The COVID-19 pandemic brought many things to me—a sizeable collection of hand sanitizer, a basket full of colourfully patterned masks and the realization that toilet paper is apparently deemed necessary during a flu-like virus. However, one unexpected thing it brought me was a newfound obsession with reading.
I decided to pick up a dusty book stuffed in the depths of my closet. That day, I finished the book within hours. Among the mindless scrolling and show-binging, I had forgotten how amazing it was to be transported to another world using only words from a page and my own imagination. I picked up another book after that, and another and another, until I somehow reached 65 books in six months and had a reputation where I was known for reading. I would get asked all the time “How do you read so much?” and “How do you read so quickly?” I soon realized I had developed techniques and tricks to read as much as I did without even realizing it. So, without further ado, here are my tips and tricks to reading faster.
- you don’t have to read classics
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Many people take reading to be an academic hobby but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are so many different genres and subgenres to read, as well as authors with different writing styles. When I got back into reading, I let myself read cheesy romance novels from middle school to begin with and ignored the fantasy recommendations from friends. There is no shame in picking up a novel with a half-naked man on the cover rather than Moby Dick. Play around with different genres until you discover what’s right for you. The more you read what you like, the quicker you’ll read the books and the more books you’ll end up getting through.
- books come in many different formats
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When people think about books, the picture of a paperback novel comes to mind. However, there are so many different types of books to explore. A paperback is an obvious first option and can be purchased at bookstores, thrift stores and online. However, another option is an e-reader which some people find easier to read with. Something like a Kobo or a Kindle is small and can fit within a purse for on-the-go reading in between classes or on the bus. Books tend to be cheaper electronically and e-readers come with a built-in dictionary, where difficult words within novels can be highlighted and defined easily. My personal favourite way to get a few extra books in is through audiobooks. Everyone carries their phone with them and listening to books often allows a person to comprehend every word easier than reading off a page would. You can easily put in headphones and listen to a book on your way to campus, while doing laundry or even getting some exercise in. There are typically free apps like Libby that connect to your library account, and you can rent out audiobooks for free to download onto your phone.
- set aside time to read
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When life got busy post-pandemic lockdown again, reading time was limited. In order to maintain the amount of reading I wanted to do, I had to specifically set aside a time to read every day. For me, this was one hour every morning before I started my day and two hours every night before I went to bed. This may seem like a lot of time, but the beginning and end of your day are typically spent mindlessly on your phone and could be better spent soaking up the pages of a romance novel.
- social media will be your best friend
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Now ignore everything I stated about mindless scrolling and pick up your phone. There are endless platforms dedicated to books and book recommendations. The book-side of TikTok and YouTube is rapidly growing. There you can find any recommendations and reading tips you may need. There are also sites like Goodreads, specifically made for you to track your reading and give you recommendations based on books you have previously read and loved. Eventually, you’ll have an endless “TBR” (to be read) pile of books you can’t wait to enjoy.
- Personal recommendations
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Reading 65 books in a short span of time has made me become an amateur book recommendation specialist. Here is a list of books I recommend to those getting back into reading or picking up a book for the first time.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover (Romance)
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (Romance)
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (Romance)
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (Romance)
November 9 by Collen Hoover (Romance)
Verity by Colleen Hoover (Thriller)
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical fiction)
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Dystopian)
Books can be like mini movies played inside your head if enjoyed properly. Ignore the distractions and stress of the world by picking up a book, listening to an audiobook or catching up on book-recommendation TikToks. The world of reading has become a captivating one for me in a time of pure boredom and it’s a world that I’m hoping to pass on to others as well.