From Central Rappahannock Regional Library Adult Services Coordinator Tracy McPeck:
Welcome to a new chapter (get it?) of your life.
Are your resolutions honed and polished, just waiting to be broken? Or, do you live on the edge and not bother with resolutions at all? Either way, I’m not here to judge. I am, however, going to suggest some practical tips for reading more in 2019 – because that barely counts as a resolution.
In my younger years, I had an attention span not yet destroyed by the advent of the mobile phone and could devour hundreds of pages in a sitting (albeit a very long sitting; I wasn’t the outdoorsy type). These days, I complain like everyone else that there’s just no time to read, as I scroll through Facebook while binge-watching Netflix. So my first practical tip? You guessed it: Pick up a book whenever you could pick up your phone. Stash a book in your bag, and sneak a peek when you can—in line at the store, while having your car’s oil changed, etc. If you don’t want to carry a book, download an eBook from Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Plus, when an eBook is due, it magically disappears with no fines.
Second tip: Bribe yourself. How? By signing up for CRRL’s winter reading program for adults. All you have to do is read four books in three months (you got this!), and we give you a curvaceous cappuccino mug in a classy cobalt blue. If you’re feeling extra ambitious (it is only January, after all), you can also complete missions for the chance to win movie tickets and free books. Get the full scoop at librarypoint.org/winter.
Third tip: Put the book down. You know, that beloved classic that 99 percent of the population has read and adored, but you secretly can’t stand? I hereby release you from any self-imposed obligation you have to finish every book you start. Life’s too short, and there are too many books you actually want to read. A good rule of thumb is to read to your age: If you’re 50, read the first 50 pages. If the book doesn’t grab you by then, release it into the wild, and move on.
Final tip (for now): Join a book group. You know you’ll read at least 12 books in a year, and the accountability of having to read for a group can really light a fire under your … Anyway, CRRL has book groups at most library branches – and even some at local breweries and coffee shops. If you want something low pressure, try our new Book Chat groups, where you can read what you want and indulge in some literary chit-chat.
Need to know what to read? Visit your local CRRL branch or librarypoint.org for carefully curated lists of books for every interest.
