Reader Tips: How to Read More (University Edition)

All of my undergrad textbooks

I read quite a bit despite being horribly busy. Currently I am a full time graduate student, dog mom, have a job (sometimes two), an internship, and even a bit of a social life. Last year I read a total of 71 books. How is that even possible?! If you're at all curious what I read last year, check out my Goodreads page here. Here are a few tips and tricks I've picked up along the way:

Undergrad:

Reading as an undergrad was definitely easier to fit in than it is now, but still took some planning. So here are some things I did:

1. Bring a book with you everywhere. Whenever I would get to class early or would be waiting for my professor to get a presentation together, I would read. If I was waiting on a friend or study group, I would read. Having a book with me made it easier to read during times I would normally just play on my phone or stare off into space.
2. Kindle! Or another e-reader app. I like my kindle because I can pick up books without having to run to the store and I had my books synched across my Kindle, phone, and laptop so I could read wherever I was (like tip #1). Convenience is key.
3. Pick a time to read every day! Making a schedule and planning it out makes reading so much easer and it feels like a priority. For me it was 100 pages every night before going to sleep. It helped me relax and sleep as well as finishing anywhere from 2-3 books a week when combined with tips 1 and 2.
4. Know what you like. Finding a genre or author that you really do enjoy or even a series that you can find yourself invested in will make the whole experience more fun. Don't force something just because you feel like it's what you should be reading. Be honest.
5. Take reading breaks. Whenever I had a lot of assigned readings for my various classes I would set a goal for myself. If I finished two journal articles, I would read a chapter from whatever fun book I was reading. This makes it feel like a treat and you'll enjoy it so much more!

Grad:

Alright, grad school takes a lot more time than undergrad ever did. I am working on papers, lectures,
research, and readings constantly. So in addition to the above tips, here are some that have helped me out recently.

Fun books!

1. Audiobooks. I could not stand audiobooks when I was younger. Now? They let me read so much more than I was able to before. Whenever I am driving back and forth or working out I can get a couple of chapters in without stressing.
2. Material. I love Leo Tolstoy but trying to read his books right now feels like a huge ordeal when I am constantly reading academic texts. So saving my heavier books for school breaks and just focusing on more fun material has really helped me. Cutesy romances or crazy horror novels fly by and feel like a vacation from work.
3. Reading apps/logs. Goodreads helps me keep track of what I am reading and books I want to read in the future.
4. Reading goals. I take part in the Goodreads reading challenge each year. It has been a great motivator to keep me going. While I read 71 books last year, I set this year's goal at 35. It is less stress for me if I hit a slump and even more exciting if I go over my goal.
5. BookTube. Whenever I have a reading slump I run to BookTube. Checking out my favorite reader and their recommendations always helps me find a new read. I started with Polandbananasbooks about three years ago and now I regularly check about fifteen different channels.

Bonus Tips:

So these are not necessary for reading but definitely help.

My fur baby!

1. Friends. I was lucky enough to have a best friend that reads. Talking about books or just hanging out and reading always was a great motivator.
2. SO. Also very lucky to have a boyfriend who loves books as well. When date night includes going to bookstores and reading together, you definitely up your page count.
3. Variety. My TBR pile is ridiculous. While this causes some people stress, I enjoy that I have a wide variety of book genres to choose from. No matter what mood I'm in I can find something to read.
4. Fluffy friends. Reading with my dog is the absolute best and I don't feel guilty for not spending time with her while reading. Plus she's happy to nap. It's really a win-win.

I hope this will be able to help some students out there (or even those not in school any more). Happy reading!

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Title: The Queen of the Tearling
Author: Erika Johansen
Page Count: 448
Rating: A
Keywords: Magic, Monarchy, War, Politics
Genre: Fantasy
Narrators: Katherine Kellgren
Duration: 14 hours and 30 minutes
Younger Readers: Not for young children. Language is present throughout. Sex and prostitutes are often mentioned as well as rape. Torture is another theme.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.


My Review:


I listened to this audiobook right after finishing Stalking Jack the Ripper while I was in Ireland and England. It got me through long train rides, cab rides, and two flights without succumbing to total boredom. There were even points where I would stay up late listening to it at night after touring castles, cathedrals, and museums all day. With how tired I was, this was definitely an addicting read.

