Thank you for the share, I just ordered Invocations - and then it said she wrote for young adults - I thought oh wow so hopefully this Crone will enjoy ☺️
I wholeheartedly agree with all your tips. I remember I started to devour books again - I was a true bookworm as a child - back in 2020 when I joined Gretchen Rubin (of the Happiness Project fame) #read20in20 challenge. I decided I really could carve 20 minutes out of my day to read a book. And it worked! (Let's face it, the lockdowns helped, too, at least on the reading front.)
But I have discovered a whole new way of reading since then: audiobooks. Those are the absolute best when you have chores to do. Really, cleaning up the house has never felt so cool! I'm currently reading The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page and I swear I can't wait to vacuum the house tomorrow!
So here are my two tips for Amy: carve out some time, even just 10 minutes before bed is great (and you'll go over the mark pretty soon, I'm sure) and listen to audiobooks as you do the dishes or sort out laundry.
I'm a recent convert to audiobooks too. I can't process fiction this way but biographies and non fiction seem to work really well for me. I pair them with going to the gym by way of an incentive.
Thank you for the suggestions. Lately, I’ve been too tired at night to read in bed. I’m trying to get to bed early so I have more time. The TV is a distraction when my kiddo asks to watch something with him. I am trying to balance the week out by keeping TV to Friday night pizza. There are way too many wonderful books to read.
Being in a local book club helps as that gives me a deadline which helps me make time to read. But I find it so hard to sit down and read as my brain would much prefer to listen to music instead. The tip to listen to audiobooks while doing housework is genius!
One small thing I've done recently (as in done in the last few days) is delete a bunch of apps that I used to turn to when I needed a bit of time to decompress. One is a mindless game I've had on my phone TEN YEARS. I realized they no longer interested me at all. I also deleted Instagram off my phone, so now I have no option to scroll or game mindlessly and will instead click over to my Kindle app and read when on the train, waiting in a long line, or needing a brain break. It feels excellent and got me through a very long line in the airport yesterday.
Just removing easy access to the things we do instead of reading often gets us there faster. I also completely agree about not finishing books that aren't working. I often find that thinking "this one isn't right for me right now" helps me put the book down more quickly. If I feel the call to return, I can. Sometimes I have and it was just the right fit later on, but I never want to read something that I'm not connecting with in the moment as it really affects my writing.
Deleting apps was such a game changer for me too! It took a few weeks for me to stop mindlessly picking up my phone to click on the apps and it was scary to realize how automatic it had all become. I’ve suddenly found so much time to read lol!
I just started House of Hollows based on your review and have a great feeling about it!
I’m not sure if you’ve read When the Sky Fell on Splendor, but it fits your sci-fi/light horror/magical realism preferences. It is also young adult, like your recent reads. One of my major burnout skill regressions was reading concentration so young adult books have been a good way to build up my reading stamina again!
Also totally agree to bail if a book is boring you. I admittedly find it much easier to do when it’s a library book vs. one I’ve purchased.
I’ve also started reading for a couple hours before bed instead of watching tv, which has helped my sleep tremendously. I find it one of the easier “time substitutions” to carve out space for reading.
Oh so true. I'm either reading with a vengeance or not at all. My worst time is when I've just finished a really good book. I can't bear to start another one so soon, but then if I'm not careful I fall off the reading wagon completely and whole weeks can pass by without me having the slightest urge to read again.
Susannah, thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! I absolutely LOVE it (although it took me about a week to read -- so sorry!). I think all of your ideas are fantastic, but especially stopping books that don't appeal to you. I'm bad at pushing through books that just aren't appealing, especially since I am part of a book club, and I feel like, sometimes, I HAVE to read those books. What's the big deal if I skip a few here and there?
I do read a lot -- I have a 300+ day streak going right now (finished a 1000+ day streak about a two years ago that only ended because I went on a cruise and lost my wifi connection for my Kindle app). I just want to read MORE because there are so, so many good books out there! I also agree with you on the Kindle app. I read a lot on my phone because it's always with me, and I can sneak in a few pages here and there throughout the day. I even use reading as a "reward" at times for doing other, less-desirable things.
I really should incorporate audiobooks, like some of the commenters have suggested. Twice a week, I have a long commute to and from my office, so it would be a great time to listen. And then there are the evenings when I am just too tired to read, but listening might be do-able. I just don't know where to even begin with audiobooks...
Again, thank you so much for answering my question. I just loved hearing from you so, so much! Happy Reading!
Thank you for the share, I just ordered Invocations - and then it said she wrote for young adults - I thought oh wow so hopefully this Crone will enjoy ☺️
It's the first YA book I've ever and I really enjoyed it! Was more "grown up" than I expected :-) (I'm 52)
I wholeheartedly agree with all your tips. I remember I started to devour books again - I was a true bookworm as a child - back in 2020 when I joined Gretchen Rubin (of the Happiness Project fame) #read20in20 challenge. I decided I really could carve 20 minutes out of my day to read a book. And it worked! (Let's face it, the lockdowns helped, too, at least on the reading front.)
