I have never been much of a reader. Hell, I still struggle with it. In high school the idea of a required reading list made me want to do the opposite. (The classic rebellious stage many kids go through.) Maybe I wasn’t ready? Maybe, even if I read all the books they placed in front of me, I wouldn’t have been able to fully digest the literature?
Thinking back on that time in my life I felt as if I missed out valuable lessons. I needed to find a way to get interested in reading, you could say felt called. However, an impossible question hovered over me, like a cloud sliding its way in between my body and the warm sun: where do I start? Completely stumped, I sat and searched for the answers on my own… No luck.
Thank God for my brothers. A simple text to the MB&I group-message was met with a list of books, stories, and tips on getting back into the hobbit, HABBIT, of reading. I wanted to share it in this month’s post, and maybe continue with an updated reading-list in future posts.
Being stuck in a van for hours is great for reading, but pit stops are still needed.
Getting Back Into Reading
Here’s a few tips that helped me get back into reading / things I still use when I want to dive into a good book.
Know yourself. It’s important to select books on topics that truly interest you, not ones that have simply won a bunch of awards. There’s a lot of crap in this world that win awards.
Short stories are a great place to get your feet wet.
Plan for success. Put yourself in an environment where you can zone out for a bit. Go to a pub and grab a drink, sit at a coffee shop, or close the door to your bedroom and get comfy.
Start with an audio book. There’s no shame in using services like Audible, especially when you haven’t read and/or finished a book in a while. Busy schedules can definitely be a deterrent, so make it easy on yourself by listening during your commute or while doing chores around the house.
Reach out to people you respect for book recommendations. Your lazy co-worker may not be the best recourse. Family, significant others, past teachers, mentors, pastors, etc. Also, if there’s a prominent figure you follow, dead or alive, there is usually a list of books he/she read. If not, read about the people or events that inspired them! It will eventually lead to a few pieces of literature worth reading.
Our First Reading List
Here it is: a few books, new and old, that we have been reading recently. Enjoy!
Welcome to the Monkey House, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (a collection of short stories)
The Red Pony, John Steinbeck (a quick read)
The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis (theological issues addressed through fiction)
Zorba The Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis (not the musical)
Harry Potter and the Scourer’s Stone, J. K. Rowling (the unabridged audiobook with Jim Dale narrating is absolutely amazing)
Reach out to us via social media with your current list! Let us know if there’s a book we should be aware of as we are always open to reading good stories.
- Erik & My Brothers And I