3 Q's If You Want To Read More
Plus a sprinkle of superiority.
There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from merely existing in New York City. I’ve been here for four days now, and every time I get through another excursion, I feel the biggest sense of accomplishment. A high with a sprinkle of superiority.
I don’t know how y’all do it—the schlepping! The rushing! The overstimulation!
You’re pushing through the crowd in 90-degree heat while inhaling the stench of urine marinating on the sidewalk only to round the corner to the most beautiful piece of awe-inducing architecture you’ve ever seen. It’s disorienting and addicting.
I’m able to handle it knowing that I’m only here for a short period of time, but the hustle and bustle would surely engulf me if I lived here. I always find that traveling makes me that much happier and more grateful to return home.
3 Things To Consider if You Want To Read More
After falling off the wagon in the lead-up to this trip, I’m taking my own advice on how to read more.
Some weeks I read every day. Some weeks I don’t read at all. Some books I finish in three days. Some books I finish in three weeks or even three months. And while I don’t track my reading goals anymore, I can tell if I’m falling behind by the stack that continues to build on the floor next to my nightstand.
If you’re wanting to read more, here are three things to consider that might help you:
1. Do you actually like the book?
The biggest factor of how much I read is also the most obvious:
How much do I actually like the book that I’m reading?
I can tell how great a book is based on how much I’ll inconvenience myself to read it. There are books I’ve read while:
Stirring the pot of boiling water and pasta on the stove
Having motion sickness on a turbulent airplane
Risking spilling while eating
It’s not that you’re a “bad” reader or not reading enough, you just might not like the book that much. And that’s okay! You can pick a different one. Even if you’ve already started reading a book, it’s okay to give up and pick something else.
2. How good is the writing?
On a separate but similar note, the quality of the book itself also helps determine how addictive the book is. I’m saying this as someone who likes some literary slop as much as the next person, but is the writing good?
I’ve noticed that the books I can’t put down are the ones that have intentional cliffhangers at the end of each chapter that lead you to want to know what’s going to happen in the next chapter. It seems obvious, but it’s not something you see in every book.
This was something I particularly noticed in the last Jodi Picoult book I read. By Any Other Name had alternating viewpoints which meant that the cliffhangers were extra edgy—what I wanted to find out wouldn’t be shown to me for another two chapters. And every chapter had a cliffhanger.
You might be drudging through the book because the writing isn’t good, interesting, or engaging. We don’t need to point fingers, we can just close the book and try something else!
This is why I love my local library, because there have been some books I was so excited to read only to have them turn out to be duds. I’m not so bothered by that when I’m easily able to return the book to the library.
Essentially, find the writing style and level of quality that works for you.
3. When do you like to read?
I do the majority of my reading in bed before I go to sleep. It’s like reading myself a little bedtime story, and I love that it prevents me from scrolling on my phone. My mind gets taken off the events of the day, my eyes get tired, and I’m ready to drift off.
I’ve also started reading one chapter in the morning with my espresso before I start working. It quiets and focuses my mind. It also serves as a source of inspiration that doesn’t involve endless scrolling. I’m able to take in ideas and information without having to fry the little receptors in my brain before my day has even started.
Ultimately, find the time of day for reading that what works for you and leave the rest.
Other Things I’m Reading
If this season of Love Island USA proved anything, it’s that Botox and morals are intertwined. This article explains the real reason we hate “bad” Botox.
Have you noticed the book cover trend that’s everywhere right now?
I couldn’t help but wonder…why doesn’t New York City have pissoirs? This issue is very top of mind for me right now as I work overtime to stay hydrated and find a useable bathroom.
Books I Added To My TBR List
You Wanna Be on Top?: A Memoir of Makeovers, Manipulation, and Not Becoming America’s Next Top Model by Sarah Hartshorne: The memoir of a former America’s Next Top Model contestant. Need I say more?
Wanting by Claire Jia: Ye Lian’s childhood best friend comes back into the picture. As they work to rekindle their friendship, secrets come to light that force Lian to challenge her own relationship.
Waiting for Britney Spears: A True Story, Allegedly, by Jeff Weiss: A celebrated journalist recounts his years as a tabloid spy in the underbelly of Los Angeles.
Follow me on Instagram @klvcopywriting!
Thank you for reading Kate Knows Everything. When you purchase something through one of my links in this newsletter, I may earn an affiliate commission. I partner with Bookshop.org, a platform that supports local independent bookstores with every purchase. I also partner with eBay, a great place to buy books both new and old.