These past few years I’ve really tried to make reading a priority and increase the amount of books I’ve read. The thing I love about reading is that it forces you to relax and calm your mind, so it can be filled with all sorts of other things: humor, knowledge, advice.
I forget how necessary and helpful it is for me to unwind through books. So making books a priority has been awesome. But I’ve been just as busy as ever, so sitting down to curl up with a book isn’t always an option {although I do still try to do that often!}. So here are some simple ways to read more this year that I’ve used in the past.
Audio books
This has been, hands down, the easiest way for me to increase the number of books I’ve read {or technically books that have been read to me, but I digress!}. I listen when I’m traveling. I listen when I’m gardening. And I listen when I’m cooking.
I also listen when I’m taking a walk. So many thousands of chapters listened to via audio books! I just recently read that the number of books read per year has started to climb now that digital and audio books are more readily available and commute times have increased!
Hoopla Digital is available for free via {some} local libraries as well as Amazon, which offers a 30 Day FREE trial for Audible with over 150,000 titles to choose and you can listen with the FREE Audible app on your smartphone or tablet.
Digital books
Have you ever tried to rent eBooks from your library? Most have a limit to how many you can borrow at a time, but do not limit how many times per month you check books out!
So the sky’s the limit. If you don’t have access to a library with a digital catalog, there are still great cheap or free options. Kindle Unlimited is an awesome service! You have unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of books. You can sign up now for a FREE 30 day trial of Kindle Unlimited, and cancel anytime during that 30 day period without being charged a dime.
Plus, if you sign up now you have access to Audible.com for free for 3 months. So that means you have unlimited access to every single audio title they carry. Not too shabby! Also, each month, Amazon Prime members can download and keep one free book from their Kindle First selection of six pre-released picks.
Book clubs
Join a book club or gather up some of your book-loving friends and start your own. It’s not only fun to explore some great books, it’s also fun to socialize while doing so {so I’ve heard}! You might only increase your book reading by one book, but that’s one more than before, so it might be worth it.
Used book stores
Anytime I walk into a used bookstore, I want to buy so. many. books. It is an amazing place to get inspired to read. And there are often comfy couches or cute nooks where you can curl up and read until your heart’s content! Plus, just the smell alone of used books stores makes me happy.
And there are just a few ways to increase your page totals this year. Now I need to know what you’re reading. Lay some book recommendations on me. What are the last few books you’ve read? Did you love them? How did you read them? Physical book? Kindle? Audio book? I’m ready to be inspired so I want to hear what you’re reading.
Read on,
~Mavis
Antje says
I’m reading a series from Martin Walker about Bruno, who is a policeman in rural France. Easy to read murder mysteries, mixed in with French lifestyle, food and wine. Very entertaining. First book: Bruno, chief of police.
Can’t wait to hear some of your recommendations.
Antje.
Janet Howard says
Sounds good. I’ll try her.
Barbara says
Thank you! Had never heard of this series. Immediately downloaded the eBook at my local library:-)
jackie klish says
I get free audiobooks from Overdrive through my library. You can also get kindle books, order books, and I can check out 10 titles at a time.
Janet Howard says
Just listening to a book from Hoopla, an old private eye series I used to love. Put authors name in search for fun and they have the whole series of his books. Nice surprise as they were written years ago. Ross MacDonald’s, Lew Archer.
Richelle Krienke says
Right now I’m reading “Daring to Drive” by Manal al-Sharif. It’s the autobiographical account of one woman’s life growing up Saudi Arabia, including being jailed for violating religious customs by driving. It’s intense, heart breaking, and eye opening. And should be required reading. Also just finished listening to comedian Jim Gaffigan’s books, “Food: A Love Story” and “Dad is Fat.” Funny. Had a hard time exercising to the latter two as I almost fell off the treadmill from laughing.
Wendy says
I love used book stores! If you are moving anywhere near Massachusetts, check out the Book Bear in East Brookfield http://www.thebookbear.com/ Every May my friend and I go to the Asparagus and Heritage Flower Festival in West Brookfield and then head over to the Book Bear to shop. I never leave empty handed!
bobbi says
I am reading the Little House books. Love them. I have to hold them in my hands though. The only time I listen to books, is if I am traveling. š
Patty P says
I get most of my books from the library. I used to like to buy all of the books that I read, but the reality is, once I read a book, I’ll probably never read it again (with the exception of a few!). Many books that I see here on your website I request through my library. I also got some books from one of my co-workers, and I’ve been enjoying them. I’m currently reading the series “The Californians” by Lori Wick. There are four books in the series. It takes place in the 1800’s and is Christian Fiction. I’ve really been enjoying it and have been flying through it.