But I have discovered a whole new way of reading since then: audiobooks. Those are the absolute best when you have chores to do. Really, cleaning up the house has never felt so cool! I'm currently reading The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page and I swear I can't wait to vacuum the house tomorrow!
So here are my two tips for Amy: carve out some time, even just 10 minutes before bed is great (and you'll go over the mark pretty soon, I'm sure) and listen to audiobooks as you do the dishes or sort out laundry.
Thank you for this great post, Susannah!
Audio books make my long car trips more enjoyable. It helps me “read” more too.
Absolutely! A book is still a book, no matter its format :)
Another audiobook fan here! I probably read 75% of the books I read in a year via audio now.
I'm a recent convert to audiobooks too. I can't process fiction this way but biographies and non fiction seem to work really well for me. I pair them with going to the gym by way of an incentive.
It does work like an incentive! And I started with memoirs, it took me two years to dive into fiction and now I love it too!
Thank you for the suggestions. Lately, I’ve been too tired at night to read in bed. I’m trying to get to bed early so I have more time. The TV is a distraction when my kiddo asks to watch something with him. I am trying to balance the week out by keeping TV to Friday night pizza. There are way too many wonderful books to read.
Being in a local book club helps as that gives me a deadline which helps me make time to read. But I find it so hard to sit down and read as my brain would much prefer to listen to music instead. The tip to listen to audiobooks while doing housework is genius!
Susannah! Apropos of nothing, but have you been to the tarot exhibition near Russell Square yet? https://warburg.sas.ac.uk/events/tarot-origins-and-afterlives-2025 I went on Friday and it's amazing! I think you would like it a LOT
Thanks for book recommendations . I’m in a reading groove at the minute and really enjoying it. Just had my lunch with my book and radio
You know I loved this post. 🥰
One small thing I've done recently (as in done in the last few days) is delete a bunch of apps that I used to turn to when I needed a bit of time to decompress. One is a mindless game I've had on my phone TEN YEARS. I realized they no longer interested me at all. I also deleted Instagram off my phone, so now I have no option to scroll or game mindlessly and will instead click over to my Kindle app and read when on the train, waiting in a long line, or needing a brain break. It feels excellent and got me through a very long line in the airport yesterday.
Just removing easy access to the things we do instead of reading often gets us there faster. I also completely agree about not finishing books that aren't working. I often find that thinking "this one isn't right for me right now" helps me put the book down more quickly. If I feel the call to return, I can. Sometimes I have and it was just the right fit later on, but I never want to read something that I'm not connecting with in the moment as it really affects my writing.
Deleting apps was such a game changer for me too! It took a few weeks for me to stop mindlessly picking up my phone to click on the apps and it was scary to realize how automatic it had all become. I’ve suddenly found so much time to read lol!
It's had such a massive impact, right? I feel so liberated!
I just started House of Hollows based on your review and have a great feeling about it!
I’m not sure if you’ve read When the Sky Fell on Splendor, but it fits your sci-fi/light horror/magical realism preferences. It is also young adult, like your recent reads. One of my major burnout skill regressions was reading concentration so young adult books have been a good way to build up my reading stamina again!
Also totally agree to bail if a book is boring you. I admittedly find it much easier to do when it’s a library book vs. one I’ve purchased.
I’ve also started reading for a couple hours before bed instead of watching tv, which has helped my sleep tremendously. I find it one of the easier “time substitutions” to carve out space for reading.
Oh so true. I'm either reading with a vengeance or not at all. My worst time is when I've just finished a really good book. I can't bear to start another one so soon, but then if I'm not careful I fall off the reading wagon completely and whole weeks can pass by without me having the slightest urge to read again.
I am exactly the same!!
Susannah, thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! I absolutely LOVE it (although it took me about a week to read -- so sorry!). I think all of your ideas are fantastic, but especially stopping books that don't appeal to you. I'm bad at pushing through books that just aren't appealing, especially since I am part of a book club, and I feel like, sometimes, I HAVE to read those books. What's the big deal if I skip a few here and there?
I do read a lot -- I have a 300+ day streak going right now (finished a 1000+ day streak about a two years ago that only ended because I went on a cruise and lost my wifi connection for my Kindle app). I just want to read MORE because there are so, so many good books out there! I also agree with you on the Kindle app. I read a lot on my phone because it's always with me, and I can sneak in a few pages here and there throughout the day. I even use reading as a "reward" at times for doing other, less-desirable things.
I really should incorporate audiobooks, like some of the commenters have suggested. Twice a week, I have a long commute to and from my office, so it would be a great time to listen. And then there are the evenings when I am just too tired to read, but listening might be do-able. I just don't know where to even begin with audiobooks...
Again, thank you so much for answering my question. I just loved hearing from you so, so much! Happy Reading!