A book is a perfect accessory

When I was younger reading was a massive hobby of mine, I'd get new books for Christmas, birthdays and as random presents off my parents to encourage by hobby. I used to own full collections of the Judy Blume books, Jacqueline Wilson and the Harry Potter books; as I got older reading wasn't 'cool' anymore and I'd rather have sat on my computer playing club penguin instead of reading, which looking back upon is quite sad.

Along the years my Mom tried to get me back into reading, buying me different books for holiday in the summer, I'd read them whilst we were away and never finish them when we got home- I just wasn't hooked. Half of the problem was that I didn't know what books I would enjoy now I was in my teenage years, because it had been so long. I didn't think I'd be a fan of romance, or a horror person so I just presumed there was nothing out there for me.

That was until I was speaking to a guidance councillor at uni and they told me about a book called 'Reasons to Stay Alive' by Matt Haig. I truly believe this book changed my life, it helped me process something that happened to someone I loved a lot better and understand the situation a lot more. It also helped me with my own problems, that a lot of us experience similar emotions throughout our lives and that we are not alone in these thoughts.

I'm really awful at explaining things so I'm going to drop a snippet of the book here that really impacted my life so you can see for yourself...

After reading this book I didn't think I'd be able to find a book like it, I think this was because it helped me process something that really effected me it holds a place in my head and in my heart. I bought a book called 'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton. It's a kind of self help/ autobiography story-time kinda thing like Reasons to Stay Alive but with this new read it was addictive, I didn't need the train journeys to uni to be longer so I can carry on reading. I'm going to take it on the plane to New York with me and read some more and try and finish it but it just doesn't hold that same place in my heart that Matt Haig's writing does :(

From reading on the train, it hit me, that a book is the perfect accessory. Forget reading an e-book on your phone or kindle or listening to an audiobook through your fancy airpods- you cannot beat the feeling of a book in your hands. The smell of a brand new book, or a book from a charity shop that was printed a good 10 years ago. That noise when you turn the pages. The satisfying simplicity of buying a book with a really nice front cover. It cannot be beaten by electrical reading.

Is it just me that sees people reading on public transport and is intrigued as to what they're reading? What interests them? What are they studying? What language do they read in? When I see people reading in public it also creates a preconception of that person in my head too, I automatically think they're clever and aren't afraid to stand out from the crowd. Instead of sitting there occupying their time scrolling through Twitter, (which admittedly, is quite an informative interesting platform that can be eye opening) they want to occupy their time by reading. Ugh, I just love it.

So next time you walk past a book shop, don't walk past. Walk in! Find a book that takes your fancy. Get Amazon up on your phone and order it, or pay the extra few quid to buy it in the shop. Treat yourself! Be that classy educated person who is being admired by the commuters around them by reading on your daily travels. Maybe it'll spark up a conversation that will lead to meeting the love of your life because you both love books.

Okay I got carried away, but, buy a book bitches x