I enjoyed that rather than being set in the past, this book was actually set in the future where society has regressed. Doctors are rare and culture is now similar to medieval Europe. Even books are rare. This interesting twist made me want to hear more about the Crossing and what could have possibly happened. I truly hope this is explored further in the future.

Kelsea can be a bit stubborn at times and irritating, but I enjoyed her character overall. She grows on you as the story progresses. While her strong will and life story are perfectly aligned with most fantasy books, she did have her unique points. Rather than the traditional petite and gorgeous characters that populate fiction, she is described as being quite average in terms of weight and appearance. At times she focuses far too much on this. Harping needlessly on what she perceives as her "lacking" physical traits may have been a bit of an annoyance while I was listening, but it can also serve as a refreshing trait for those wanting a new character type.

Like with most fantasies I've read, this book is heavily involved with politics. Because I was listening to this story rather than reading a physical copy, I did become lost at times. Names and locations all blend together at the start. As time goes on they become easier to pick out and remember. Secondary characters and court drama are strong throughout the book.

Two components that were not as prominent would be magic and love. Magic is hinted at throughout this installment, but not as a main point. With how it was developed and presented I would guess it will be more relevant in future books. However, I am not sure if the love aspect will ever be present. Kelsea has one potential interest but whether or not this will ever develop is difficult to tell.

Katherine's reading was delightful. I especially love how she was able to give each character such a unique voice that perfectly matched their personalities. I listened between the 1.5x and 2x speeds throughout.

This was a solid fantasy novel and great introduction to a series. I cannot wait to see if book two is as amazing. Definitely check this one out if you are into fantasy, dark storylines, and political intrigue. If you are somewhat leery of heavy fantasy themes, you will be fine with this book. It fits well into the genre without having some of the heaviness associated with more traditional tomes of the genre.


Slight Spoiler:

I definitely fangirled over the J.K. Rowling and J. R. R. Tolkien references.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Page Count: 326
Rating: A
Keywords: London, Serial Killer, Gothic, Mystery
Genre: Young Adult
Narrators: Nicola Barber
Duration: 9 hours and 26 minutes
Younger Readers: This is a fictional representation of Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer who primarily targeted prostitutes. Language and sexual content are minimal however.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.  

My Reviews:

I loved this one! On a very long travel day from the US to Dublin, Ireland  I listened to this book and it actually made the three flights, cab rides, and random strangers falling asleep on me tolerable. As someone who travels often, finding a book that is just the right level of engaging and fun is crucial to not losing my mind. I have certainly made the mistake of packing overly dense non-fiction tomes for school (try explaining a forensic anthropology diagram of a murder scene to the person sitting next to you for three hours, never goes well), overly emotional romance novels that left me weeping, and the dreaded just plain boring book in my many years of flying all over. This one was perfect though. It was intriguing, funny, fast paced, and kept me in Audrey Rose's world.

Audrey Rose was enjoyable in that unlike most female YA characters that are involved with "nontraditional" interests or occupations, she did not entirely shun the girly things. She was well balanced. At times she would be examining a mutilated body and at others she would be experimenting with makeup or thinking about pretty dresses. This mix made her far easier to relate to.

There is some small degree of romance but it is never more than a flirtation built up from friendship. It is always obvious and up front but still a satisfying build up. If you hate the YA trend of insta love then you should have no worries with this read.

Without giving anything away, if you gravitate towards creepier themed books or loved the gothic books required in high school you should definitely give this read a try. Aspects of the resolution were easy to pick up for me but the actual ending was a total shock.

*****No spoilers, but the end of this book actually sets you up for a sequel. I was not expecting this at all but now I honestly can't wait to see where the series goes*****

If you want something on the shorter side, fun, a bit gruesome, and completely satisfying, I definitely recommend picking up this book. I have absolutely become a fan and will be reading the rest of the series.

If you listen to the audiobook I did enjoy Nicola's narration. It took me about twenty minutes to get used to her reading style but soon after it became natural and no issues. Occasionally a word was pronounced in a way a smidgeon off from how I am used to hearing it pronounced. However, this distraction quickly fades as well. I listened at 1.5x speed on Audible.