Some people were born bookworms; from a young age they were frequently found with their heads in one paperback or another. As adults they may love the smell of fresh print from a brand new book, or might admire the binding of a weighty hardback. Their bookshelf at home may proudly display their favourite collections.
There are other people who don’t share the same passion, however. They may not find reading an easy thing to do, or may prefer being out and about. They may have struggled at school or be working their way through a challenging course for university or work. Whether someone loves books or not, there are many ways a person can enhance their experience, and that’s what this article is all about.
Have A Well-Lit Room
People should always be disciplined over how long they read, so they don’t suffer with tired eyes. Natural light is always the best thing, so pull back the blinds or curtains, and let the sunshine in. However, it can be easy for a room to get slowly darker during the day without the avid reader realising.
It’s good to read in a room that has good overhead lighting. People can also consider using table lamps or desk lights in their home or office. They may range from the ultra modern to the classically-chic; from the statuette-style to the exposed bulb lamp. They can combine both beauty and function in one.
Create The Right Atmosphere
It’s not easy to study or read when there are young children present, providing constant interruptions. Ideally a person should be wearing comfortable clothes and seated in a relaxed but supportive position. It can be pleasant to eat a snack whilst reading, but be careful how much you have. When you are concentrating on the book you may be unaware quite how much you are consuming! Better still, measure out a specific quantity of a healthy snack beforehand.
It can feel quite luxurious to read with one hand and hold a glass of wine or a cup of cocoa with the other. Some people may enjoy ambient music playing in the background to provide atmosphere, or the smell of scented candles burning. Others may love reading a book whilst immersed in the bubbles of a warm bath.
Try E-Books
If someone is a keen reader they may swiftly fill their house with books. With the advent of e-books, people have the opportunity to read them using an e-book reader or from their phones or computers using an app such as Kindle. The books can be safely stored in the cloud, and will show which page you were up to.
There are such things as the bookmarking option, and text highlighting. Some apps feature virtual page turning animation as well as the option to scroll.
Beware The Blue Light
Televisions, smartphones and computers all emit a blue light that can be harmful to the eyes. If viewed too much, they can put people at risk of developing macular degeneration. E-readers such as those provided by Kindle emit less blue light, but the levels can still be harmful.
It’s good practice to not view a screen (e.g. to read an e-book) during the hour before bedtime. This is because the light can mess with a person’s circadian rhythm, reducing the production of a person’s natural sleep hormones.
Let The Bots Guide You
Artificial Intelligence is used in an increasing amount of technology today. Anyone who buys a product using Amazon will have come across it. When a person has bought a book, they will be told by Amazon that ‘people who bought this book also bought -’.
This technology maximises the chance of getting a further purchase from you by showing you new books based on your personal buying experience and preferences. It can be an exciting and expensive facility!
Watch The Film Of The Book
Let’s use the Lord of the Rings trilogy for an example. If a person is working their way through the books, they may really enjoy watching the films. They can decide whether the characters are how they imagined them, and whether the films fully follow the plot.
There are many videos on Youtube on the making of the films, and interviews with the actors. They help make the book come alive, and inspire deeper thought.
These are just some of the ways to increase your enjoyment of reading. Added to that are book clubs, library membership, Goodreads.com and many others. Anyone who truly appreciates books is likely to do so for many years to come.