you are not enjoying. Noted!

    After three floods from the unit above that came down on a wall of bookcases – I went digital. (Yes, I even went out and replaced all the damaged and or favourite books with a digital version if available.)

    I’m the type that highlights favourite quotes and lines in my books. When I got an iPad, with the built in dictionary, five colours of highlighter, ability to take notes in the “margins” plus backing up copies of the books and my notes – I haven’t looked back. People ask if I “reread” my books. Not all, but I will go back and look up a quote, a fact, tidbit, reference that I highlighted… Makes it handy to use the notes and highlights in a digital book and the search field to find such.

    Even when busy, I make the time to read. With the digital books, I can read while waiting in line, commuting, and it’s handy for travel as I can have a thousand books “handy”. Yes, even on my phone I will read them. That way, I can use little pockets of “wasted” time and feel I’m still accomplishing something.

    But I have to limit myself to how many pages I will read before bed…otherwise it could be 3:00 a.m. and the “…just one more chapter…” kicks in. Although I usually start to nod off and hence have to put the book down.

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