Reading Joy in the Time of Coronavirus

Students struggling to read during the quarantine share these suggestions for sparking reading motivation:

Revisit favorites. One editor friend is rereading his old “Star Trek” paperbacks. Another friend says re-reading books she loves gives her a sense of familiarity and control. “I find comfort in the tried-and-true,” she said. “My brain cannot take in one more new thing new right now.”

Choose “lighter” fare. So much of what we read about the pandemic is frightening and depressing. Reading a happily-ever-after ending or adventurous travelogue can give us a sense of hope or soothe our wanderlust during confinement.

Pick something short. If that 700-page tome on your nightstand seems daunting, kick-start your reading momentum with shorter texts like graphic novels, poetry, and short story anthologies, or periodicals.

Try an audiobook. If you feel the urge to keep busy, and cannot sit still for long periods to read, try listening to an audiobook while you clean out that closet or enjoy a safe walk. Sign teens up for Audiobook Sync (available at: https://www.audiobooksync.com/ ), a free summer program, which offers two free audiobooks a week beginning April 30th.

Connect with other readers. Without face-to-face reading advisory conversations, student conferences, or conversations with colleagues, many librarians and teachers miss talking with other readers. Join a Twitter chat. Schedule a call with friends to talk about books. Look for ways to maintain the social aspects of reading that feed you. I joined a Zoom book club with other librarians and teachers. Reading for our meetings motivates me and the discussion enhances my appreciation for the books we read.