A BACKSLIDER’S GUIDE ON HOW TO REKINDLE YOUR LOVE FOR READING

HOW TO REKINDLE YOUR LOVE FOR READING

I love to read! Reading was/is one of my favourite pastimes. I read everything from fiction to non-fiction, to motivational books, relationship books and the list goes on. I was so addicted to reading that I would carry my book and go into the toilet to read in peace. As I hated being called every second while I was reading and you know Nigerian parents and their incessant calls. So I will seek succor in the four walls of my bathroom and just read. PS maybe that’s why I have a flat butt caused by excessive sitting on the water cistern borne out of reading. Lol

Well, while most people believed in an apple a day keeps the doctor away, I believed a book a day, keeps Gift alive.

I would skip further maths and Yoruba classes to go to the library and feast my eyes on the Roman mysteries series. Little wonder the librarian is still one of my favourite people.

Eventually I got caught and I was reported to my principal, we call her mama, oh she was angry, she chastised me and I am one of those students who was everyone’s fave, so I felt real bad when she said Gift, your actions disappoint me!

Well,

A few days later she called me into her office and decided to grill my vocabulary. At first I was like Huh, what’s going on here? Which steaming pot of soup have I found my unfortunate self in this time around.

After testing my vocabulary, she proceeded to tell me how reading every genre of book is her one addiction and how much she has learnt about histories, cultures and much more from the pages of fiction than that of textbooks. And how reading greatly improved her vocabulary.

We spent the rest of my break period talking about novels and then she said “I love that you love to read but dear girl, there’s a time for everything. Don’t read away your education”.

Now you might be wondering why all this history, well it might surprise you to know with all that background and excessive love for reading. Your girl now finds it hard to finish one novel in 2 weeks.

I can picture your reaction already. You are like whoa how did that even happen.

Well. university happened, four years of reading boring textbooks and what have you. My course of study was an interesting one but nonetheless it sent my love of reading for pleasure into coma. I was no longer reading for the fun of it but was reading to learn and do justice to my results. It’s really stressful when something you do for fun and relaxation gets an added attachment.

In a semester, I had over 35-50 plays to read. I mean 35-50 plays not to talk about textbooks. Eventually I stopped reading for pleasure. I stopped buying books and I just forgot that part of me, Until recently.

Funny enough leaving the university and spending months waiting for Nysc is what spiked up my interest for reading again.

Although it was difficult to acclimatize to reading for pleasure again, I found an easy way to make it happen in no time.

While discussing this with my Bestie, it dawned on me that I am not the only one in this race. Hence, I decided to share how to rekindle your love for reading based on my experience.

Tips on how to rekindle your love for reading.

Start by re-reading your favourite book of all time.

While I find it difficult to pin point any book as my favourite book of all time. I definitely know one of my favourite authors is Francine Rivers. So all I did was search for an E-book of my favourite Francine Rivers book which happens to be Redeeming love. I contemplated choosing another of her books maybe the atonement child but deep down, I know my heart and soul dwells with redeeming love and even though the powerful message of God’s love written out in an epic love story usually drives me to be sober and meditative about my relationship status with God.

I had to re-read it and just like I thought, it did the magic. It took me four whole days to finish a book I once read for 6 hours none stop but when I eventually finished. I felt rejuvenated and all I wanted to do was re-read some of my other favourites. By the end of the week, I had read three more books and I couldn’t have been prouder.

So tip one on how to rekindle your love for reading is to reread your favourite books. Let them stir you up and remind you the pleasure you derive from reading them.

Define Your Genre

As an absolute romantic, I love love and romance novels. I started reading them at a tender age and I’ve got cane marks to show for it after my guardians caught me reading a trilogy titled sinfully sexy. (I will definitely share more about this in another post).

However, as much as I love romance and can swoon for all the roguishly handsome men in Harlequin and Mills & Boons classics. My favourite reading genre is historical fiction. Gosh, I love history! I love to explore cultures, cities and defy the logic of time through a book in my hand and my wild imagination. I love to read books set in 18th century England and pretend to be a maiden who is just coming to season.

[bctt tweet=”My favourite reading genre is historical fiction. Gosh, I love history! I love to explore cultures, cities and defy the logic of time through a book in my hand and my wild imagination. #reading #lifestyleblogger” username=”gyifted”]

I love to read about the great Roman Empire, the Inca and Aztec civilization, about wars and so many more. If it’s got an interesting history, gift got to read it.

So tip two on how to rekindle your love for reading is to define your genre. Remember if you have an interest in it, reading it becomes way easier.

Explore Other Genre.

I am going to tell you this with the most straight face possible without divulging the details of the terrible nightmares I got all because of an attempt to explore other genre such as horror fiction. In my quest to rekindle my love for reading, I decided to explore other genre that I haven’t explored such as paranormal romance, horror fiction, Sci-fi etc and surprisingly i discovered I have a love for vampire stories.

So tip three is read, read, read again, read more, read some more and you just might discover your love for a new genre.

Join A Book Club Or A Reading Challenge

I used to belong to a book club but I left because I felt restrained. Having to read one particular book and sometimes books I have no interest in alongside other random strangers didn’t really cut it off for me. I prefer to read in seclusion. However if you are the type who gets encourage by being around people with a common goal then joining a functional book club can help rekindle your love for reading.

However, what worked for me was joining in on reading challenges by a few Bookstagramers and bloggers. Although I didn’t follow through religiously. I was challenged to read some books.

Tip four, You have to determine what works for you best. Book clubs or Monthly Reading challenges.

Find/Create A Reading Nook

If you have seen the movie War Room, you would understand the concept of having a reading nook better. Basically a reading nook is a comfortable space that allows you read in peace. A reading nook can’t be specified because our personalities vary.

For example, I love to read in a quiet environment with the only sounds coming from the slow love jams playing on my headphone. Also, I love to read lying than rather than sitting up. So my preferred reading nook is my bed. And no I never fall asleep while reading an interesting book even if I’m lying on my bed. If you catch me sleeping while reading just know I was bored to sleep by the said book.

The Nigerian In Me

I don’t know if to classify this as tip number 6 on how to rekindle your love for reading. The Nigerian in me can’t end a post on how to rekindle your love for reading without telling you to find a suitable time for reading. We all know how Nigerian parents can be. The moment I carry a book, it looks like they just rung a bell and told mum or dad to never stop calling Gift (roll eyes).

So I prefer to read in the dead of night when everyone is asleep and I can read in peace. At 20+ I can’t afford to be hiding out in the toilet anymore in order to read it peace. I definitely don’t want what’s left of my small butt to disappear. Like Naija single girl says, who will marry a girl with small boobz, my own is who will marry a girl with flat butt. #kidding

I hope you find love in reading again!

[bctt tweet=”I Rekindled my love for reading, you can too. click link to find out more” username=”gyifted”]

Soon, I will be sharing my reading list for June as part of my monthly faves with you all. If you would like to see a post on how I successfully read on my mobile device plus the best apps for reading on phone and sites to download books for free. Please let me know in the comment section.

Did you enjoy this post? can you relate to loosing your love for reading too?

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