I’m not usually one to set New Year’s resolutions. I’ve found that resolving to be better occurs to me throughout the year, never at the convenience of the calendar. But, in 2021 I took more pleasure in reading than ever before (what a gift!) and as I reflected on my literary experiences, I vowed to read more intentionally, more purposefully. So, I created reading resolutions, mostly to remind me of the joy I find in consuming all kinds of writing.
Read Widely
There was a time I read only novels. I had very little understanding of literary diversity. But then I started reading the newspaper. I saw journalism in a new light; not just the reporting of facts, but in the persuasive way a narrative unfolded. Little by little, my world view expanded and with every morning newsletter, a link to an essay or an opinion editorial helped me see new perspectives, new ideas. I was introduced to poetry, which I now read daily. Nonfiction, short fiction, flash fiction, essay collections, anthologies…all beckon me from the bookshelf.
And, I don’t just aim to read myriad genres, but to read writers whose voices I need to hear, those with experiences unlike my own. I want to read stories that lull me into imaginative places, and I want to read interviews with compelling people and I want to read memoirs of the afflicted. All to expand my own creativity and my own curiosity.
Keep a Reading Journal
How many times have I closed the cover on a book and forgotten about it? How many times have people asked me for book recommendations, only to draw a blank? This year, I bought a basic notebook and have committed to writing my thoughts down about (almost) everything I read. In particular, for every book I read, I’ll write a little synopsis and how I responded to the story, the writing, the characters. For articles and shorter pieces, I’ll jot down what struck me as interesting or memorable.
Annotate
Last year, I started reading with a pencil and highlighter in hand. As a writer, I learn a great deal from reading. I highlight great sentences; those with emotion and detail and meaning beyond the words. I dog-ear pages I want to re-read, I scribble notes in margins that convey my thinking or my confusion. I circle words I need to look up and underline textual “clues.” This makes it easy to flip back through pages for reference.
Of course, this means my e-reader is collecting dust on the shelf, but I’ve found this strategy has enhanced my own writing abilities and allowed me to savor my reading experiences just a little more.
Abandon with Cause
I’ve never been above abandoning a book I don’t like. There is far too much good reading available to spend time in misery. In the last year, I only gave up on one book and I spent time writing down what it was I didn’t appreciate. The story unfolded at a painfully slow pace while the writer delved deeply into her characters. I found both characters detestable (as the author intended), but I couldn’t get invested in their plight. I didn’t care what happened to them, it turned out. This information is also incredibly useful for a writer, too. To understand what doesn’t work is as critical as knowing what does.
Read Slowly
At the start of every year, I notice bookish people tend to create reading challenges, either for themselves or their book groups. Or, readers make a commitment to read a certain number of books per year or so many pages a month. I dislike this strategy as it compels a reader to race quickly through their lists to achieve an arbitrary target.
Instead, I aim to read more slowly this year. To take in every word, to appreciate the structure of a sentence, the power of a paragraph, the intention of a chapter. Particularly in dialogue, I want to spend time really hearing a character’s voice, even though it’s tone and cadence is entirely of my own invention.
I’ve tried not to burden myself with these objectives. I find that reading more deeply only enhances the experience, my relationship with literature growing more fulfilling every day.
Do you make resolutions? Are any of them reading-related? Do you have a strategy for appreciating literature on a deeper level? Let us know!
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