I'm quite delighted to introduce Amy as a contributing author to this blog! Amy previously gave stellar advice on how to help children love chapter books and she blogs at Sunlit Pages. I've long admired Amy's intelligent posts about the books she reads with her kids and on her own and I know you will learn tons and tons from her articles here, too.
Last year, I read 64 books.
With four boys (ages 6, 4, 3, and 7 months), I don't have loads of free time, but reading is very important to me so I try to make it a priority.
On occasion, a friend will ask how I fit in a substantial amount of reading amid the many demands of daily life. Sadly, I'm not a speed reader (my mind is blown by those of you who can read 150+ books in one year), but I do have a few ways I squeeze in extra bits of reading.
Read Multiple Books at the Same Time
I always have more than one book going at any given time. My happy number seems to be about three or four (earlier this year, I caught myself with seven titles halfway finished, and I knew I'd crossed the line), divided as followed: a book I'm reading, a book I'm listening to, a book I'm reading aloud to my kids, and a slower book I'm reading in bite-sized chunks. That way, I always have a book I can enjoy, no matter the circumstance.
Choose the Right Book for the Right Time
This goes along with the previous tip, but here I'm referring specifically to print copies. I didn't begin motherhood knowing this trick. I used to always make myself finish what I was reading before picking up a new book. But one time on a car trip, I realized that the nonfiction book I was reading didn't lend itself well to lots of interruptions from kids asking for snacks, activities, etc. If I'd brought along a lighter read, I could have read half the book whereas I only got through about thirty pages of the denser material. I've found it really helps to evaluate your time and choose a book that's going to go well with the attention you can give it.
Listen to Audiobooks
I used to think audiobooks were for the non-readers out there. But after I had my first son, I became a convert. Suddenly mundane jobs like washing dishes and folding laundry were exciting. Out of the 64 books I read last year, 17 of them were audio. And in years past, as many as half of my books have been listened to. Audiobooks also help me get through longer or more difficult works--like classics or dense nonfiction titles.
If you are really serious about listening, read on for my advanced tip.
Listen at Double Speed
Did you know if you listen on an ipod or iphone, you can listen at double speed? I started listening almost exclusively this way about a year and a half ago, and I will never go back to my old ways. I listened to East of Eden, Oliver Twist, and other chunkers in half the time, which is significant when you're talking 12 hours vs. 24.
Just a word of warning: it will be a little scary at first. The first few seconds at double speed can sound like a runaway train. But make yourself commit to listening to just five minutes at that speed, and most likely, at the end of the five minutes, it will sound completely normal. It's like your brain and ears sync up, and you can still hear all the same nuances, inflections, and voices . . . but just faster.
Set Reading Goals
This will be my third year to set some specific quantity and quality reading goals for myself. For quantity, I start with a comfortable number and then bump it up by a few just so I have to push myself a little (honestly, it's not very much fun to reach my goal in October; I want to feel the pressure of the final few weeks of the year).
I also set some quality goals so that I don't get so caught up in the numbers game that I'm only reading fluff. These goals can range from "a new genre" to "a 19th-century classic." If you'd like some ideas, you can check out my posts with my 2013 and2014 reading goals. [Editor's Note: Also check out Amy's 2015 reading goals.]
Join a Book Club
If you want to get back into reading but don't know how to squeeze it in, a book club might be the perfect solution. It's only one book a month, you don't have to pick it, and you have a deadline. I belong to an amazing group of friendly, witty, and intelligent women. We have been holding monthly book club meetings for over five years, and I have found some of my very favorite books this way. If you do not have a book club in your neighborhood, then start one yourself! You really only need four or five people who are committed to reading the book to have a good discussion. We use the first month of the year to plan out genres, books, and hosts for the coming months.
Read to Your Kids
Even if I didn't have kids, I would still read children's literature. In fact, my own to-read list is littered with children's classics and middle-grade novels I can't wait to get my hands on. The great thing is that since I do have kids, I can make a dent in that to-read list by reading aloud to them. It's a win-win situation: I get to spend quality time with them and read a book that interests me.
Limit Screen Time
I have a little mantra I repeat to myself on an almost daily basis. It is: "I'd rather read than waste time." If you're anything like me, you know how easily a half an hour can disappear while mindlessly scrolling and clicking. At the end of the day, I get a lot more satisfaction knowing I spent that half hour in a good book than on facebook. (That said, I get it that sometimes the one thing your mommy brain needs is the relief that comes from not doing anything.)
Always Have a Book Waiting in the Queue
I'm pretty adamant about this one, to the point that I usually have too many books waiting on my nightstand. You'd be surprised how many more books you can squeeze in if you don't have a few days' lull between books. It really does accumulate over time.
Also, if you get most of your books from the library like I do, it's best to plan ahead a little bit because there are some books you have to reserve for weeks (or even months!) ahead of time.
Let Your Kids See You Reading
I kind of love this rule. All the authorities say it: If you want to help your kids become lifelong readers, let them see you reading (and enjoying) books. So if you're ever in the middle of a really great book and can't put it down, you can always assuage your guilt by telling yourself that your kids, although neglected, will probably become avid readers because of it.
