Aug. 9 is National Book Lover's Day. Celebrate this special day in order to embrace your inner bookworm and encourage others to love books, too. Here are a few ideas to kickstart your celebration.
Take a tour of your local library
The Monroe Public Library is a great place to find a good read and so much more. Stop in and ask a staff member to give you a tour. You'll be amazed with all they have to offer. Staff are always willing to suggest a great read, too, and you can find new books and popular titles on the first floor. You can use your library card throughout Green County, so consider taking a mini-roadtrip to libraries around the area.
Read a book in a genre or subject you've avoided in the past
Stretch the boundaries of your interest and pick up a book in a genre that you typically wouldn't consider. You may find you were right in your dislike, but you may also discover a gem that you would have never found if you hadn't tried something new. It's easy to make a snap judgment about a genre like romance or science fiction, but there are lots of options and variations in every genre. Reading various subjects in nonfiction is also a great way to expand your horizons and learn something new.
Follow your favorite authors on social media
It's almost imperative today for writers to use social media to promote their work and engage with fans. By following your favorite authors on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you can get amazing access and insight into who they are as people and as writers. Twitter is a great place to follow young adult authors, in particular, as they talk to fans and each other about their books, the book industry, and many other topics. The author Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell), who writes novels for teens and adults, tweets about her upcoming comic book project, shares photos of international editions of her books, and posts pictures from her public appearances.
It's also a great idea to follow publishers you like, too. Most offer author profiles, up-to-date news on book releases, book giveaways, and author tour schedules on their social channels. They provide an inside look at the publishing industry.
Make a Meal That is book-inspired
A popular trend with food bloggers is to make meals inspired by literature or children's books. Follow their lead by developing a menu inspired by a book that truly captivated you. Recipes abound online to spur the imagination - from Green Eggs and Ham to Fried Green Tomatoes - and provide a fun and flavorful way to further explore the book's world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison libraries hold an annual Edible Book Festival to celebrate reading and eating. Creating gingerbread houses based on books, with graham crackers, frosting, and various sweets, is a great way to get kids involved with the fun.
Display random acts of kindness through books
We've all heard of strangers buying coffee for the next person behind them in line. Another act of kindness to consider is buying a few extra inexpensive copies of a book you like and hiding them in plain sight for others to find and enjoy. Actress Emma Watson recently started a book club, and left copies for people to take on the Underground, London's subway system. You can also give books to your friends to show you are thinking of them. Inscribe the first page with a heartfelt note for an added touch.
Start or join a book club
Pull together a group of work colleagues or friends for a once-a-month book discussion. You can also search the Internet to find a digital book club that fits your interests. Many libraries or other community organizations also host book clubs. If you're looking for a great book for your club to read, there are a number of resources, like magazines, news sites, and book reviewers, that offer book lists, discussion questions, and more to keep you going.
Keep a journal of the books you read
A book journal, like a personal diary, if diligently kept, can provide an invaluable snapshot into who you are, as well as what interests and motivates you, at the various moments of your life. For inspiration, check out the sweet and engaging memoir, "My Life with Bob," by New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul. There are plenty of online options to keep track of your reading, as well, including the popular website Goodreads.
Record yourself reading a book you love out loud
Channel your inner Jim Dale or Davina Porter, two wonderful audiobook narrators, and make an audio recording of yourself reading a beloved book. Make it fun by using different voices for the different characters. Save the recording to listen to again at a later date or share with your kids or grandkids. This is a lovely way to share a story with faraway family. If the idea feels a little strange, consider that research has found that reading out loud helps you to understand it more fully, and reading aloud to children has numerous benefits for brain development and language learning.
Take a tour of your local library
The Monroe Public Library is a great place to find a good read and so much more. Stop in and ask a staff member to give you a tour. You'll be amazed with all they have to offer. Staff are always willing to suggest a great read, too, and you can find new books and popular titles on the first floor. You can use your library card throughout Green County, so consider taking a mini-roadtrip to libraries around the area.
Read a book in a genre or subject you've avoided in the past
Stretch the boundaries of your interest and pick up a book in a genre that you typically wouldn't consider. You may find you were right in your dislike, but you may also discover a gem that you would have never found if you hadn't tried something new. It's easy to make a snap judgment about a genre like romance or science fiction, but there are lots of options and variations in every genre. Reading various subjects in nonfiction is also a great way to expand your horizons and learn something new.
Follow your favorite authors on social media
It's almost imperative today for writers to use social media to promote their work and engage with fans. By following your favorite authors on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you can get amazing access and insight into who they are as people and as writers. Twitter is a great place to follow young adult authors, in particular, as they talk to fans and each other about their books, the book industry, and many other topics. The author Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell), who writes novels for teens and adults, tweets about her upcoming comic book project, shares photos of international editions of her books, and posts pictures from her public appearances.
It's also a great idea to follow publishers you like, too. Most offer author profiles, up-to-date news on book releases, book giveaways, and author tour schedules on their social channels. They provide an inside look at the publishing industry.
Make a Meal That is book-inspired
A popular trend with food bloggers is to make meals inspired by literature or children's books. Follow their lead by developing a menu inspired by a book that truly captivated you. Recipes abound online to spur the imagination - from Green Eggs and Ham to Fried Green Tomatoes - and provide a fun and flavorful way to further explore the book's world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison libraries hold an annual Edible Book Festival to celebrate reading and eating. Creating gingerbread houses based on books, with graham crackers, frosting, and various sweets, is a great way to get kids involved with the fun.
Display random acts of kindness through books
We've all heard of strangers buying coffee for the next person behind them in line. Another act of kindness to consider is buying a few extra inexpensive copies of a book you like and hiding them in plain sight for others to find and enjoy. Actress Emma Watson recently started a book club, and left copies for people to take on the Underground, London's subway system. You can also give books to your friends to show you are thinking of them. Inscribe the first page with a heartfelt note for an added touch.
Start or join a book club
Pull together a group of work colleagues or friends for a once-a-month book discussion. You can also search the Internet to find a digital book club that fits your interests. Many libraries or other community organizations also host book clubs. If you're looking for a great book for your club to read, there are a number of resources, like magazines, news sites, and book reviewers, that offer book lists, discussion questions, and more to keep you going.
Keep a journal of the books you read
A book journal, like a personal diary, if diligently kept, can provide an invaluable snapshot into who you are, as well as what interests and motivates you, at the various moments of your life. For inspiration, check out the sweet and engaging memoir, "My Life with Bob," by New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul. There are plenty of online options to keep track of your reading, as well, including the popular website Goodreads.
Record yourself reading a book you love out loud
Channel your inner Jim Dale or Davina Porter, two wonderful audiobook narrators, and make an audio recording of yourself reading a beloved book. Make it fun by using different voices for the different characters. Save the recording to listen to again at a later date or share with your kids or grandkids. This is a lovely way to share a story with faraway family. If the idea feels a little strange, consider that research has found that reading out loud helps you to understand it more fully, and reading aloud to children has numerous benefits for brain development and language learning.