Everyone who knows me well and sees me at work says "How can you read so much?". To this I say anyone can do it; you just have to know what you like and don't like. A good story can have you sitting on a couch or chair for hours on end. You'll look up at the clock and realize that the time just melted away.
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Warning: reading can be addicting! I'm not joking. I have shelves of books all over the apartment, double stacked in two layers. And furthermore, I don't have enough space to put more shelves until I move into a house (at which point my carpenter father has plans to make me a book chair). I also read all of the book types (audio, ebook, and physical versions).
Today I'm going to get you started on your book dragon journey (whether you have your books stored in the online cloud or they are double stacked on shelves). There are three types of books; you have audiobooks, ebooks, and physical turn-the-pages books. Genres of books fit all different kinds of people. We'll talk about that, too.
Genre
Do you know what you like in TV and movies? Take that preference straight to your local library. Seriously, it is that simple. You can even try out some different genres and test the waters on all kinds of books. Don't like horror? Try suspense or romance or historical fiction or fantasy. Try it all out if you have the time. It might surprise you what you like.
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Genres go under several umbrellas, which then become more specific subgenres. I'm going to give you the umbrella genres and let you explore from there because the number of subgenres here could go on for days. We start with Nonfiction (informational) and Fiction (made-up stories). Nonfiction is anything factual, like biographies, history, crafting how-tos, and cookbooks. I think we can safely focus on Fiction without anyone getting confused about that.
Fiction goes into Action/Adventure, Children's, Classics, Comics/Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Fantasy, Western, Thriller/suspense, Historical Fiction, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Short stories, Poetry, True Crime, Mystery, Coming-of-age, and Drama.
Again, what you like in movies and TV can be a guide to what you might enjoy in books. If you don't know if you like it, go visit a library. Test drive it until you know what you think. Test before you buy. My own published book is in the Carrollton Libary System.
Where To Find The Books
Libraries are a wealth of resources. Here's to them! They house 3D printers (some, not all), computers for those who need them, normal printers, crafts and activities during the summer months (summer reading programs), kid's rooms with coloring books, mini museums (for some), books, DVDs, audiobooks, ebooks and audiobooks online, and nice librarians who can help you find or library-loan any books you could need. Be kind to your local librarians today!
Did I mention library apps? Not yet? Well then, let me introduce you to Libby, a library app for ebooks and audiobooks from any library connected to the app. You only need your phone number or library card to rent them right from your phone, tablet, or laptop. All you need to do is find the free app to get started.
If you love the book and want it, try Amazon's Audible and/or Kindle (Amazon in general) for good books. Another app for good ebooks and audiobooks is Kobo (lesser known, but just as good). Look up used books online for great prices, especially when you are on the Barnes and Noble or Books A Million (BAM) websites.
Buying books from hole-in-the-wall stores is the best! You see, families running a bookstore charge less for books a lot of times. I can highly suggest a few bookstores, including one in New Philadelphia, Ohio called The Bookman's Cafe. It has an attached tea shop. I can also highly suggest one from Mayfield, Ohio called Half Price Books, which sells more than books - games, video games, puzzles, notepads, and DVDs.
Book Types
In case you haven't noticed, the physical book is not your only option. All of it is reading. Don't let anyone tell you differently. We absorb books differently and in different situations. Let me go over the best options and the situations for you.
Physical books are good for when you have space and bookshelves, or you can't read screens well at all. I know someone who can't read the ebook form of a novel. Writing physical annotations in books is a habit for some, so if that's your game go for the paper versions. If you love to see pretty covers giving a room personality this is a great option. If you want a book that isn't affected by a power outage or lack of batteries this is perfect. Don't read in the dark, though; buy a book light or grab a flashlight.
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Ebooks can be read on e-readers or tablets/phones/laptops. If you are constantly on the move it may aid you to keep books on a device for your train travels or waiting rooms. If you keep your devices full on battery this is great, but if you don't I suggest the physical book be your first option. Ebooks are also great options for those with no book space. The cloud takes up no space in your small bedroom or apartment or dorm room. You can digitally annotate your novels, as well. Highlighting passages and searching on your device for annotations is easy. You can also change lighting, font, size of font, and highlighting colors on some devices and apps. Tracking progress? Easy, it shows the percentage. You'll also never lose the book while you're packing and moving. As long as you have access to the cloud you have a book in your hand. In conclusion, you can annotate and carry your whole library with you as you go about your day. Just make sure that the device is charged or you lose access to your whole library.
Audiobooks are great if you have an mp3 player on hand, a cd player in your car, or even a tape player in your (ancient) car. You can also get adapters for whatever your audio needs are. I suggest looking into that if your car is old. Libraries have CD and mp3 options for this. Tapes of audiobooks are often in resale shops. Nowadays you can connect your library app from your phone to your Bluetooth wireless what-have-you. Best of luck finding tapes. Form of media aside, this is perfect for road trips that are long. I used to consume audiobooks rapidly when I was driving 45 minutes to and from work. It is also great for when you are doing laundry or mindless tasks. I find it helps me focus. I don't suggest tuning out the world entirely in some areas, so listen responsibly. Noise-canceling anything in dangerous areas is a bad idea; be aware of your surroundings. I don't suggest this for times when you need to pay attention to surroundings, but instead for places that are safe (running in the middle of nowhere, an apartment, your own house, or any place you are sure to be safe from harm). Summarized, these are great (for places you are safe) while doing mindless tasks and going on road trips.
Conclusion
Take this information and run with it, straight to your local library or bookstore. Local authors sometimes sell books at events or flea markets. Seriously, we can't do this without you. As a local author, I can attest to the reality that we are under the shadow of major authors, trying to sell books to people who don't know who we are. Take a chance on a local author or two. Take a chance on me, while you're at it. If unsure, check out the Carrollton Library system to read through the library copy.
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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have two five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page.
Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him?
Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.
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