Read more books than you did the previous year.
I didn’t start out high school reading books, or even enjoying them. I always found ways around having to read the book. I particularly liked the in class discussions, that was a great way for me to get the information I needed to participate. Teachers always love to have someone in the class that wanted to discuss and relate the books and ideas with real life situations. I was also not very comfortable writing book reports, so I asked if I could do my reports verbally. They were thrilled about that as well because most kids would rather call in sick than stand up in front of the class to speak, My best story was when I was in my final year of high school, it was the morning of the final exam and I was in the library watching everyone study (I didn’t like that part either) I looked at the books on the shelf behind me and there was a book that was written by the same author that we had just studied in class. I knew we need to write an essay on that book, and it was going to be awful because of course I didn’t take the rime to read it. I had just had enough time to read the front and back covers, this gave me exactly what I needed to write the essay. Talk about lucky, the book we studied in class was so easy to relate to the writers own true story, the teacher loved it and I think it was the best mark I had ever received on an exam up till that point.
I began reading for fun when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I had a friend who loved to read the historical romances. I was surprised by how the women were actually the strongest people in the story line. I think that is what kept me reading them. I loved to see how the women would work their way out of a crappy situation.
Reading took a backseat after Katie was born :) my books became childrens books that I read so often I still have some of them memorized. For years it was childrens books. Then my husband began reading the Harry Potter series our oldest daughter. Sometimes it was way too late, and they both should have gone to bed, but it was such a wonderful bonding time for them. Katie still loves to read and she can read 2-300 pages a day.
I have found that there are many ways for me to enjoy books, fiction is the fun in books, self help books are important as well. I have also found that books on CD are great because when I am in the car I can use that time more effectively by listening to a self help books.
I am now reading books quite regularly. I read (or listen) at least 30min of self help books to refuel my mind, and I read fiction for fun! I never thought in a million years that I would ever be “one of those people” that had more than one book going at a time. I now understand how that happens.
I really enjoy reading books that I can share with other people around me. I still enjoy the discussion of a book, but at least now I read them before I get into the discussion.
