By Jess Shelleman
People are always asking me what I’ve read recently and what I’d recommend, mostly at work, but also sometimes in my “real life.” It’s always a difficult question to answer, because what I’ve been reading recently may not be what I would recommend to the other person.
I read a lot of random books, different genres, different age categories; it’s all over the place. I do 3-4 storytimes every week, so I read children’s picture books all the time. My friends find it hilarious that my Goodreads feed is filled with kids books, but I like to keep track. I also run the ACLS Cozy Reads book group, so every month I read a cozy mystery. Other than that, I read graphic novels (kids and teen mostly), thriller, dystopian, detective, contemporary, magical realism, scifi…if it’s good, I’ll read it.
Since I find it difficult to recommend specific books, I thought I would share a few of my unofficial rules when it comes to reading…
1. Just because EVERYONE loves a book or author, does not mean that you have to like it. A lot of people devour every Colleen Hoover, Freida McFadden, or James Patterson book that comes out, and some people would rather not, and either way is okay.
2. Don’t apologize for what you like to read. Are you an adult who loves reading young adult fiction? Awesome! Is romantasy your jam? Cool! Do you love kids graphic novels? Me too! Read what you want and don’t pay attention to what others think.
3. If you’re not enjoying a particular book, you don’t have to finish it. It took me into my late 30s to allow myself to quit a book. I’d feel guilty for starting something but not finishing. I finally realized that life is too short to waste time reading a book I don’t like. Just this week I quit one book and started another instead. If it’s too slow and you’re just not feeling it, let it go.
4. Listening to audiobooks is reading. I have a friend who thinks listening to audiobooks feels like “cheating,” although I’m not sure who they think they’re cheating against. I spend close to two hours in the car every day, and I would be lost without books to listen to. (FYI, we have Libby for eaudiobooks, and physical audiobook CDs can be found at your local branch library.)
So, what am I currently reading? You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue, Crazy Spooky Love by Josie Silver, Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, and I just finished The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer and Death of a Gossip: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by M.C. Beaton (this month’s cozy mystery).
You may find some of these interesting reads, like I do. But if you don’t, that’s okay; there’s a reason that libraries have thousands of books to choose from. Read what brings you joy.