I adore books. I know; that’s a really shocking statement from an author. I love starting a new story, getting to know the characters and then slowly becoming so obsessed with it that you’d happily ignore family members for a few days so that you can finish it. However, what I don’t love is the pressure that sometimes surrounds reading.
I’ve spoken many blog posts ago about the pressure I have felt in regard to reading classic literature even though they are not stories that I’m usually drawn to and I think that intensity can also be applied more generally. How many times have you seen someone you follow on Instagram tell you that you HAVE to read X, Y or Z? Or when the ‘Top Books of 2020’ type lists are released and you immediately start ticking off the ones you think you should buy? I am not knocking recommendations by any stretch of the imagination; I treasure a friend who tells me of a book they think I’ll enjoy and I really think it’s a gift you can give to someone. Pressure to read is an entirely different beast. During lockdown I have to a certain extent placed this pressure on myself as much as anything or anyone else has. I think a lot of us have thought that this is the perfect time to make our way through our ‘To Read’ lists as, in theory, we have less distractions. I have tried and I’ve managed to tick off two but for some reason that feels like a failure (never mind that I’ve been busy with work and trying to format my own paperback!) However, I think it’s quite clear that time we choose to take off for ourselves is very different from time we are forced to take off. I think the worst part of this ‘reading pressure’s is that it actually comes from ourselves. As much as we want to say that we’ve read a book on the Times bestsellers list does it actually matter if it’s not something we want to read? When I was a child like most of the globe’s ankle biters I was in love with the Harry Potter books. As soon as a new book came out I would beg my mum to make sure she bought it for me asap and then it would almost be a race between my schoolfriends and I as to who could read it first. I vividly remember my mum telling me that I should be reading because I enjoy it, not because I need to run into school and tell my friends that I’ve finished the book. This is something I regularly try to remind myself of. On a personal note I have tried my best to ensure that none of my friends have felt like they have had to read my book. I am so grateful that they want to be supportive and it means so much that so many have proofread or bought the book (and it’s even lovelier when they say they like it) but I understand that it won’t be for everyone. When someone says it’s on their list and they’ll eventually get around to it, I really don’t mind! I would much rather people choose to read it on their own terms, at their own pace and only if they want to. So if like me you are feeling the weight of many an unread book gathering dust on your shelf just relax! The books will still be there when you’re ready to give them your full attention and right now I honestly feel like our priorities should just be to get through the day however feels right for us. Stories are meant to absorbed, explored and, hopefully, enjoyed. The whole experience will be tainted if its motivated by pressure; it’s far better to hunker down with a cuppa and a book when your mind is ready for it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
January 2023
Categories
All
|