Top Ten Tuesday: Why I Love to Read, Let Me Count the Ways

  

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Why I Love to Read



Reading lets me experience other lives/realities.
Through reading I have been able to experience far more than I would ever be able to in a single lifetime. Whether it's the experience of someone in another profession, a different stage of life, or life in a far-off country, reading has granted me access to lives far outside my own.

Reading makes me think... and sometimes challenges my perspective.
Reading has given me new perspectives on topics and themes and ideas. Sometimes my opinion remains the same, sometime it changes, and sometimes I gain a new understanding that I wouldn't otherwise have. Almost any story can offer some food for thought.

Reading provides escapism.
Now more than ever, reading provides an escape from daily life and from a world that is increasingly chaotic. Twenty-four news, social media... it doesn't take much to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Escaping into book, and someone else's life and experiences, is the perfect antidote.


Reading is solitary.
As a total introvert, I crave time alone and often have a need to "recharge" after spending time in the company of others. Reading is the perfect way to enjoy the quiet down-time that I need.

Reading is also social.
Even though the act of reading may be solitary, overall it can still be a social activity. Being able to interact with other readers is one of the joys of reading. Shouting your love for a new favorite book, venting about a character or a plot twist, or buddy-reading a book together - sharing the love of books and reading with others is priceless.

Reading has introduced to me characters who became friends.
Over the years (40+ years of reading), I've met countless characters. And they've run the gamut from lovable to loathsome and everything in between. And there are those that made a lasting impression on me and stayed with me long after I finished their story. Maybe they felt like a friend I would love to have in real life, or maybe I felt a particular kinship with their struggles. But there are definitely those who were unforgettable.


Reading has given me stories that made an impact.
Some books you read, set aside, and move right on to the next one. Some are good but ultimately forgettable. But then there are those rarities that stand out far above the rest. The stories that were so powerful, so moving, so... something, that their impact was felt long after you turned the last page. There are some stories that my mind returns to years after reading the book. 

Reading is a connection to family.
I come from a family of readers. My mom read to me when I was a child and we made many, many trips to the library. She and my father were both readers and that love was definitely instilled in me and my two sisters. While we don't often read the same books (or even the same genres), we still often share what we're currently reading and offer up book recommendations to one another.


Reading and Books allow me to indulge my love of lists.
I've never met a list I didn't like and everything about lists brings me a sense of happiness (starting a new list, maintaining lists, adding to a list, finding a reason to make a new list). Books and reading are major contributors to my bevy of lists. Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, Google docs, paper lists, iPhone notes... the lists are everywhere. And the topics are just as varied: lists of books I own, lists of books I've read, lists of books I want to read, lists of series... and on and on it goes. 


Books are pretty.
Yes, I'm ending on what could be considered a shallow note, but admit it... books are pretty! :) Haven't we all been swayed by a gorgeous cover? To-die for-endpapers? A stunning stepback? The very aesthetic of books makes me happy.


Why do you love to read?

42 comments

  1. Yes, reading can totally be a social activity!

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-reasons-why-i-love-reading/

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  2. Books are pretty. You're fantastic! That's wonderful that you and your family not only share a love of reading, but enjoy the same kind of books. Almost everyone in my family is a reader, but I don't read the books they do. I keep hoping for some overlap.

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    1. Well, none of us typically read the same books, but we still all talk about what we're reading. I love that. :)

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  3. I agree with all your points. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/top-ten-reasons-to-love-reading/

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  4. I love that reading connects you to family. That's wonderful. It's always fun to have an extra connection to the people you love :)

    Happy TTT!

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  5. Ditto to all your reasons but the main one for me is just to escape.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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  6. All of these are great reasons, which I also have experienced myself.

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  7. Such great reasons to love reading...I agree with them all! :D

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  8. Some great reasons here! My dad got me into reading when I was a kid, he used to read to me and I will forever be grateful for that :)
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/06/top-ten-tuesday-323/

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  9. I love making friends in books. :) And the escapism, exactly. also, recharge time-SO true. Sometimes I need to just chill with a book!

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  10. Your #9 is a reason I haven't seen in other posts this week! Many of the lists I make have to do with books, now that I think about it...

    Here's my list!

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  11. Escapism was a big one for me these past several months. I found myself wanting to read more romance, just for that happily ever after! And reading is big in my family, too; I share books with my sister, SIL, and stepmom!

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    1. Yes! Thank goodness for the escape of books over the last year.

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  12. It's funny, I never thought of reading as a way to connect to family. I've always had books around me, and many of the books I read as a kid were books my parents read. But it is one of the few things I am able to talk about with my sister-in-law when I see her.

    Here is my TTT post: https://readbakecreate.com/?p=468

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    1. It's great to have that as a connection with your sister-in-law. :)

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  13. I agree with all these points! I connect both my daughter and my husband over stories we've mutually enjoyed! I love the escape it provides, and I think the stories as conveyed through books are a much richer experience than anything on film or TV. Wonderful post, Tanya!

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    1. Thanks Rachel. :) I love connecting with family through our books and love of reading. I'm glad you do the same!

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  14. You came up with some awesome - and totally accurate - points! I love that books and reading has me more aware of other perspectives, it's helped me get to know myself better, I've become more empathetic. I've found and created new friendships and communities because of books. I'm so glad I'm a reader.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Thanks Lauren! You are so right about gaining more empathy for others through reading.

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  15. I love your "characters that became friends" because that's so true! To us they are real!

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    1. Absolutely! A lot of characters stay with me long after the book has ended. :)

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  16. I agree with every single thing you said. And yes, books are pretty! It's a habit I have tried to break for years, but it's so hard not to judge a book by its cover!

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    1. So true! I should know better by now but it still happens. :)

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  17. I find that my reason for reading really depends on the day and my mood, which is exactly why I love reading. Books can be so versatile!

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    1. So true, Ethan! What I want from picking up a book can change day to day.

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  18. I love your list and the last one made me chuckle. It's so true! Some books practically look like artwork with their gorgeous covers. I like to strategically place pretty books as decorations in a couple of the rooms in my house.

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  19. I love all of the reasons you gave! Especially how reading is not only a solitary activity, but also a social one.

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    1. It's always fun to connect with others who love books and reading. :)

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  20. There are a few points here that I didn't even think to include but 100% agree with! I'm a sucker for a pretty book cover and reading to re-charge... Quietly reading a good book always leaves me feeling happier and energised.

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    1. Same here, Nicci. If I'm overwhelmed or have had to spend too much time being social (ugh LOL), I need some quiet time to read and recharge.

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