What is National Book Lovers Day?
Every year, 9th August is National Book Lovers Day. As a recently self-proclaimed bibliophile (person who loves books), I am all over this!
National Book Lovers Day is an unofficial day for book lovers everywhere to celebrate and share their love of reading and literature, and to encourage everyone to put down their screens, stop the doom scrolling and pick up an old fashioned paper book.
I rediscovered my love of reading after a 10 year hiatus (read how I got my reading mojo back here) and want to shout to the world about the benefits of reading for fun.
As someone who read continuously as a kid, stopped reading after study burnout, and rediscovered reading in my 40s, I can highly recommend reading for pleasure.
Benefits of Reading for Fun
Reading every day can offer mental stimulation, - keeping your brain sharp and helping to improve your memory and concentration. It can also help reduce stress, quiet your thoughts and even improve sleep when used as a screen-free way to wind down before bed. And let's not forget everything reading teaches us about the world, history, different cultures, new words, empathy, critical thinking and so much more.
Here are our favourite ways to celebrate this wonderful occasion:
1- Re-read your favourite book
Because revisiting a beloved story is like coming home, putting on a comfy pair of slippers and cosying up for a natter with an old friend.
2- Recommend a book to a friend
Sharing is caring! I absolutely love getting recommendations from friends about books they think I'd enjoy, so why not recommend a book to someone? I'd love to hear what you think I should read next, so please do add your suggestions in the comments.
My reading recommendations for you would be:
- The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
- The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V. E. Schwab
3- Organise your bookshelves
Rainbow bookshelves? Yes please! Or maybe you're more of an alphabetical-order kind of reader. Either way, a bookshelf re-shuffle can be so satisfying.
4- Visit a library
Libraries need us more than ever, so definitely go check out your local one. Libraries are a fantastic resource; they save you money, support lifelong learning, and provide safe public spaces for everyone in the community.
5- Go to a local independent book store
Support your local independent bookstores, because small businesses are the best. Independent bookshops showcase regional authors and independent artists who lack mainstream reach, staff handpick titles to recommend based on genuine taste rather than corporate sales data, and more money stays in the local area when you shop local small businesses.
6- Start a reading journal
Reading journals are a brilliant way to keep track of your reads, your to be read wish list and track your reading habits. Take a look at our brand new reading journal here.
7- Join a silent book club
I recently discovered the joy that is the silent book club when an ad popped up on my feed. These are not like regular book clubs- instead, the idea is that you go along to the venue with your current book, and you sit and read. No awkward chit-chat, just a group of people reading in each other's company. Bliss.
8- Join a regular book club
I'm still on the look out for a book club local to me; they sound like a great way to encourage reading whilst socialising and meeting people.
9- Read in your favourite spot
Why not take your favourite book, a flask of tea and a blanket, and go sit and read in your favourite spot? What a treat! I love doing this when I have a spare few hours on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
How will you be celebrating National Book Lovers Day?
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