I wish I had more time to read. While that’s a sentence my teenager son would never utter, many of us wish there were more hours in the day to get lost in a good book. We all know a voracious reader or two, but how do they find the time to tackle that growing pile on the nightstand? As a fairly insatiable reader since elementary school, I offer eight tips to help you expand your reading repertoire and spend more time with your nose buried in a book.
8 Habits of the Voracious Reader
1. Always have books in your queue.
I keep an eye on Kindle sales, and have a few reads stored on my device in case I find myself in a reading emergency with no Internet access. I have a list online in my library account, and a few books on reserve. My to-read bookshelf on Goodreads has over 40 titles, and there is always a book or two on my shelf or nightstand that I just haven’t read yet. When I finish one book, I have multiple options for my next read, which I start immediately.
Reading is like running. The more you do it, the more you want to do it. The less you do it, the harder it is to get going again.
2. Collect recommendations from anywhere and everywhere.
Book reviews are in magazines (I like Entertainment Weekly), newspapers, blogs, and on sites like Goodreads. While I value the opinion of someone I know more than the random lady behind me in line at the grocery store, I never turn down a recommendation. I don’t end up reading them all, but I think of recommendations as a way to narrow down my options.
3. Listen to audiobooks in addition to reading actual books and ebooks.
The more forms of reading that are available to you, the more likely you will be to pick one. An audiobook is perfect for driving or walking, and even for folding laundry or doing mindless chores. I love to read on my Kindle, but after a few digital books I yearn for the heft of an old-fashioned book in my lap. Switching up modes keeps things interesting. I will often reserve the same book in paper and digital form at the library, and then cancel one once the first one becomes available.
4. Vary genres.
I love historical fiction, but I can only read a few back to back before I’m ready for something new. Mix up your tried and true genres with new ones; it will keep the experience of reading fresh. Throw in a science fiction book in between your chick lit reads, or try a YA novel after a heavy piece of contemporary fiction. Memoirs and other non-fiction books are a welcome change of pace when you are strictly a fiction reader. Step out of the box and expand your reading repertoire.
5. Try a series.
A great series can keep even the most voracious reader occupied for months, and when you’re making your way through a series, choosing your next book is a no-brainer. When I read a series that isn’t complete, I immediately mark the next, to-be published book on my Goodreads list so I don’t miss it. Ideally, the series is already complete when you start the first one; no waiting is required!
6. Set goals.
Goodreads has a reading challenge each year, where you can set your own personal reading goal and track your progress. Start with an easily attainable goal so you set yourself up to succeed. The beauty of this challenge, of course, is that no one holds you accountable but you.
7. Join a book club.
I’m in two monthly bookclubs, and I make it a point to read the book even if I can’t make the meeting. Letting someone else choose what I read exposes me to books I may never have picked up, and the discussions are always lively. You don’t have to be a voracious reader to join or start a book club; almost everyone can make the time to read or listen to one book a month! If you can’t, you may need to…
8. Ease off of Netflix.
One cannot read while binge-watching House of Cards or Orange is the New Black. Choose a book instead of television, even just a few times a week. Your brain will thank you!
Here are some resources to help you up your reading game; there are affiliate links that may earn me a few quarters with which to buy the next $1.99 Kindle book I find on sale.
My Goodreads page – follow me there!
***
A comprehensive list of all the books I’ve reviewed on this blog
***
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
***
Get the free Kindle app for your smartphone, and read anywhere. No Kindle required!
***
Join BookBub; it’s a free daily or weekly email alerting you of free or deeply discounted ebooks. You can choice the genres you prefer, and the frequency of emails.
Happy reading! I’ll be reviewing some of my favorite recent reads in the next week or two, so check back. Better yet, subscribe in the box below and get an email whenever I publish a new post.
Yes to these tips! I love how audiobooks give me a break from reading, but I can still get through another book 🙂
I completely agree!
—–Super tips.
I can relate to all of them & continually have a list of books that I want/need/desire.
I am loving the books about World War 11 right now…. and have you read Option B yet? I’m in LOVE with Sheryl Sandberg. LOOOOVE!
Elizabeth Berg is my girl crush, my hot-fudge-sundae author.
Thank you, Dana, for this fun post.
xx from MN.
