My Reading Journey & Backstory
Have you ever thought back through your journey to reading? Or maybe you’ve always been a consistent reader. I was just thinking about mine the other day and noticed certain catalysts that set (and reset) my reading journey into motion. And I thought why not put pen to paper, or rather, hands to keyboard and record that story of mine! I love looking back and mapping out particular paths of my life. It’s so interesting to examine and consolidate in hindsight!
My Reading Journey
So I first got into reading really because of Harry Potter. I know … probably cliche (and yikes Rowling) but … it’s true. I can honestly say the reason I love to read is because of the Harry Potter books. It was the first fantasy series that I remember reading growing up and I was instantly hooked. The world, the characters, the story overall … I couldn’t put the books down! When I started reading them, the first 4 were out and I just ate them up. The Wizarding World was one that I’d always wanted to live in but never really knew it could exist, even in a fantasy world. It was one of those ah-ha moments that instantly made me a reader and a fantasy reader at that.
Yes, I’ve even read the screenplays for the prequels, the Tales of Beedle the Bard aaaand the story with the trio’s kiddos. I love them all. Those paperbacks have seen better days and have been read and reread so many times. One day I’ll actually get a new, matching set … 😂 one day!
I occasionally read books at that time, especially for school, but wouldn’t have considered myself a ‘reader’, if you know what I mean. Most of those were classics including To Kill A Mockingbird (still one of my absolute favorites until this day), The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.
Around the same time, I was also a big Jodi Picoult and Patricia Cornwell fan. Tami Hoag and Sandra Brown, too. Oh and Nicolas Sparks! Jodi’s books were always so dynamic and unpredictable and emotional. And I loved the mystery and spice in Cornwell, Brown, and Hoag’s books! Sparks’ always wrote the most beautiful and tragic love stories.
It took me a long time to find another fantasy author and series to get into. I remember finding Goodreads back then before the internet was really a thing but never signed up for it for some reason (😂)! Looking back, I totally should l have (and wish I did)!
As I got older and life got fuller, I wasn’t reading as much and sometimes not at all — I was doing maybe a series or two and standalone per year. It wasn’t much. But I did read some popular fantasy series during this time: Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, The Mortal Instruments and a few others. None of them quite stacked up to HP in my book but I definitely enjoyed them, The Mortal Instruments especially. But always during this time, I remember finding myself wanting to read more and really get back into reading. There was also a teeny tiny period of time around here where I was reading a lot of self-help books because they were the only thing helping me cope and manage my stress level with my intense 9-5pm corporate job at the time (which I have since happily left).
Then, at the end of 2019, my husband and I had gotten pregnant, but we sadly had an early miscarriage. And, I knew for sure then, I had to make reading a priority so I could help myself cope with that loss and also keep my mind busy and on other things. I’d also been dabbling in blogging a bit by then but in a different niche but had always loved bookstagram, so I finally decided to go for it myself and started my own little bookish corner of the internet!
Almost 2 years later now and it feels like no time has gone by and I’ve read SO MANY good books. As of today, I’ve read a total of 143 books since I started my bookstagram account!
Here are a few that still stand out to me today.
from 2020
from 2021 (so far)
My husband and I are still avidly trying to get pregnant again. It’s not been an easy journey for us, but we still have hope. And I’ve got my books and a whole community of readers online and offline I get to connect with on daily basis. I would say that my journey back to reading has been a success and I can’t wait to see what the coming years have to bring.
What’s your reading journey been like?
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Oh hey, friend!
I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
Why, yes, hi, hello — I am still here! It has certainly been a minute. The last couple of months have been hectic and full for us. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been up to and how I’ve been feeling, the books that I've been reading and loving, what we’ve been watching and what’s coming up for us soon.