I’ve already read a lot, as a child with two parents who both read, one more eclectically than the other and one more into autobiographies which never become my thing. Books have always been part of my life, sometimes as a source of escape from reality, sometimes as a source of information and sometimes just sheer pleasure and to be honest, often a mixture of all three. I grew up surrounded by books and was always encouraged to read. There was always a book in my bag when I commuted to work, and always a book (often a few) on my bedside table. Holidays involved planning carefully which books to take and sometimes co-ordinating with a friend so we could share some of our books.
Then I got COVID and found that my concentration withered. I still bought books but found that I sought solace in books I had read before and often had to re-read books to get all the points. Most irritating, I found it hard to read and remember at the same pace.
Recently I joined a book club, Rebel Book Club https://www.rebelbook.club/, where we are reading one non-fiction book a month. There is an opportunity to join a live session online at the end of month to discuss the book or topic. It seems there actually in-person meet-ups in other countries but not where I am. I’d never joined a book club before, really as I never felt the need and tended always to be reading anyways, but I realised I needed some push or motivation to get back into my reading and to regain what COVID had taken from me. Reading a book a month seemed like a reasonable target. I’m in my fourth month now and enjoying it. It has pushed me to read books that I otherwise would not have known about and cover topics which I otherwise might not have chosen. I am proud to say that I finished 2 of the 3 books within the given month (fourth book in progress, fingers crossed but feeling positive). I am still battling with the book for my second month of membership, Nexus by Yoval Noah Harari, which does not seem to grab my attention as the other books have done.
All in all, I’m pleased that I’ve joined this book club and I feel some satisfaction at having finished some books. The competitive streak in me is also fired up to finish the month’s book within the time frame and not to get left behind.