Welcome back dear readers!
Can you believe that it’s almost Christmas?! Time sure flies. Everyone at Dorking Library is very happy that we were able to open our doors and welcome you back for browsing. We hope you chose (or choose soon) some great reads for the cosy holiday season. In this blog post staff members share their answers to a question ‘when do you read?’.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dorking Library staff!
‘When do you read?’ This was a question recently asked by one of our lovely customers and to be honest, I had to have a think.
In the summer it’s easy, sitting on the beach or in a chair in the garden. The winter should also offer ideal reading conditions, the days are short and the weather uninviting, just right the time to snuggle down with a good book in front of a roaring fire. But how many of us have roaring fires? How many of us have the time to just sit and read? Christmas is upon us – seasonal treats to prepare, presents to wrap, cards to write, decorations to find at the back of the cupboard. Little time to spend with a book.
To combat a packed schedule I came up with two tricks to help me spend more time with my favourite authors.
I first decided to set apart a just half an hour a day, when I came home from work, to sit, read and sooth the day away. Its doing wonders for my mental health. My daughter sets apart one evening a week which works better for her and her diary.
For those busier weeks I choose an audio book. Chopped onions and transported to another world with Stephen Fry as he read the spell binding Greek myths from his bestseller, Mythos. This book is also available as e-audio book on RBdigital.
Gone on, have a go, you’ll thank me. – Liz.
My favourite time to read is in the summer, preferably while lazing in the sun with a nice cold drink! In the winter I tend to read more in bed before I go to sleep but sometimes my hands get too cold to be outside the bed covers! – Amy.
I read whilst I have long wait for the next train at the train station. I go into a bookstore, grab a book that has an attractive cover. Read a few pages. If it interests me, I will check out the library catalogue and reserve it.
I also read when RBdigital email pops up with the new monthly issue of the magazines. I explore the foreign language issues to brush up on my languages and enjoy the different cultural influence in designs, in particular Korean and Japanese. – See King.
I always read at bedtime, there is nothing better than snuggling down with a good book! Leaving real life behind and disappearing into a story helps me wind down at the end of the day. Wishing everybody a very Happy Christmas and I hope you all have time to relax and enjoy a good read. – Diane.
My idea of an ideal start to a day off is to lay in bed reading for at least an hour after the time I would normally be getting up for work. – Barry.
On a dark winter’s evening my favourite place to read is in front of the fire with the dog sitting at my feet 🐾 – Sheila.
I like to read on the bus, one of the plusses of not driving. I let my book take me off to a different world whilst traveling from A to B. Although I must not get too engrossed or I may go past my stop! I also like reading in my lunchtime at work, armed with a sandwich and a cuppa I can rest and enjoy reconnecting with the characters in my book and return to work refreshed and reinvigorated.
I also like to read on my day off, curled up on the sofa, a warm drink to hand. I get so engrossed I do not want to put the book down. I procrastinate, putting off the housework, especially if my book has reached a cliff-hanger stage. How can I leave my characters in jeopardy? I will just read a little more…- Sally.
Same as my colleague Sally I enjoy reading on my lunch break. If the book is really gripping I will take it home and read before bed. I like to take books with me to read on the go when I’m traveling. – Ieva
Liz’s Recommendation
Here’s our last Cockerel’s Choice of the year! ‘My Sister, The Serial Killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite. The clue is in the title. Ayoola dispatches the crème of male Lagos society expecting her long suffering sister Korede to clean up the inevitable mess. But what will happen when the object of Korede’s affection is next in line? Is sisterly love thicker than romantic love? And why is her sister so inclined?
I gave this to my sister for Christmas as a laugh. When it came back for my birthday I thought I really have to read it. I am so glad I did. A hugely enjoyable dark tale of sisters, Nigerian society, predictability of men, fathers and how to use bleach effectively. I wolfed it down in one session. – Liz
Thank you for reading this post and see you next time. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you don’t want to miss the next post! – Ieva
Dorking Library 
Missing everyone at Dorking Library. Loving to read about when people sit down to indulge in a book. Thank you x
LikeLike