Getting back into reading
I started again about a year ago. Standard story: I used to read a bunch, then smartphones became a thing and now I'm trying to get back into it as a way of replacing digital screens with something physical.
I'm still not reading a lot, but it's been a nice change of pace and it's given me some things to think about.
Libraries are Great
Obviously, but there was an unexpected benefit: strict time limits. Buying books never gave me the motivation to read them. Having to return a book in 3 weeks means I can't just leave it on a shelf forever. I have to read it.
Short Fiction is Great
Long novels take up a lot of time. Short fiction is easier, but I also appreciate the way it's written. Every word matters. Great writers can say so much with so little.
Less focus on stories, more focus on prose
I used read for the stories, but I'm becoming increasingly interested in seeing what wonderful things writers can do with language itself, even if the story itself doesn't raise much interest.
Outside the niche
I used to stick to fantasy and sci-fi. It's what I was into. There's fantastic books within these genres (and I'm still enjoying them!), but there's also fantastic books elsewhere.
I missed reading in my native tongue.
I do too many things English. Most of everything I interact with online is in English. I've been deliberately picking up books in my native tongue. And it's great. It feels comfortable.
Where to go next?
There's a few things I'd like to explore in the following year. Poetry, perhaps. More weird things and foreign fiction. Historical fiction talking about places I know little about: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, South America. Non-fiction talking about art and architecture.
I've also set myself a vague goal of reading a book from every Nobel laureate. It'll probably never happen but it feels like a good way to find new books.