Gentle wind, falling wind, cozy room with a ray of sunshine through the window, Fall is a season associated with a relaxing vibe. Reading is a great way to spend breaks and holidays to match the cozy aesthetic.
Sophomore at NDB, Samantha Hanni, shares her ideas for choosing a book to find enjoyable.
“So I would say the best way to choose a good book is to find a fandom of a book that you’ve previously read and enjoyed, whether it be in writing styles, could be the same author, could be the same type of book, but usually they’re somewhat similar in a sense, and that’s usually what I would do.”
English Department Chair, Sarah Boragno also recommends that readers can begin with the topics, authors, or genres they are familiar with.
“ I pick books based on if I spark an interest in something, then I try to find books that are like, different stories about it or centered around it”, states Boragno. “It’s okay to start a book and not like it and put it down.”
Due to age, interest, or just the current feelings, readers would find that a book is not one’s cup of tea, and giving up is not a fault, it is just a choice, since reading is a subjective activity, that people may even have different opinions of a book at different times.
Hanni also reports that reading is not only a good form of entertainment, but also a way of relaxation. “I usually am in my bed, I read every single night because it kind of helps me, like, slow down”, explains Hanni. “It’s kind of like a nightly routine to help me fall asleep, and I usually listen to music while doing it, but it can’t be music that’s in English, because if so, I’ll be so distracted.”
Books are a very healthy alternative to screens, especially when it comes to winding down at the end of the day. As Hanni mentioned, reading before bed helps her “slow down” and become more relaxed, making it a part of her nightly routine to fall asleep. This calming effect can be a great way to detach from the stimulating effects of screens, which have been shown to interfere with sleep due to blue light exposure. Instead of engaging with social media or endless scrolling, which can keep your mind alert, picking up a book allows you to transition smoothly into rest.
So this Fall season when experiencing boredom, instead of immediately resorting to screens for entertainment, why not play some music, and grab a book?
