7 Tips for Reading Marathon Success

Get ready, get set, go!

Reading Marathon, AAPLD’s newest reading challenge starts today, and we’re excited! Beginning February 1, AAPLD cardholders, 18 and over, will have the chance to stretch their reading muscles by reading 26 books! With 26 different reading themes– like 26 miles in a marathon– there’s plenty to keep you reading all the way to the end of November.  Even better, any Reading Marathon books read during Summer Reading, count towards both programs.  To read more about how the Reading Marathon Challenge works, check out our page.

Now if you’re thinking, “26 books? Easy peasy!” be sure to stop by the Adult Services desk and tell us what you’re reading!  (The rumors are true…library staff love to talk about books.) But if you’re thinking, “26 books? You’ve got to be kidding!” Read on. You can do this, and we’re here to help, with 7 tips for success.

  1. Review Your To Be Read List– if you keep a list of books you’d like to read, pick up a Reading Marathon log sheet at the Adult Services desk and note which books fit the themes. Use Goodreads or NoveList to see covers, page counts, author info and more.
  2. Attend a book club meeting – Many AAPLD book clubs will read at least one book this year that fits a Reading Marathon theme. A few suggestions: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (Title = Family; Unicorns & Spaceships, February) Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (NYT Bestseller; Happily Ever After, April), The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters (Set overseas; Nail Biters, June), I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai (Illinois Author; Fiction Addition, July); Confessions by Kanae Minato (Translated Work; Oh, The Horror!, August); Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londono (Road on the Cover; Stranger Than Fiction, September)
  3. Browse our displays – Each month, we’ll feature two Reading Marathon themes on display in the Adult Services area by Study Room D.
  4. Look Around Your House– The “Own It, Haven’t Read It” theme lets you choose a book from your household collection. You might find unread books that fit other themes too.
  5. Try an E-book or Audiobook– While there’s nothing like curling up with a print book, ebooks and audiobooks are great for reading on the go. Listen on your commute, while working around the house, or on a road trip. Download ebooks so you always have a book handy.
  6. Ask us! Need suggestions for what to read, or want to learn to use our reading apps? Your friendly library staff is ready to help.
  7. Make reading a healthy new habit – For many of us, the problem isn’t what to read, but finding the time. Ebooks can help you fit reading into the small pockets of time you’re likely to spend scrolling. Combine audiobooks with walks, or workouts at the gym. Swap your phone, social media and news apps for a book– especially before bedtime. Your mind and body will thank you!