a reading question, answered.

  Um, where can I find a t-shirt like this?

After I posted last month’s reading recap, my blog friend Jessica left this comment:

Will you tell us how you go about your reading? I know we all have the same amount of time in a day, but how exactly do you use your time to fit in reading? Like do you read a little here and there or do you set aside chunks of time or what? I am needing a system or something to get myself back on track with my reading. Do you forgo TV or...I don't know...will you help a girl out?

- Jessica, from Becoming

There’s an episode of Gilmore Girls (I’m pretty sure it’s back in season 2) in which Rory is trying to make it to the bus on time. She’s standing in the kitchen with an open backpack, trying to decide which books will fit and which will have to stay home. Lorelai tries to convince her that she doesn’t need all of the books; she can just take a few with her on the bus ride and be fine. Rory looks at her incredulously. She’s got a biography, a novel, a collection of short stories… and she has to take them all, because she doesn’t know what mood she’ll be in on the bus.

Basically, this is me on any given day.

I used to be one of those people who read one book at a time, and was satisfied. I still think that may be the better way, but it’s no longer the method I subscribe to. Now I mostly read two books at a time, one fiction and one non-fiction. I typically finish fiction fare more quickly; non-fiction books take me a while, which is probably why I now read two books at a time. I’m not patient enough to wait to finish the non-fiction book.

As far as finding the time to read, I agree: It’s tough. I carry my books with me in my purse; you just never know when you’ll find a spare moment! This way I have a book ready to go when I’m stuck in traffic or when I’m on my lunch break or when I’m waiting at the doctor’s office. If the book I’m in the middle of is a page-turner (like last month’s Room), I whip it out at every available moment.

Most of my reading time, though, is done at home, in the evenings. Sometimes — though not nearly enough — we turn off the TV and each read our books (Jordan has a goal to finish one book every month this year). Other times, I wind up staying up way past my bedtime reading in bed. (This is probably when I read the most.) Sunday afternoons are another time when a lot of reading takes place.

The truth is that I’m just an avid reader. I read when I really should be doing something else (cleaning the kitchen, folding clothes, working on graphic design projects). My tips for finding time to read?

1. Take a book with you everywhere. (I used to keep “extra” books in my car and in my desk at work.)
2. Turn off the TV.
3. Set a reading goal. (This is what Jordan did to get back into the habit, and so far, so good.)

Hope that helps a little!

So, blog readers, do you have any other reading tips for Jessica? Leave yours in the comments!