New Year, New Books!
Hello Adventurers!
I have missed you guys so much over the past year. I had several difficult circumstances that needed my time and attention in 2022, but it’s 2023 now and I want to start the year off right. I have been doing a lot of thinking about reading and art and their place in my life, and it led me to making some New Year’s Resolutions that I want to share with you here. Hopefully they will be beneficial to you all as well, since I think they will bring new life to the Nook.
Resolution 1: More Reading, Less Watching
To be honest, it could also include ‘Less Scrolling’. Back in the day, about 5 years ago, I was actually one of those unicorns that only had an old-school flip phone. I know that sounds crazy, but I must admit that it was a much more enjoyable phone experience. I spent so almost no time looking at my phone at all – it stayed my purse or coat pocket for the majority of the day. I did way more reading back then, and I spent more time studying the things I loved, like acting, voice, dance, and sewing. I didn’t even desire a smartphone. It wasn’t until a mentor I had at an internship recommended that I get one for work purposes that I even considered it, and shortly after that I switched to a smartphone when it came time to change the plan I was on.
Ever since then, my time (and my awareness of that time) has been slowly slipping away. Little by little I filled pockets of time waiting for the bus or sitting in a doctor’s office with a quick video here, or a little bit of scrolling there. This only intensified as my life became busier and more stressful. Quick little distractions have served as coping mechanisms. Before I knew it, I was spending more time on my phone than most anything else, just like many phone addicts nowadays.
Reading is fun, but in order to really get involved with a book, I have to commit to it. It takes time. In a previous post, I discussed the reasons why reading has been a challenge for me in the past, even though I love it. On top of that, many of my favorite books are fantasy adventure, which means there may be considerable world-building before we get to the meat of it. If I’m perfectly honest, opening up YouTube or Hulu is just a lot easier than starting a new book, which I will probably love, but which will require more of me. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy a good TV show or commentary video, and I think that there is plenty of media truly worth watching. But if I’m watching it all the time and not leaving room for much else, then even that media is losing its value in my life. So more time for reading it is!
Resolution 2: In With the New
I am definitely a creature of habit, possibly more than most people are. There are certain genres that feel like home to me. My absolute favorite is the fantasy adventure novel. Between imaginary worlds, mythical creatures, and impossible prophecies, it’s probably the farthest you can get from real life, which is probably why I like it so much. I also enjoy the type of comfy, slice-of-life stories that give you a window into another ‘regular’ person’s day-to-day. And I’m always down to read a non-fiction book. I love to learn.
But I don’t want to be limited to just these. I want to expand my literary horizons and try new things. I’ve thought about a few genres that I’d like to at least give a try this year, including:
Mystery/Crime – I am actually reading one of these right now, which you will be hearing about soon. I don’t know why I have never reached for a book like this before, as this is my mother’s favorite genre. But I am excited to give it a try!
Romance – I will admit, I have been extremely negative about this genre in the past. I don’t know if it’s because I am not really much of a romantic in my real life, or if the particular tropes of this genre just aren’t my thing, but it hasn’t really appealed to me. But tastes change, and art can always surprise you, so I will have to find one to give a chance.
Horror – I am pretty terrified of getting into this genre. I rarely ever even watch horror movies or tv (although I am a huge fan of the Twilight Zone). I just don’t think I can handle the gore I might find (and I have some complicated thoughts about gore and mental health, but that’s a topic for another time). That being said, as long as a book isn’t too gross, I am willing to give it a try. I may have to work up to this, though. Maybe for Halloween?
Resolution 3: Reading About the Reading
This is another thing that slowly but surely went by the wayside as my smartphone took up more of my time. Previously, I always researched the writers of the books I read, including their other works and the recurring themes they worked with. I also looked into the time and place the books were written in and anything else that might have been relevant. This is a habit that had been drilled into me over numerous years of studying acting, where part of preparing to perform a role means learning what you can about the playwright and the world that role originally existed in.
I think that research can help you grow your perspective and really see the work in the way that its creator may have wanted you to. It’s not something you have to do in order to simply enjoy a book, but it can be an exciting learning experience. I also think that since I am taking the time to share my experience with the books I’m reading with you, what I learn could add a fun layer to everything that I can also share with you. That’s why I am determined to do this kind of research on every book I read this year.
Hopefully I can stick to all of these, and I hope that it can enhance the experience for you reading my blog. And I want to thank you for being here with me and giving me the opportunity to share my literary adventures.
On to the next one! – Cozie