ten pages a day
I used to think that book reading and motherhood was a bit of a contradiction.
For a good few years there I was convinced that I didn’t have time to read. Or, to be completely honest, I didn’t have time to read books of my own.
But over the past few months, inspired by my twice-weekly visits to the library, I’ve been reading every day. I’ve rekindled a page-turning love affair that fell by the wayside when I first became a mother.
And since I now read as a mother-of-three, I’ve noticed that when I sit down and open a book I’m doing so much more than reading. I’m switching off and tuning out. I’m absorbed in another world and a myriad of lovely words. I’m resting and relaxing.
Reading has become a daily practice for me; I pick up my book during Percy’s mid-morning and late-afternoon feeds. After I have read picture books in the evening – currently this and this and this – I open my own till the little ones are settled. And, if I’m not too weary, I’ll read a chapter or two before bed.
Reading paper pages means that I spend less time in front of a screen and subsequently, less time absorbed in stimulating media and bright lights.
Just this week Pip announced a September bookish initiative that I’m more than happy to embrace and share.
All you need to do is read #tenpagesaday of a hold-in-your-hands-book. And if you’re already a bookworm? Read ten extra pages!
It’s the perfect spring time initiative to get you reading again. And if you think that you don’t have time? Let that excuse go. You really do have time!
Bookish suggestions
Over the past few months I’ve read and loved the following:
I need this. I have been wanting to read more for yonks. I fall into the trap of winding down by looking at a screen and there goes my night. I need the relaxation of book reading. Thank for this.
I just finished The Golden Age by Joan London, in three evenings flat. I can’t rave about it enough, I adored it.
I’ll add it to my library list! Thank you!
Love the idea of #tenpagesaday. I’ve just added This is the Story of a Happy Marriage to my list. It sounds wonderful, especially as a newly married person! I’ve been pondering When Breath Becomes Air for a long time but I’m scared by how heartbreaking it will be. I recently finished Euphora by Lily King and it’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages.
It can be almost a curse when I don’t have one, but I can’t sleep without having read some pages of a book. I’ve found since becoming a mum I can’t take gritty books full of unlikeable characters. This seems to rule out a lot of book but I cant wait to look up your suggestions as I adored the Rosie Project!
I love to read and I felt I was missing out or feeling guilty for wasting time so I found audio books. I still love to turn real pages at night. But I steal precious minutes listening whilst doing mundane duties carrying my phone in my pocket (pegging out, folding washing or waiting at sport pick ups etc). I am listening to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and she is reading her own book this is an unexpected benefit…hearing an author read her own work. It might be another option for the time poor. I have also just recently read Past the Shallow by Favel Parrett and Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. I wouldn’t recommend them back to back as I did as they are both quite heavy. Still they are the type of books you think about long after you have finished. Happy reading/listening everybody!