At home, my Mum has what we call the library room. It is possibly one of my favourite places on earth. There are rows and rows of the books she’s read, and there’s so many she’s collected over the years that they line the shelves in her study now, too! Growing up, I soon discovered I shared her love of books. I read everything and anything, finding myself with a particular soft spot for the Jacqueline Wilson books and later on, eagerly waiting at the post box when the new Harry Potter books were due out for delivery…
When my mental health issues struck, there was literally, seemingly, nothing I could do to escape my own head. I have a very vivid memory of being sat on the sofa, having arbitrarily re-picked up the Goblet of Fire which I probably hadn’t read for at least ten years. I finally was momentarily distracted from everything whirring round in my head, and lost in a different world.
These were the only books I could concentrate on for some bizarre reason. Then, out of nowhere, my ‘ability’ to concentrate on reading, or at the task at hand, disappeared. I just couldn’t concentrate. I started book after book – most of which would have usually sucked me in and seen me mining every spare moment to squeeze in a chapter, staying up late at night to finish whatever mystery I was deep in to. In the end, I could barely get to the end of chapter one of anything, so I just sort of… gave up.
Eventually, I accepted that reading wouldn’t be the type of escapism I could look to any more. As I started to read more blogs, I read a lot of book reviews and found myself missing the chance to read. I joined the Blogger Book Nook run by the lovely Abbey and Tabitha. It’s a closed Facebook Group (but any one can join!) and I decided to ‘lurk’ in the group to see what people were posting and follow along. As the recommendations poured in I decided to try again.
Not masses of reading ability flooded my way. I tried one or two but couldn’t get into them (I’m still struggling through The Power!). I enjoyed the Blogger Book Nook wholeheartedly and loved reading everyone’s reviews. Then recently, one of my girlfriends came to visit and left The Magpies by Mark Edwards. I was HOOKED. For the first time in ages, I found myself sucked into a whirlwind in a different world.
Then, a few days later when my birthday rolled round, my Mum had obviously had one of her psychic Mum moments and brought me a kindle for my birthday – as well as the beautiful illustrated Harry Potter books. Mum has been a kindle advocate since she bought hers – I think at the request of my Dad, who was up to his eyeballs in books!
I’m so glad my Mum and I share a love of books , and I’m so, so happy that I’ve really gotten back into reading again. The reading prompt for The Blogger Book Nook this month is Book Swaps. The Lovely Hels recommended ‘I Am Pilgrim’ for me to download, and I started it (in daylight!). I think I’ll have to try hard quite this one – its a bit out of my comfort zone, but I can’t wait to finish it and chat with Hels about it.
I’ll treasure the beautiful illustrated copies of Harry Potter forever – I can’t wait to read them to my children in years to come.
Meanwhile I can’t recommend the Kindle enough! Its simple to use and whilst yes, I do miss the feel of a ‘proper’ book, I love how easy the kindle makes it for me to take a whole library of books with me wherever I go!
As you can probably tell – I’m looking to really compensate for all my lost reading time! What are your favourite books? Please do share your recommendations with me!
This brought such a smile to my face! Reading is the most amazing thing, it’s such an escape, it can take you anywhere. My parents have always been big readers and I’m so glad they passed that down to me, and now I’m trying to do the same with Dougie. I’m so glad you’ve started I Am Pilgrim, I can’t wait to discuss it with you! Other books I’d highly recommend are The French Lieutenant’s Woman and the Newsflesh trilogy!
Gorgeous post and photos 📚💕🌷
Hels xx
http://www.thehelsproject.com
Author
Yaaay! I’m so glad you recommended I A P, I absolutely loved it! Discussing it with you has been so fun! I actually read The French Lieutenant’s Woman but for English A Level and our teacher was awful so we all hated it, but I think I liked the basic plot line, so am going to revisit! Will check out Newsflesh trilogy, too!
Kate x
I’m so happy you’ve found a love of reading again. Your family home sounds magical, I would love a library room. I’ve just finished reading The Power and it’s amazing, maybe give it a break and come back to it at some point. My favourite book is The Midnight Circus, I loved getting lost in that world. Happy reading!
Steph x
http://www.wanderlustpulse.com
Author
It’s such a cosy home I absolutely love being back here! I’m going to revisit the power as everyone has been recommending it – I will for sure check out the midnight circus, too!
Kate x
This was such a cute read! I honestly used to read so much when I was younger, my mum thought I was addicted to it at a point (She was also when very young), but once university started I just sort of stopped and would end up reading 1 book a year in the summer. Recently, I’ve downloaded Audible and have been trying to get back into reading that way!
http://skylish.co.uk
Author
Awww thank you Kemi! I’m into Audible too! It’s so great for the commute isn’t it?!
Kate x
Reading is definitely an escape for me too and it just such a positive way of passing time as well as educating yourself. I’ve always felt a Kindle would be so good to have as it saves much space when taking it around and gives you more variety when travelling but I just can’t help myself want to hold a real book!
Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk / http://www.foodandbakertravels.co.uk
Author
Isn’t it lovely? It’s so useful having a kindle as its so much lighter to carry in my rucksack! 🙂
Kate x
I can’t think of anything better than a library room! I really want one just like your mum’s in my house when I grow up hehe 😉 I am so glad that the Blogger Book Nook has been part of the reason that you’ve taken up reading again, I have so much fun coming up with reading prompts with Tabitha and it makes my day every time that anyone interacts in the Facebook group and gets chatting about books! I definitely have had times in my life where I just have not been able to sit down and concentrate on reading, so I can certainly relate to your feelings here! It’s only in the past 6 months or so that I actually done some serious reading again (well – reading for pleasure!) and like you say, it really is a wonderful past time for distracting you and immersing you in a whole new world! Your mum did do a fantastic job with your bookish birthday presents, I do have a Kindle but I need to actually find it, oops!
Abbey x
Author
Hahah the library room is the dream!The Book Nook is awesome and such a fun way to kind of participate in a Book Club with lots of opportunity to read what you like but also participate in discussions! It’s such a lovely way to relax. You’ll have to find your Kindle, mine is so handy its like having a mini library in my bag!
Kate x
Your mum buying you a Kindle for your birthday is so wonderful, lucky girl! I haven’t had that feeling of falling in love with a book in such a long time, I hope that I get it again soon. Thank you for sharing 🌸✨
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
Author
She is such an awesome Mum! She always knows exactly what to buy! You should join Blogger Book Nook on Facebook – it’s great!
Kate x
I was so against kindles when my Mum bought me one a few years ago but I soon grew to love reading on it. I’ve got so many books stored on there that I really want to get reading. I’ve been terrible at making the time to read for months now – I blame blogging! I love getting stuck into a good book so I hope I start making the time again soon x
Jenny | Luxestyle
Author
I know what you mean, I def miss the feel of books but I have lots of favourites and will still buy print copies of my favourite books! Haha I know what you mean, I’ve often substituted a book read for a quick blog read instead!
Kate x
Wooop, I’m SO glad you’re back into reading again! I go through phases of not wanting to read anything (annoyingly, I’m in that phase right now) and it sucks being a book blogger with no urge to read. I think I maybe need to choose something else for a bit, maybe something short, to get me back into it. By the way, your mum’s library room sounds like the best place ever!
Author
Yay! I’ve been so inspired by blogs like yours! I think that’s the trick, a short digestible read to get back into the swing and then before you know it, you’re back into it!
Kate x
Reading is such an amazing thing. There is nothing quite like getting lost in a good book, in a new world and just feeling like you are in the story!
Author
I totally agree!
Kate x