Getting more from your reading

The title is a little tongue-in-cheek, but if you are an avid reader, you may be looking for more ways to enjoy reading aside from the obvious. Prolonging the reading experience – or snatching little reminders of that amazing adventure story you stayed up late reading – is sure to bring even more joy into the cosy hobby (or lifestyle, if you’re that was inclined).

We’re probably not going to have enough time to cover absolutely everything, but there will be some initial tips to get started, and maybe this will become a series so you could pick up a few more! Likewise, experimentation is key so it may be worth giving a few ideas a go!

Background check

‘Wow, what a great book!’ The special edition gilded cover closes – now what? If you really liked a book, try looking up the author to see more of their work and showing them support in their other projects! You could keep up to date with their social media and see if there are any sneaky excerpts being posted, or get familiar with their process by listening to interviews, articles, or other information about them. 

Research

If there was a key aspect of a book you liked, do some searching to learn more about it! Historical settings, specific areas or any other tidbits can be explored in more detail – and you may end up delving into a really interesting rabbit hole that you may not have discovered otherwise. Words that are new to you, or topics you may not fully understand may take on new meanings once deciphered.

Spread the word

Social media is, undeniably and unavoidably, an amazing communications tool, so why not become the next best promoter of the work? You could even find a like-minded audience and branch out into a fanclub, and create fun art, memes or other shareables. For an offline way of doing so, a book club will be able to discuss intricacies and other literary choices to open a deeper view into a much-loved text.

Reviews

You can go back to school and write a book report or review if you want to start to build a collection. Show them off by publishing online or file them away for your own reference – or you could even start a book log to track a whole year’s worth of reading.

Reading aloud

C.S. Lewis wrote that ’We do not enjoy a story fully at the first reading’ to mean that there are often carefully interwoven alternative meanings or secrets that may be glossed over on first reading. With the benefit of hindsight, or a slower pace as you read aloud, you may find out more than you knew previously. If you really wanted to push the boat out, you could read aloud to someone else, and then discuss their thoughts.

Waiter, there’s an ‘i’ in my soup!

That was a little peek under the covers at some ways to cement your knowledge and have a new approach to reading. Suggestions like these can help you find common ground and further enrich the reading experience!