I read for comfort and hope, to escape, and to expand my views and to grow.
I’ve been a bookworm since 4th grade (and that was way back in the late 80s) when reading finally clicked. Up until then, reading was a struggle. I remember clearly having to read picture books for 3rd grade book reports while my classmates reported on chapter books. I remember the shame I felt that I wasn’t like the others and my dread because reading was so hard. I had great parental support outside of school and they kept at it until my brain was ready.
I don’t remember much about my reading in 4th grade, but I have vivid memories of my 5th grade teacher’s classroom library and the fluffy beanbags that filled the corner. And my mom was so excited that reading and I had become friends, that she took me to the library whenever I wanted and also let me go hog-wild on Scholastic Book Orders. How I loved those flyers and marking them up. And then there was delivery day when my desk had the tallest stack of books because my mom ordered whatever I had circled on the Scholastic flier–even when money was tight. I didn’t have Guess jeans, but I had a heck of a lot of books.
And since then, reading has been my constant. Like so many readers, I feel off kilter when I don’t get consistent amounts of time to read. And now thanks to audiobooks, I can absorb so many more books. When times are stressful, my reading frequently increases as I inhale book after book to escape.
Over the years my reading tastes have expanded and I read more broadly. I’ll read almost anything except for things that will keep me from sleeping – mostly anything horror or anything happening with kiddos. That’s too much for this mom. Otherwise, I’m game to try anything. I love women’s fiction, romance, humor, young adult, middle grade, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thriller and cozy mysteries. I’ve even read a little science fiction lately and enjoyed the experience. A good book talk can really sell me!
When I was working as a public librarian (both as a children’s librarian and later as a director), two of my very favorite parts of my job were ordering new books for the library’s collection and helping readers find just the right book. It made and still makes my heart happy to connect books and readers and to talk about books with all folks. I started a bookstagram account @sarahcantstopreading a few years ago and decided more recently to start this blog as a bigger space to talk about reading and books and hopefully to connect readers with just the right book and with each other.
Please reach out! Who are you as a reader? Why do you read? I always love getting to know fellow bookworms.
Wishing you many happy reading experiences!
Sarah Can't Stop Reading 