Reading big books can appear exciting and challenging at the same time. A little while ago, I finished reading a big book with 1000+ pages without skipping a single page and it was a non-fiction book. The genre is not the point here, however, reading fiction is relatively easy and quick as compared to non-fiction. A lot of times we purchase a big book out of excitement and then it lives in our to-read shelf for a long time before we actually start reading it.
Any book longer than 700 pages is usually considered as a big book. Here are few really effective tips that can keep you motivated while reading big books until the end. Regardless of the genre you choose, these will be definitely helpful.
1. Choose a genre/subject that suits your mood
Choosing a book according to your mood is an important factor. You might have interests in a variety of different genres. But, in every phase of your life, there will always be a genre which will interest you the most. Choose a genre or subject you are willing to dive into deeper. For instance, there was a time when I was curious about history and I was searching for some good and unbiased book about Indian history. One of my friends recommended me India after Gandhi. If I would have picked some other genre like romance or spirituality, It would have been very hard for me to finish that. So choose wisely according to your mood. Also, Do proper research and pick something which has good reviews. You won’t want to read something which is not worthy of your time. Additionally, You can read my book review on Indian after Gandhi.
2. Buy/Borrow a nice print
Reading a huge book means spending hours of time looking at that. Whenever I plan something to read, especially a big book. If there are different formats available, I tend to choose a format with a quality print, nice cover and steady binding. Because I don’t want to spend 15-20 hours looking into something which doesn’t feel good in the hand. The content of the book is still the primary factor to hold your interest but having a nice print will also attract you to pick the book again and again. Try to start as soon as you buy it. The interest of starting is usually at its peak when you lay your hands over it for the first time.
3. Plan for a book review
Planning a book review while reading big books can help you to read it with more attention. Create a simple plan to write a book review after you finish a long book. There are two main benefits to that. One, You’ll be pushed to read with extra attention which will increase your interest in the subject and eventually make it easy for you reading the book till the end. Moreover, your book review can be helpful to your fellow readers. You might find some helpful tips on writing a book review on my blog: How to write a book review – a step by step guide.
4. Don’t read in small chunks of time
Whenever you are reading a big book, try to read at least for an hour. Don’t just spend the reading time in small chunks of 10 -15 mins. You’ll be able to read more and properly when you read for an hour as compared to reading 15 minutes for four times.
5. Slow down occasionally
Wherever you feel something needs more attention or a portion of the book looks uninteresting. Slow down the reading, don’t just be in a hurry to get through that. Be careful of skimming something important because later, you might feel lost. Though you can skip or skim the part you feel unimportant but do it intentionally.
6. Consistency is the key for reading big books
Some people read a hundred pages one day and ten pages the next day and skip the third day. That is not a good way especially for reading big books. Read less but do it consistently. Try to keep a target of a small number of pages per day but don’t be too harsh. For example, If I am going to read a 900-page book, I’d make a target of at 30 pages per day even though I can easily read 50 pages a day. 30 per day adds up pretty quickly and you can finish a 900-page book in just a month. You’ll feel good when the number of pages increases gradually under your left thumb.
7. Switch to other books in between
Sometimes, reading one thing for a long time can discourage many people. If that is the case with you, I suggest reading a small book (150-200 page) in parallel. It is fine to switch to some other genres for a mind refresh. That will motivate you to make progress on the big book as well as the joy of finishing a book, both at the same time.
Do you love reading big books? Share your reviews or tips in the comment section and please leave
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