As an ELA teacher (English Language Arts) I made it a priority to include SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) into each class. Students have really been enjoying this. I’ve had many comments about how they have actually been able to finish a book in a reasonable amount of time due to time to read each class (about 15 minutes per 50 minute class). Since the kids are reading, and I need to be a good role model, I read too. Sometimes it’s Education based reading, but a lot of times it’s whatever book I am currently working on for pleasure. I’ve also been able to recommend series to students and we talk a lot more about the books that they are reading. I’m hoping to instill a love and appreciation for learning in these 7th and 8th grade kids!
KC says
That is so cool! Thank you for teaching!
Jane says
Mavis, what kind of books do you like to read? Fiction, nonfiction, what?
Mavis Butterfield says
Autobiographies are my favorite.
PD says
Just today, I finished Trevor Noah’s autobiography _Born a Crime_. Wow! It’s always fascinating to read autobiographies of people who grew up in such different situations from my own. A great way to broaden one’s world view!
Loretta says
I borrowed this for my 15 year old son. He’s enjoying it so far!
Katherine says
I check out books in all formats from the library when they have what I’m wanting to read. I did the 30 free days of Kindle Unlimited and I kept track of what the books would have cost me to buy. In 30 days I would have “spent” almost as much as the cost of Kindle Unlimited. So it was a no brainer to buy the yealy subscription when Amazon was offering it at a 33% discount during the holidays. I’ve more than made up the cost and love the fact that I have access to audiobooks with the program.
Kate says
Lots of book blogs have book giveaways all the time. I have a weekly book giveaway on my blog, One Thrifty Reader. This week I’m giving away a copy of FORCE OF NATURE, the new thriller by Jane Harper. Next week I’m giving away a copy of SUNBURN, the new suspense novel by Laura Lippman. Two librarians with book blogs who give away lots of books are Lesa Holstine and Stacy Alesi. And the biggest book giveaway site is Goodreads, of course.
Judy T says
I was at an auction last week and purchased 3 boxes of books (53! books) for $21. There are a variety of topics including, knitting, weaving, dyeing, chickens, gardening and more!
KC says
If you don’t like library due dates, library book sales are also great for cheap reads – there’s usually a “bag sale” on the last day, and for whatever they pick as the bag cost, you can stuff it full (if you are more selective about what you want, though, go for the earlier days to improve your odds). They’re usually not as easy to find specific books in as used book stores are (because library books are often just sorted very loosely/not-always-accurately by genre), but the books are cheap, you’re giving your money to the library, and when you don’t want the book anymore you can re-donate it – win-win-win. š
And there’s at least one library book sale, in a suburb north of Chicago, that really *is* like a giant used book store – they’ve taken over an old, replaced library building, take in donations all year, and *sort it all year* so that when you go, the books are beautifully sorted by author, etc. But that’s not the norm – but especially if you’re just looking for categories, not specific books/authors, library book sales are great to browse.
Carrie says
I like using goodreads.com to find out what my friends are reading or recommend. I have always enjoyed reading but rarely read after college. I started to read on my lunch breaks over a year ago and can usually finish a book in two weeks. Last year I read 20 books! I just started the Longmire mystery series by Craig Johnson. I loved the TV show Longmire so I figured why not read the books?
90% of the time I use my library to download digital books or pick up print copies. There are a few “little free libraries” in my neighborhood that I like to checkout every now and then.
Lilypad says
I read a ton while I wait for my teenage son during classes he takes in a different town. (He doesn’t have a license yet so I drive him.) That gives me a couple of hours per day that I have to kill and reading is my favorite way to do it. I almost always read library books. We moved a lot and I got rid of most of my books, plus library books are free and practically endless. And if I don’t like a book, I stop reading and give it back, guilt-free. If I find something I really like (especially cookbooks, I check them out first from the library), I’ll buy it from a used bookstore on online. I’ve only bought one or two *new* books in the last several years. I’m not a fan of e-readers (we have a hand-me-down from my MIL) because I like to hold an actual book in my hands, and I’m really not a fan of audio books. I just don’t process information well that way.
Loretta says
Hi Mavis,
Please, please read “Standard Deviation” by Katherine Heiny. I read a LOT (150+ books a year) and it is hands down one of my favourite books of all time. So very funny. I don’t usually buy new books as I am a huge library user, but it was a Christmas present to myself.
My son and I took a road trip last year and were absolutely enthralled by “Mao’s last dancer” on audiobook, though you’ve probably read it already.
Mavis Butterfield says
I just requested it from the library! Thanks Loretta.
Sue says
I read mostly from my kindle right now with the pandemic going on. I have Amazon Prime and use the Unlimited source, I really like holding a book to read. I can borrow 10 books and return as I read, all covered under my membership. We are not able to go in the library right now to check out books. Iām the sole caretaker of my husband, reading is my sanity. Always had a big love of reading.
Sandra says
I can’t listen to books and remember anything (I have enough of a problem listening to YouTube speakers!), but I do love to read. I have the free Kindle app (thanks Mavis!) and download books there. I think the last book I read was all of the Little Women-related ones (all 3). I think I’m going to look for a good (real life) mystery book next.