Chris Hill, a fellow book/writing blogger posted recently about the rules he imposes on himself when he reads and chooses literature. Some of his rules are a little unsociable (I cannot borrow books) or environmentally unfriendly… albeit good for the authors. However, there are others are verging on OCD and concentration issues (I cannot start reading another book until I have finished the one I am reading) which I do find myself nodding along to.
Reading Chris’ blog made me wonder. I have introduced a fair few rules in my lifestyle, not just to test my husband’s patience, but to control my human nature. I am doing them for a good reason, and not because I just love rules!
1. Lunch or dinner must be carb free. I know I have the ability to collect the bad kind of pounds, so this is diet control.
2. I’m in bed before 10.30 on a ‘school night’. I’m a nightmare if I lack sleep so this one’s good for all!
3. I don’t watch the news. Catching the headlines on the radio once a day is enough and doesn’t depress me like televisual images of trouble and horror tend to.
4. Every appointment must go in my diary. I write it down so I don’t have to remember it.
5. I blog once a week. This rule is a little flexible – let’s say it’s written in snowfall. Content posted could fail to appear some weeks (years - kidding!)
Reading Chris’ blog made me wonder. I have introduced a fair few rules in my lifestyle, not just to test my husband’s patience, but to control my human nature. I am doing them for a good reason, and not because I just love rules!
1. Lunch or dinner must be carb free. I know I have the ability to collect the bad kind of pounds, so this is diet control.
2. I’m in bed before 10.30 on a ‘school night’. I’m a nightmare if I lack sleep so this one’s good for all!
3. I don’t watch the news. Catching the headlines on the radio once a day is enough and doesn’t depress me like televisual images of trouble and horror tend to.
4. Every appointment must go in my diary. I write it down so I don’t have to remember it.
5. I blog once a week. This rule is a little flexible – let’s say it’s written in snowfall. Content posted could fail to appear some weeks (years - kidding!)
You get the point. Some rules seem to work in my happy, busy life. But do they apply to reading, further than the 'only reading one at a time' one?
Thinking about it, I don’t have any real rules to guide me on my journey diving into a new or old book. Reading isn’t a game; it’s a pastime, unless you’re into reading competitions, of course! The Summer Reading Challenge has multiple rules attached… Apart from that, life’s too short for rule-abiding in books.
- I re-read.
- I borrow and buy.
- I pass good one (and sometimes bad ones) on – bad ones to strangers in places I don’t want the extra luggage, good ones to friends or family.
- I will try different genres. I surprised myself enjoying 'Rebecca', a classic, and have been more open to older literature since.
I try to mix up genres and authors as I go, but this is less of a rule, more of a preference. I became sick of John Grisham when I was a teenager for reading his law court based dramas back-to back. I tend to prioritise books my mum recommends (she has good taste and knows what I’ll like), but again, this is nothing like a hard, or even soft, rule.
Thinking about it, I don’t have any real rules to guide me on my journey diving into a new or old book. Reading isn’t a game; it’s a pastime, unless you’re into reading competitions, of course! The Summer Reading Challenge has multiple rules attached… Apart from that, life’s too short for rule-abiding in books.
- I re-read.
- I borrow and buy.
- I pass good one (and sometimes bad ones) on – bad ones to strangers in places I don’t want the extra luggage, good ones to friends or family.
- I will try different genres. I surprised myself enjoying 'Rebecca', a classic, and have been more open to older literature since.
I try to mix up genres and authors as I go, but this is less of a rule, more of a preference. I became sick of John Grisham when I was a teenager for reading his law court based dramas back-to back. I tend to prioritise books my mum recommends (she has good taste and knows what I’ll like), but again, this is nothing like a hard, or even soft, rule.
If having rules dictate your reading material works for you, fine, it’s just not for me. It worked for Lewis Carroll!
As long as you’re enjoying reading, that’s the main thing.
Now, off to Amazon… well, it IS World Book Day!
Lou x
Find me on Facebook
…and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist - the home of my 2015 A2Z Blog Challenge
As long as you’re enjoying reading, that’s the main thing.
Now, off to Amazon… well, it IS World Book Day!
Lou x
Find me on Facebook
…and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist - the home of my 2015 A2Z Blog Challenge
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