M. Suzanne Terry

I have loved books all my life. If you had asked different family members when I learned to read, you would probably have gotten a variety of answers. Mom would confirm that it wasn’t until I started first grade that I really started reading on my own, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, church nursery workers, and babysitters would have sworn that I started earlier. As soon as I could sit up and hold them, I could entertain myself for hours just by flipping through the pages of my favorite books. I even tricked MeMaw into thinking I could read when I was about three years old because Mom had read the Little Golden Book version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to me so many times that I could not only recite it from memory but also follow the words with my finger and turn the pages at the right time, just like she did. 

One of the clearest ways I find joy is through reading. I definitely have my preferences, but I’ll read almost anything, particularly if I have people to talk to about it. I am insatiably curious. If I don’t think I’m sufficiently informed on a subject, I may Google it first, but that’s mostly to find books on the subject so that I can delve more deeply into the topic. A cozy evening at home alone usually involves a comforting beverage and my latest fiction obsession. For what it’s worth, I think that would also be a great date. Bring your book, I’ll bring mine, and let’s see where this goes. Or let’s bring each other books that we love. So many possibilities.

I track my reading, not only through monthly TBR lists that I post here but also by rating the ones I finish through Goodreads. I set a yearly goal, and this is the first year I’m actually ahead of schedule (by 15 books!). This month, I’m going to be talking about different aspects of my reading life each day. I am likely to gush about books and genres I particularly love, give tips for reading more, proclaim my adoration of book clubs, and talk about what I look for in a bookshop or reading nook. Unlike my other 31 days series, I don’t have a set rhythm for general topics. I’ll just post thoughts in the order that they come to me and keep the master list here. Hope you enjoy it!

Day 1 – Favorite September Reads
Day 2 – October TBR
Day 3 – How I Track My Reading
Day 4 – Your Book Club Personality
Day 5 – First Book Club of the Month
Day 6 – Contemporary Romance
Day 7 – How To Read More
Day 8 – Five Favorite Bookish Apps
Day 9 – The Joy of Shelfies
Day 10 – Not a Competition
Day 11 – Books for Celebrating National Coming Out Day
Day 12 – Where I Read
Day 13 – Poetry
Day 14 – Favorite Children’s Books
Day 15 – 5 Books About Books
Day 16 – Library Book Club
Day 17 – Reading Cookbooks
Day 18 – Food Memoirs
Day 19 – Church Book Club
Day 20 – Foodie Fiction
Day 21 – How I Get Out of a Reading Rut
Day 22 – Five Authors I Will Always Read
Day 23 – Reading for a Cause
Day 24 – Strangelings, Happy Endings, and Nowhere
Day 25 – Surrounded (Minor Thesis on a Dream)
Day 26 – In Praise of Audiobooks
Day 27 – Memoirs
Day 28 – Follow The Reader
Day 29 – Five Books That Inspire Me
Day 30 – For the Love of Bookshops
Day 31 – Final Thoughts