ways to read a book

Hello, reader. How are you doing? Are you a reader? I was a hardcore reader as a child and teenager. When I became an adult, I developed problems concentrating and more physical pain. Reading is hard for me these days. Zines are lightweight and low commitment. I want to tell you alternative ways to read a book.

Yes, I know some alt ways to read a book, so let me list, in case you need to know for yourself.

in order

Yes, more power to ya, people who read books in order like regular human beings. Go you. Please tell me your favorite part and what you learned! What does this book make you want to read next?

skipping parts

Skip the intro without fail. Skip an essay you don’t like. Definitely skip that long dry chapter about whales in the middle.

backwards

This is a classic alt way to read a book. Backwards can be the last chapter first… The last paragraph, second to the last paragraph, etc.

Backwards can mean you skim for Who Done It, then restart the book from the beginning. Whatever backwards means to you, savor your choice.

random paragraph, poem, sentence

Who says we need to read a whole book? You can open to random paragraphs. You can read a poem here or there. How about just one sentence, and then write in your journal about that one sentence.

opt for the summary

Ming has narcolepsy, and a language-related learning disability as well. Ming is an all-around wonderful being. Before watching a movie, Ming likes to read the wikipedia summary to help them track what’s happening when they actually watch.

Ming is the opposite of people who hate spoilers–Ming seeks out spoilers. I love that about my darling. We can do this with books.

read the number of pages which is your age

I am 49, so I would read to page 49, then decide if I want to continue. My niblings would read much fewer pages. This is a classic “give the book a chance” tool!

breakfast

Probably you’ve heard me say how I read Anna Karenina every morning at breakfast for months, and when I was done with the book, I was bereft. I didn’t know how to eat breakfast.

Wow, it was a bad idea, but it was a good idea. Your breakfast may vary.

book club buddy

I like reading a book with a friend. It’s like book club but only two people. This helps me accomplish reading the book, and it also gives me someone to talk about the ideas with.

Right now my old friend in Canada and I are reading Disability Intimacy, a book of essays edited by Alice Wong.

actual book club

I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed in a book club 13 years ago when Ming and I lived in North Oak Park near Sacramento. My therapist was leading that book club. It was profound to hear perspectives from readers very different from me. That book club blew my mind, and I’m grateful I read Wild which I otherwise would never have read.

The inertia of the group helped me stick with the book. We stayed in motion.

At the time I had just left my second husband, who was a new backpacker. I appreciated learning about backpacking from Wild, and the perspective of a woman.

just look at the pictures

If it’s a book on runes, trying knots, or making talismans, no problem. Just look at the pictures. Maybe read the captions, if you want.

go to the library

I like to read at the library because there are fewer / different distractions. I go there for the explicit purpose of reading, a date with a book.

go to the bookstore

A cute little used bookstore can be nice to read at, if they have chairs and it seems ok to their culture. Find something appealing, read the first chapter, and buy it if you enjoy.

take notes

If I take notes, that helps me feel happier about the investment because there’s something to refer to later. And share with others.

write

Write your own book, if you have one inside. Then you’ll read it a lot while you’re editing.

summary

Ok, what do you think? My whole deal is dropping shame, and doing the standard thing in new ways that work for who we actually are.

Much respect to our differences, challenges, disabilities, and needs. I love you just the way you are.

Do you enjoy other ways to read a book that I missed? Please comment.