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One thing I'm grateful for this year that I didn't have last year

One thing I'm grateful for this year that I didn't have last year is my energy to read. Not that I didn't read at all last year, but I feel like I've gotten the inspiration to read back recently. Have you ever experienced something like this? 

This isn't the first time I've experienced a lull in my energy to read. I first experienced it in college (likely because I had so much assigned reading to do). And then I got back my energy when working at a bookstore as it was just such a book-centric place to work and everyone who worked there was book-centric. I definitely miss that immersion in the book world. I can't remember when I lost it again, but I think it was while working at a publishing company. I got it back (I think) in grad school, but then lost it again. Since then, it's come and gone in waves. Sometimes I've found ways to get back into reading, but none have lasted.

Some of my recent energy was helped by starting my book review blog (I will never stop plugging it!). I decided to start it to practice my review writing and to build up a portfolio for applying for reviewer jobs (more on that later). It was great to go back and review books I'd read no matter how long ago I'd read them. Revisiting old reads was inspiring and getting to read advanced copies (if you want tips on getting some ARCs yourself, check out this post) equally so. I'm proud of that little blog even though it doesn't really have any traction (but, hey, you can help with that by visiting it now). There are some more things I'm considering for it and I'd appreciate some input (seriously), but I'm still proud of it as-is. I may do some more general posts on it too or start sharing memes, stuff to keep it lively, stuff that continues to inspire me, and stuff to just fill some gaps that I'm sure will arise.

I've also recently gotten a side gig as a book reviewer. So far it's been great and as of typing this, I've read four books (which is crazy!). While I haven't been in love with any of them I've enjoyed reading all of them to at least some extent. I also have an odd sense of pride for these authors as, no matter what I think, they did the damn thing! They wrote a whole book! Isn't that cool? I want to join their ranks one day so it also gives me hope. And, to be clear, while some of the books stumbled, none were atrocious. Most of them, I think, just need a good editor.

I think some of it is also a regimen of therapy and meds that work for me. When I was so consumed with my depression and anxiety, it was too difficult to focus on anything long enough to get a book read. Now with therapy and the right meds, things are more in balance so I have more energy to read again as opposed to just zoning out in front of the TV (not that I don't do that ever, but just less often). Now I do worry that my depression and/or anxiety will rear its ugly head again and I'll lose this energy to read, but I'm trying to just enjoy it while I can.

So what have you all been reading lately? How have you gotten back into reading after struggling (for me graphic novels and audiobooks helped a great deal)? Do you need any book recommendations?

(Prompt provided by Eleanor Pratt)

"Woman reading a book" by the National Science and Media Museum


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