“I should read more”, hands up if you’ve said that in the last year.

Me too.

Now, this isn’t me here trying to guilt you or me into picking up more books and remembering that awesome feeling of being immersed in someone else’s universe, with people that we love and love the hate. It’s just me, writing about reading and books and such.

In all honesty it is safe to say that I have spent more time reading comic books in the last few years that I have much else. Now, that’s not to say that I didn’t read The Hunger Games trilogy or World War Z, or The Boy Who Loved Batman, or most of the Harry Potter series on a re-read, I did. But I also haven’t just taken a look at the new book releases at Indigo and given something a shot like I did when I was a kid.

But there are books that I have thought about reading. There are books that have been recommended or have interested me at times. I thought I wanted to read Dirk Hayhurst’s work, and while I’m sure it’s just as good as some people say, I’m not feeling it right now with him on TV and radio in Toronto daily. George R. R. Martin is another name that has intrigued me since I am loving the Game of Thrones on HBO – but as novels it would be a new realm for me, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books are really the only thing that I’ve read in a fantasy climate. And that was 18 years ago.

Here’s another thing, I don’t want to read on an e-book. I know that they are all the rage and they are convenient and easy to travel with and cost effective and etc. But they aren’t a book. Give me a book with a spine to crack and the smell of the paper when it’s first opened and a bookmark made out of aTTC transfer or a receipt and I am happy.

Perhaps I need to set a goal of reading more and force myself to stick with it. I know that the more I read, the better my writing will become, I’ve seen that evidence in years past. I just need to make sure that I find inspiration from what I read and don’t copy anyone else’s style.

Here’s how we’ll start, if you have any book recommendations for me – new, old, popular or obscure – let me know in the comments or on Facebook/Twitter and I’ll start building my “To Read” list!

Thanks kids, you’re awesome!

Author profile

Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.