I haven’t read Option B, but I’ll check it out! Btw, thought of you the other day when I saw an article ranking states by how oppressive the summers are. Minnesota was in the bottom five, so one of the best states to spend the summer in. Maryland was a dismal #23.
When I first moved to San Francisco I joined two book clubs. It was such an easy way to connect and read. I still keep in touch with a few of those people!
I find that I always need something on my library hold list. I guess that’s my version of a queue?
I absolutely adore starting a new series.
My library hold list is absolutely my queue!
I couldn’t believe I wasn’t following on Goodreads. But I don’t use it like I should. I wait until your post or Janine’s pops up about books to read and I make notes. I only run out of audio’s but I always have a book in the queue. I was mad that two that I’ve had on hold forever because avaiable while I was on vacation. I’ve probably have less than a week now for both. I need to save Netflix for exercise and reserve sitting for reading.
Funny, I do the opposite! I read on the elliptical and listen while I walk, and only watch Netflix when I’m prone on the sofa 🙂
yes! important tips! book club has been my salvation. it forces me to read a book, even if i’m super busy at work. there’s this feeling of shame if you go to book club and haven’t made the effort. i also do audible, which is great for my commute, but i do agree it’s not the same as an actual book. i also tend to lose focus listening vs reading. but still…a great way to keep up the reading.
It really is, and I’ve discovered that I have preferences for audio books. Nonfiction is better for me as an audiobook, as is some fantasy YA that is a guilty pleasure. It’s all about the narrator sometimes too!
SOOO true, all of it! Especially #8, sadly.
Exactly! I am not committing to any new series this summer unless it’s one my husband and I watch together.
Awesome. Sharing.
This was hiding in my spam, Lisa – I’m sorry! Thank you for sharing.
Yes, yes, and yes! Especially to switching it up. I even have times of the year for books. Victorian literature is always winter time for me, for example!
Interesting…that is one genre I rarely read, but it does seem to fit with winter time.
These are fantastic tips and great links. I really like your metaphor relating reading to running. Isn’t that true with most good habits? The more we do them, the more likely we are to continue. Also, just like running, you have to MAKE TIME to do it. It won’t happen by itself. Will be sharing this one!
Thank you Julia! Yes, the running metaphor doesn’t apply to me, but it is appropriate. Now if only I could start a consistent writing habit…
Yes to all of these and I can’t really think of anything to add. I find I listen a lot more because of being in the car or out walking the dog. I look forward to doing both since I “get to” listen to my books. I am somehow still managing to fit in OITNB and I’m super disappointed with the season so that is only helping my reading…er um listening 🙂
I will definitely check out your recommendations on Goodreads…
I’m watching OITNB too, and I’m limiting myself to one episode a day. I like it so far, though. We will have to discuss…
You are singing my tune when it comes to books and new ways to get in more reading. I tip my hat to you for attaining your Goodreads goal for 2016! I wish I was that disciplined. I can’t tell you the number of books on my Kindle that I’ve started but haven’t yet finished. I especially liked the idea of using audiobooks and switching up genres. It really does widen your perspective and your appreciation for different types of writing. Thanks, Dana!
My pleasure, Alison! I am pretty disciplined about finishing books I’ve started, although I now give myself permission to abandon a book after 100 pages or so if I’m not enjoying it. There are too many other good books out there to waste my time on mediocre ones!
Great tips, Dana! As a voracious reader myself, I can’t go more than a couple days without reading a book. I tend to read a mix of chick lit, some YA, general fiction, non-fiction (usually something related to modern society), and business-related books. I find for the later, I will read a few chapters and then read a few chapters of fiction. I always keep a stack of books on my nightstand, and usually have 2-3 books going at once. I haven’t really gotten into audio books, though. And being part of a bookclub motivates me to read books I might not otherwise try.
I’ve tried to get into a few non-fiction books about writing, but they just don’t hold my interest, even when I alternate with fiction. I’ll keep trying though – I have one staring at me from my nightstand every night!
From the very first sentence I was nodding along as I think you know I love read, I just wish I could find more hours in a day to read! Seriously been slacking as well life has gotten in the way a bit, but still I have tried to do all of the above to make time, too 😉
I go through phases where I read less or more, depending on what’s going on in my life. But summer is usually prime time for reading!