May 2015 be a year full of reading for you! (Oh, and if none of these tips bring the desired results, try neglecting the dishes or the vacuuming. That seems to be very effective.)
Amy is an avid reader and the mother of four rambunctious boys. Her life goal is to make them as obsessed with books as she is. (Judging from the dozens of books scattered all over her house, she has been successful so far.) She blogs at Sunlit Pages where she writes about a variety of books–from what she is currently reading to her kids’ favorite picture books.
Melissa LaSalle says
Love these tips! Yesterday afternoon, both kids and I had a rare successful "silent reading party." Except that I kept interrupting the silence because I could not stop laughing (read: convulsing) over the preface in Richard Russo's "Straight Man." Both kids were totally intrigued by how much I was enjoying myself. "Can you find me something to read that's as funny as THAT, Mommy?" my son asked. Success all around!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
A "silent reading party"! I love it! I'm definitely going to use that one with my kids!
Rebecca says
This is such a usefule, well-written post. Can't wait to share. Kudos, Amy!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
I'm so glad it was helpful!
JDaniel4's Mom says
My son and I both love to listen to audio books! I love your tips!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
My kids love audio books too!
Sarah says
My new year's resolution is to read more books, so this post is both helpful and timely! If you can do it with four kiddos, I can certainly manage it with my 1 year old and 2 year old 🙂 Thanks for sharing these tips!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Sarah, even though I have four kids, your kids are at really time-consuming stages, so I hope you cut yourself some slack and just enjoy reading as you can! Good luck!
Jacquie says
Lots of great tips! I've never tried listening at double speed -- now you've got me intrigued 🙂 The one tip I have for moms is 'make time at the library for YOU'! It took me quite a while to get into the hang of finding books for myself when we did our library visits. Online requests/reservations are definitely the way to go if you always think of good books but can never remember the titles once you get to the library (oh, that mom brain 😉
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Great advice, Jacquie! I definitely abuse the hold system at my library! 🙂
Emily Stott says
I love the last section! It is so important for them to see adults reading, and enjoying it! Thanks for the great post!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Yes, even though I was making light of it (a little bit), I definitely think this is really important. (And equally important for kids to see their dads reading, too!)
Jen Robinson says
Great stuff, Amy! Thanks for writing this. I, too, have found audiobooks quite valuable. I'll have to think about your double-speed suggestion. I read mostly when I'm out walking, and I actually get a pretty good chunk of time that way anyway, so I may not need that one. But your point about tailoring what you're reading to your circumstances is a good one. I've found that there are books I can't read in bed, because they just aren't fast-paced enough and I fall asleep. But I can listen to them on audio or read them on Kindle while I'm on my exercise bike :-). Anyway, I do wish you a book-filled year!
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Yes, Jen, that's exactly what I meant about choosing the right book for the right time. And now that I think about it, even though I said I was specifically referring to print copies, I know I also reserve certain books for listening because I know I'll be able to get through them faster that way. Thanks for your insights!
Anya says
Excellent post! Agree on all points.
I also find that carrying a book around helps a lot, I use every chance I can to read. We have a designated time at our house called "drop everything and read", which means that when I say these words (sometimes at the same time every day, sometimes at random) we sit down and read to each other or on our own for 30 minutes or so. Kids adore this tradition, it's a necessary part of our day.
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
Yes, I always make sure I have a book also . . . even when I'm blow drying my hair!
And I LOVE your idea for Drop Everything and Read! Sometimes, I give my 6-year-old the suggestion to "go read a book," but I think he would like it a lot more if it was a family activity.
Erica MomandKiddo says
Oh, I love this idea of Drop Everything and Read! I'm going to try it!
Stacey says
What a great post Amy! I agree on all points. People are always so confused by the number of books I read and for me it is just second nature. That said, I do almost all the things you suggested so I think we are on to something 🙂 Maybe like those posts of what 'naturally organized' people do, this is a post of what 'natural readers' do 🙂 For example, I'm always confused when people don't 'have a book'. I am always reading something and once I finish one book, I have to move right on to what's next. That said, I do not read more than one book at a time- I may add this one to my plans for this year. Thanks so much for sharing all this great advice!
JenKious says
EVERYONE wonders how you find time to read so much! So this is a welcome post. I've been trying a new form of parenting lately, it's called "GO PLAY", the theory being kids these days may need a little neglecting. 🙂 I'm almost always reading when I employ this but now, thanks to you, I can feel VIRTUOUS about it since I am setting a good example instead of shirking my duties! Great post Amy!
Stephmerrif says
Thanks so much for your post. I read several books last year thanks to doing a few of these suggestions and learned some new ideas reading this post. Loved the comment about the silent reading party- great idea! Biggest take away for me is that my kids need to see me reading. I'm also excited to try chapter books with the kids (my oldest is almost 5) which is something we have just started introducing. Thanks for your tips on that as well.