My reading routine

If us readers are known for anything, it’s our love of books… I bet you didn’t see that one coming! We love to jump into fiction and preferably just stay there. As an avid reader, of which I have been my whole life, I thought it would be valuable information to share with you my reading process from start to finish. 

If I was a BookTuber, this would definitely work better as a vlog, but we must work with the talents we have… or the blog we have I suppose!

Step 1

I am ready to pick a book. I may take some time deciding over my book, or maybe I know exactly what I want to read next. I browse my shelves which are organised in a relatively logical way to help with my decision making, plug to my bookshelf organisation blog post. 

When picking a book I don’t hold myself down with a set TBR. I just choose the one I fancy the most. 

Step 2 

So I’ve picked my book? Now it’s time to put it next to my bed and forget about it for a good 12 to 24 hours. Seriously though, before the story has hooked me, I have a hella lot less motivation to pick up the damn book. Usually, I’ll start a new book in the evening before bed because I always read before bed so I know I’ll be keen to pick the book up.

Step 3

This can really go one of two ways:

The book I’ve selected is amazing and I’m totally hooked. I can’t put it down, it is the definition of a page-turner. When I’m not with the book I think about it, when I’m with it I think about it. It is perfection. 

OR

The book is okay, I can see it’s decent, but I’m not obsessed. I don’t really fancy picking it up very often and so THE READING SLUMP threatens to push its way in. At this stage, I will either continue with the book and hope it gets better, switch to the audiobook version and cross my fingers or I will DNF the book. BAN DNF SHAME! 

Step 4

In an ideal world, I have a lovely sunny day, I’m free for the weekend and I have no one to disturb me. So I take a stroll out to my swinging chair in the garden, set myself up with a bottle of water and I read. This is a great way for me to get most of my reading done. I definitely lose track of the time and I’m much less distracted by my phone. 

Step 5

Finishing the book. A difficult time for some. The moment I read the last page I know it’s all over. I tend to read the acknowledgements just so it doesn’t have to end yet. This stage can often be the saddest for a bookworm. We have allowed ourselves to be captured by a fictional world and now we have to leave it. We realise we have to find another book to read, we have to move on. It is a difficult time for many. 

Step 6

This step can happen seconds, minutes, days, weeks or sometimes months later, or not at all. This is the review stage. Where I take to my notebook or laptop and type up my thoughts and feelings on the book I have just finished. This can often involve classical music blaring in my ears so I feel all epic. Or it involves a quiet room with no distractions. Some reviews come easily, others do not. 

And that is the 6 steps of reading. May you read long and happily.