Get back into the habit of reading 📚

Plus: 5 questions to ask before you get married

View this email online First Name Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit producer Clare Marie Schneider I like to keep a list of the books I read each year. It’s a special way to mark the passage of time. But when I look back at my list at the end of most years, I wish it was longer. In 2023, I was hoping to read at least 12 books, but so far I’ve only read nine. (One of them was a novella though, so maybe it’s closer to eight and half.)  If you’re like me and wish that you read more, Juanita Giles, co-founder of the Virginia Children’s Book Festival, recommends keeping books everywhere you go. "I have an upstairs book and a downstairs book and a car book and a bathroom book and a bathtub book," says Giles. With books in every room and on every surface, Giles says you’ll inevitably pick one of them up and start reading.  It also helps to find a book that you like. And you’re in luck, because last week, NPR launched its annual interactive reading guide: Books We Love. Scroll through to find 375+ new titles hand-picked by trusted critics and NPR staff, including your editors at Life Kit.  NPR Books We Love NPR Tips to help you get into the habit of reading 🌅 Read in the morning. NPR's Lynn Neary has been covering books for over a decade. She likes reading in the morning because she says she’s less likely to fall asleep while reading, and it’s a nice way to start her day. "I love to lie in bed on weekend mornings and read. It's just one of my favorite things to do and I get a lot of reading done."  🐢 Take it slow. There’s this idea that “if you’re not a speed reader then you’re slow -- and slow is associated with not being smart,” says Manju Banerjee, a professor at Landmark College, a school in Vermont for students with learning disabilities. So take your time and try not to compare yourself to other readers. 📱 Ditch the book if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram. Traci Thomas, the creator and host of the podcast The Stacks, says there are too many books in the world to read one you don’t like. “If you're falling asleep, checking your phone or rolling your eyes as you're reading the sentence, that might be a good sign that you don’t like what you’re reading,” she says.  👭 Start a book club. It’s a great way to keep up a reading habit because it holds you accountable to other people and creates a deadline for you to finish your book, says Alisha Ramos, founder of Downtime, a lifestyle newsletter. If you want to start a book club, be consistent. "Stick to a recurring schedule so that every month it's super predictable [for members to know] when book clubs are happening," she says. That way, people know what to expect and can plan accordingly.   Newsletter continues after sponsor message 🌟Book picks from Life Kit🌟 Here's what Life Kit staffers recommended for this year's Books We Love.  Meghan Keane, supervising editor  Tom Lake Ann Patchett In Tom Lake, a mother uses the long days of pandemic lockdown to tell her adult daughters about her showmance with an actor (who goes on to be famous) back in her summer-stock days. There’s drama; there’s summer love; there are questions about how a moment can impact your life’s trajectory. It will make younger readers question what path is in front of them and make older readers feel appreciative of the road they’ve already taken. This novel is why Ann Patchett is a master. Clare Marie Schneider, producer The Guest Emma Cline A romp of epic proportions – Alex, our adrift protagonist, swims and eats her way through the private pools and stainless steel kitchens of the Hamptons’ elite. Broke and without a home to return to, she extends her summer stay by weaseling her way into the lives of various seasonal residents. After puzzling through all the actually difficult parts of infiltrating the world, her demise is her own once she’s in. Alex’s self-destructive impulses land her in increasingly anxiety-inducing, thriller-like scenarios and interactions that become harder to unravel as she leaves a trail of mess with every exit. She simply must scratch the itch – steal the watch, kiss the boy, jump in the pool. Malaka Gharib, digital editor This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America Navied Mahdavian In Navied Mahdavian’s debut graphic memoir, he recounts his experience moving from San Francisco to rural Idaho with his wife in 2016. In addition to adapting to country life and preparing to start a family, Mahdavian, who is Iranian American, examines his relationship with his race and identity while living in a red state in the wake of Donald Trump’s election. With light and airy illustrations, Mahdavian tackles these complex themes with humor and wit. My Picture Diary Fujiwara Maki, translated by Ryan Holmberg Comics publisher Drawn & Quarterly has just reprinted My Picture Diary, a 1981 collection of simple illustrations and diary entries by the late Japanese artist Fujiwara Maki. Her drawings capture daily life with her young son, Shosuke, and her husband, acclaimed manga author Tsuge Yoshiharu. Although she bears the brunt of the housework and child rearing – with little help from her moody husband – the ever-resilient Maki finds joy where she can. In one scene, she throws a cookie party for Shosuke on a cold winter’s day; in another, she takes herself out to a movie. It’s a charming and at times heartbreaking read. 🎁 We want to hear from you: Your best gift-giving tips 🎁  Are you great at giving holiday presents? Share your wisdom with Life Kit. How do you come up with meaningful, budget friendly and personal gift ideas for your loved ones? Email us at lifekit@npr.org with the subject line "Gift advice" and we may feature your response on NPR.org.  Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ This week on Life Kit Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop 5 questions you should ask your partner before getting married. It takes more than love to sustain a marriage. A marriage social scientist goes over five big questions to answer about your relationship and your values before getting hitched. Read the story. How to donate to a charity with purpose and intention. Not sure which cause to support or how much to give? Kevin Scally of Charity Navigator has some advice to help you make the right decisions. Read the story and listen to the episode. Ready to cold plunge? We dive into the science to see if it's worth it. When it comes to the health benefits of cold water dips, the hype is ahead of the science. NPR talked to researchers about what's true, what's not, and the latest on how to get the most out of it. Read the story and listen to the episode. Giving thanks is good for you. Here's how to make it a habit. Being thankful doesn't have to happen just once a year. Here are two meaningful ways to show gratitude all year long, a practice that can improve your mental and physical health. Read the story. Stream your local NPR station. 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