Reading is more than a hobby. For many of us, it is a way to unwind, make sense of the day and feel connected to other people, even when life feels “a bit much”.
Over the last few years, book clubs and reading groups have become even more popular, both in person and online. Local libraries, u3a groups and community centres regularly host them, and there are now plenty of ways to join in from home too.
If you love the idea of getting lost in a good book, but are not sure where to start, how to find recommendations, or worry that long reading sessions strain your eyes, there are lots of simple options that can help.
Reading can:
Whether you’ve run out of shelf space, don’t want to have to hold a heavy hardback when lying in bed, or like to travel and don’t have room in your bag for a selection of books, an e-Reader could be the solution.
There are e-Readers available for pretty much every budget, such as the Kindle PaperWhite, Kobo Libra 2, and the waterproof Kindle Oasis. If you don’t want to spend money on an e-Reader but would prefer to read on a screen then you can download software that can be used on phones, tablets, and computers/laptops to make reading an e-Book possible.
Even better, if you don’t want to buy new books to read on the e-Reader, in recent years, the facilities offered by local libraries have expanded to include the newer technology. Now you can order e-Books for download via apps like Libby, and BorrowBox.
The applications used vary by county, so if in doubt, check your library website or speak with a librarian to find out which ones work with their library catalogue.
Another alternative to reading physical books is audio books. These can work quite well if you suffer regularly from eye strain, or your vision is impaired.
With the advent of services like Audible, audiobooks are easy to get hold of, and with an increase in popularity, libraries have now added audiobooks to their catalogue. They are available to reserve and consume for free via applications like Libby and BorrowBox.
With so many books hitting the shelves in bookshops and libraries (on what might feel like a daily basis) it can be quite overwhelming when you want to find a new book to read or a new author to try. So where do people go for recommendations?
Word of mouth
Recommendations from friends, and people in your regular book club are a great place to start.
Online
Both Instagram and YouTube are home to a strong and active book community. Publishers regularly post information about new books and readers share short reviews and links as part of the Bookstagram community. Over on YouTube, readers post hundreds of videos recommending and reviewing many genres.
YouTube and Instagram are both free to join and use.
Podcasts
There are a lot of podcasts on platforms such as Spotify, iTunes and Amazon Music promoting reading. Whatever genre you’re interested in (fantasy, horror, thriller), you’ll be able to find a podcast that covers your interests. Podcasts are free to download or stream on many different services.
If you love to read books and have been struggling to find a book club where your favourite genre is discussed then sites like Meet-up and Bookclubs, as well as your local council directories should be your first port of call. Using these resources, you will be able to learn more about clubs not only in your area, but also virtual. Every month more book clubs are set up and as well as being a great place to share your love of books, they are a fantastic way to meet new people who share your interests.
Reading is a great leveller. If you’re planning to move or have recently relocated to a new area and you love to read, then joining a book club or your local library can introduce you to new people and expand your social group.
Joining a new social group can be an overwhelming part of moving, but with a love of books in common, things can be that much easier and there are always so many new (and old) books to talk about.
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