On Shelf Help
How you doin'? Work therapy, a reading habit and links worth your time, energy and attention
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
How are you today? This the latest instalment of my newsletter series about habits. Here is part one and part two. Today I want to talk about how to create a reading habit. For me, that became very important in 2022 when I realised that my previous status as a voracious reader had gone out the window because lockdown had really affected my attention span.
In 2022 I took out a book called Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. I renewed it six times over four months - the librarian laughed at me! I was determined to finish this book and yet I couldn’t finish this book. I just didn’t have the attention span to finish it. Anyway, I got there in the end but the experience reinforced my desire to create a walking book club for some accountability, motivation and momentum.
Regular reading and motivation
In January 2023, I launched the Urban Curiosity Walking Book Club. It’s free, energising and it does what it says on the tin. Our March 2023 book is Work Therapy: Or, The Man Who Mistook His Job for His Life by Naomi Shragai.
We meet outside Made in Greenwich, which is where I host my monthly London writers retreats and we set off towards Greenwich Park where, with permission from the Royal Parks, I lead us through different points in the park and different points in the book. We reflect on themes and topics that have come up in the book.
The way I’ve structured the walk means it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the book - you can still come along and engage in nice conversation, discussion and reflection. If you haven’t finished it yet or you’ve bought it and intend to read it, you’ll still gain something from turning up.
It’s a nice thing to do each month. For me, it means I’m reading and finishing at least one non-fiction book. For my readers, they’re coming together with people from different walks of life. We meet and walk, reflect and discuss. I’ve got some repeat readers, which is good.
Finding the right book club
One of the other big reasons I launched the Urban Curiosity Walking Book Club is because often book clubs can sometimes feel inaccessible or a bit intimidating. Certainly that was my experience when I was younger. For instance, I would go to a book club having been invited along to someone else’s book club and found it cliquey or that people with very strong opinions and fondness for the sound of their own voice would dominate the conversation. Or perhaps I’d be stuck next to someone who wasn’t my cup of tea. (Let’s face it, potentially I’m someone else’s not-quite-right-cup-of-tea and that’s the way life goes.)
I would go to a book club having been invited along to someone else’s book club and found it cliquey or that people with very strong opinions and fondness for the sound of their own voice would dominate the conversation.
The beauty of a walking book club is that you’re out and about in the fresh air, you’re walking and moving, you are able to gravitate from one question and one pairing or trio of fellow readers to another as you progress through the park and through the walk. It means you can meet lots of different people; hear and exchange lots of different thoughts, ideas and experiences without it being intimidating or uncomfortable.
Some people aren’t comfortable with sharing their thoughts aloud to a whole room with lots people staring at them. Others aren’t so comfortable with lots of direct eye contact. So the walking book club model is a good alternative way to bring people together and reflect.
A non-fiction reading habit
I have deliberately made the Urban Curiosity Walking Book Club a nonfiction one and that’s because so that it can complement the work I’m doing in my business. It may be that it changes in the future and I introduce novels or crime fiction. For now, I’m working hard to choose books that are varied.
Anyway, I am waffling now… this is my first go at a Substack voiceover and I’m trying to be a one-take wonder. I’m coming up to five-minutes, which is quite a long time or it will be when I transcribe this.
In essence, I have built a reading habit that is helping me in my life and in my business by creating some public accountability and by making it something that’s fun. I’m looking forward to seeing my regular readers in a couple of weekends’ time and I’d love for you to be one of them. I have designed the Urban Curiosity Walking Book Club so it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read or finished the book because I will share sections and reflections, then pose some questions to help steer the conversation.
Tell me in the comments if you’re reading much at the moment? Do you read audio books or books you can touch? Do you prefer e-readers? Let me know.
Have a great weekend.
Curiously yours,
Clare
Links worth your time, energy & attention
The Paddy Irishman Project: a project aiming to capture what it’s like to be Irish and male in contemporary Ireland.
Seeking bold artists: AiR launch one-year artist residency for long-term research and relationship-building in Whitechapel, Spitalfields, Aldgate areas
Print is Dead Podcast: the thrill of discovering incredible talent and the responsibility that comes with sending photojournalists into harm’s way
Collaboration in the charity sector: Mhairi Sharp on why the National Emergencies Trust doesn’t exist without the rest of the sector.
Events, talks & resources
Arab Women Artists Now (AWAN) Festival 2023: Bethnal Green-based Arts Canteen present this showcase of music, performance, spoken word, film and talks from Arab women across the world
Urban Curiosity Walking Book Club: our March book is Work Therapy: Or, The Man Who Mistook His Job for His Life. Come even if you haven’t read it!
Laughter Medicine at Woolwich Works: comedian Jason Patterson brings his work-in-progress show to south-east London. Tickets from just £6!
An Opinionated Guide to Free London: a new title from Hoxton Mini Press.
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