My parents have always insisted that I read. Now, looking back, I’m thankful for all the hard work and effort they put into trying to get me to read. At uni, life can be overwhelming. Taking the time to sit down and immerse yourself in a book, in someone else’s story, can help to slow everything down. That’s part of what I love about reading.
There truly are books that everyone will love, and with second-hand books easily available it’s affordable and accessible. Above all, for me, it’s a great way to de-stress and engage in a (much needed) bit of self-care.
Relax, unwind and escape
I love exploring different characters and building up an image of someone in my mind from a description. Reading has always felt very personal to me, as I often end up imagining I’m there with all the characters in the story – it’s pure escapism, A break from real-life.
This is especially helpful when I find Uni stressful or overwhelming. I find that reading, when I’m anxious enables me to take a step back, and gives me some perspective. Suddenly, everything doesn’t seem quite as scary or huge – particularly if one of the characters has just been killed!
Read what you enjoy – but don’t be afraid to explore!
My favourite genre of books is murder mysteries. Even though I haven’t quite yet cracked War and Peace or any Dickens, reading widely has made me feel more well-educated. Quite frankly though, I’m not envious of my dad, who has been struggling through War and Peace for the best part of a year. I’m quite happy with my Agatha Christie murder mysteries, thank you very much. My advice is to just go for something that’s realistic and you actually want to read, you’ll get the most of that anyway.
That said, I do think there’s value in exploring and that the actual act of reading is worthwhile. Imagine my face when my parents got me a book called ‘The Periodic Table’ for my birthday. Inevitably, when I read it, it was a great book, and not at all what I had expected. Credit where credit is due to my parents there, not least for the bravery to present that to a sceptical teenage girl. The lesson – give every book a try – you never know! I’m just not one for struggling through something I can’t get into.
Feeling smart – the added bonus
As much as I hate to admit it, all the adults who have told me over the years that reading improves your vocabulary, and will improve your writing skills, were, of course, absolutely correct. This has helped me in many ways, from the history coursework I’ve done, to the great sense of self I felt when I understood what a man talking to me at the pub meant when he used the word ‘cantankerous’.
So yes, reading is great because it can give you bragging rights about the longest word you know, or will make you more educated and interesting, but really the true value of reading is being able to absorb yourself into another world and enjoy a great story!
So, why not grab a drink, grab a book and take a break?