I’ve always been an avid reader, gobbling up so many books that my mom used to limit the amount I could buy at Barnes & Noble. What can I say, I get sucked into another world and I seek a new one within 3 days.
One time, my mom caught me reading late at night. She stormed in, took my book, and chucked it at the top of my closet (a fate my Furby had faced as well).
With so much content available to us — on-demand movies and TV shows, web series’, short blog posts, Tumblr, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook — what has happened to the long-form story or article? Really going in-depth on a topic or creating an alternate universe through the power of the written word?
It’s not lost. Both Entertainment Weekly and Buzzfeed have ‘book’ sections of their publications. And how many YA books have become box office franchises in the past few years? The storytelling is still there, and we still crave it, but it is a matter of making time for it.
I love getting encapsulated in the book I am reading — sharing the latest revelations to whoever is around me.
Can you believe it?? Blank ‘n’ blank just committed a crime and pawned it off on his mom! Like whaaaat?
But I also enjoy stepping into someone else’s life, seeing things from their perspective and subsequently reevaluating mine. It helps me open my eyes to experiences I haven’t had, places I’ve never been, and ideas I haven’t considered. This especially helps me since I want to be a storyteller myself: by witnessing and absorbing the skills of other storytellers, hopefully it will help me become a better one!
Places Where I Find Things to Read
Overdrive (website & app)
Remember the good old library? Where you can check out books for free?
You can still do that, but for ebooks and audio books! Overdrive allows you to access your public library’s online collection of books and borrow for 21 days time over your iPad, iPhone, or Kindle. And it’s still free.
Books app (iOS)
Perhaps you already have this app buried away in your iPhone, but if you are interested in the classics (Bronte sisters, Shakespeare, etc) they tend to be free since the copyrights are long gone on those novels.
Paperback Swap
Got a bunch of novels you have no use for anymore? Offer them up in the swap marketplace for others to enjoy! Each book sent out earns you a credit for you to request a book. You do have to pay for shipping (media mail ~ $2-3), but compared to the cost of a new book? It’s worth it.
Short-form Reads
Medium
A product of Twitter’s, this clean blogging format has the voices of tech leaders, feminists, writers, and more. Each article shows you how long of a read it is, which makes it perfect for the morning commute (via train/bus).
LinkedIn Pulse
Also filled with industry leaders and CEOs, this feed has short articles ranging with professional advice to discussion of issues today.
Well, I’ll be reading away on my tiny little iPhone 4 screen. Got any other suggestions for places to read, short-form or long-form?
Amelia Enberg 