What I’ve learned from ten(ish) years of reading

When did you first realise that you were a bookworm? For me, it was probably when I was about eleven or twelve, when I started high school for the first time. Before that, I just assumed that because my friends all loved reading, everybody else kind of did, too. Entering into an alternate universe where people did not, in fact, love books as much as I did was quite a shock.

In the ten (or so) years since that momentous discovery, I’ve read a lot. But I’ve learned a lot, too: life lessons and just general bits of advice that I wish I’d known when I was smaller and less confident.

1. Don’t be afraid to embrace your niche 

When I was younger, I read a lot of everything, but mostly fantasy (influenced just a little bit by Harry Potter, thanks mate). Then, when I got older, I started to expand my reading boundaries, trying out the classics, thrillers, crime fiction and romance. And while that was great, I always returned to my first love, fantasy, when I wanted to read something I knew I’d actually enjoy, and felt vaguely ashamed about doing so, like I wasn’t doing reading ‘properly’.

A few years down the line, and I couldn’t give two hoots. I like fantasy, and I read a lot of fantasy. And while I still do read books that fall outside the genre, I know that I’ve basically found my niche, and I’m embracing it.

Fantasy books look good everywhere

2. Don’t lend your books (if you want them to be returned)

One thing that really used to irk me in high school was when my friends asked to borrow my books. ‘I’ll give it back’, they’d say. And. They. Never. Did. Unfortunately, I was too shy to say no to them (or follow these handy rules which I created for lending to friends. Ten years too late, alas).

I will lend books to people now, but I’ll do so in the full expectation that I’ll never see the book again. For that reason, it’s generally only the proof copies that leave my shelves- and never my faves!

3. Don’t be disheartened if people don’t like the books you do

Picture the scene. You encourage a friend to read a book that you absolutely loved. They read it. You wait with bated breath, and message them what did you think?

What you get back is the virtual equivalent of shrugged shoulders. Or, worse, a little poop emoji.

The feeling is crushing. At least at first, and when I was younger, I used to take every rejection personally. Why didn’t they like the same books as me? Was my taste in reading wrong?

Sadly, that’s just life. People like different things, and if they don’t like the same thing as me, I’ll rest assured that out there, there are just as many people who do. This just makes for an interesting discussion. Poop emojis excepted, of course.

4. Be loud and proud!

What’s the fun in being a bookworm if you don’t shout about it? High school is definitely a time when you want to fit in, but the beautiful thing about the adult world (and university) is that you can find groups of people who love exactly the same thing as you do. People you can obsess about Harry Potter with, or the collected works of the Brontë sisters.

…You called? Some (not so) jazzy concept art from the start of my blog.

The louder I’ve been in my love for reading, the more I’ve gotten out of it. It’s why I started a blog: and look how amazing that’s been!

Those are my rules! What do you wish you’d known when you were ten years younger? Any advice I’ve missed out? Leave a comment and let’s start a discussion 😀