Reading Once Again
Hi Friends!
Beginning this blog could not have happened unless I began reading again. As someone who has been reading a ton since childhood, this was not the first reading slump I have been in, but lord knows that it was the worst. In college, I was continuously challenged with harder and more philosophical reading for four straight years. Constantly asked to then in turn write countless essays engaging in discourse. While I loved a lot of my readings and assignments, I truly got burnt out on something which I loved deeply. Now, as it has been a year since I graduated, I decided it was time to make a change.
Of course, in the past year, I have been reading my bible, reading news articles, and reading some things here and there that everyone does on a daily basis- but my love for reading had almost been forgotten. Luckily, I have some pretty amazing people in my life that also love reading, and they reminded me of the joy which it brings. I send a special thank you specifically to my sister, the biggest reader I know. Even in my slumps, she lent me books, gave me recommendations, and always was a reminder that there are still people out there that love books. Along with my sister, my best friend also led me to want to begin reading again. So again, thank you bestie, Karli.
On Mother’s Day, I bought my sister a blind date with a book. Karli and I decided to get a treat by buying one for ourselves, too. I ended up getting the book “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry. Funny enough, Karli and I had just watched the movie which came out on Netflix, and I actually loved it. I had mixed emotions about opening my package and seeing the book, as I was hopeful for something new and different, but Karli immediately pointed out that books are always better than movies. That definitely gave me the courage to try it anyways.
Once I began reading the book, I realized I truly did like the book. I love the slow burn storyline between Poppy and Alex. I love the cutey cliches, the guessable love, but I also loved the reality the book had within it. The reality of grief, of not loving where you’re from, of losing someone you’d never even thought you could lose. And through it all, love still won.
This book truly did make me want to keep reading. It made me realize how much I had forgotten I’d love romcoms, too. (In middle school, I made it a mission to read every single Nicholas Sparks novel our school had to offer) I have now started down the spiral of romance, with my next read being “The Summer of Second Chances” by K.L. Walther. I hope to get a few “easy reads” under my belt in order to become more comfortable with the process before I dive into anything which might scare me away again.
During my slump, I also forgot the joy of buying a new book. As Becky from the “Confessions of the Shopaholic” series would say, the feeling of swiping my card, or giving the lady at the counter some cash, is so liberating, freeing, and somehow rewarding. (Seriously though if you haven’t read some of Sophie Kinsella’s work, you absolutely must- and if you truly don’t want to read, at least watch the movie). What I love the most about buying a new book, though, is the smell. I don’t know how to describe it but walking into my local bookstore or BAM with a good coffee in my hand has an indescribable feel of pure bliss. The smell of all the paper books just truly makes me feel at home, comforted, like a long hug on a warm sunny day.
A perfect reading day for me? Orange skies at sunset, leaves falling down from the tops of trees, peak fall weather in the middle of October, gently rain hitting the window, an old Scooby-Doo movie playing in the background all while I sit in a cozy chair, a fuzzy- but not sherpa fuzzy- blanket wrapped around me, while I switch between flipping the pages and petting the cat passed out on my lap. I hope in the upcoming months I am able to accomplish perfect day. (As an October baby, I am a sucker for the cliches of fall.)
Going back to the original topic, falling back in love with reading, I am so grateful that God reminded me a hobby that I truly love, that makes me feel emotions which can’t be produced elsewhere. And most importantly, I am glad that reading has brought me back to my true passion in life- writing.
(Be on the lookout for book reviews to come!)
Go Read, World!
JessC
