As I draft this post, I've just spent the most perfect day reading. Because the topic is "Freebie," I get to decide what I want to write about. I'm really disappointed with my own reading as of late and don't want to bore everyone with another list of books that I almost always wind up writing about it. So, I'm going to write about my top ten ingredients for a perfect day of reading. You're welcome to create your own top ten list about whatever you want. Please share your link below.
In my experience, perfect days of reading aren't planned. They just kind of happen to me. All of the days I've woken up with the intention of reading all day get scrapped around lunchtime. But my favorite readings days just sort of developed. That said, there are some common ingredients that you need to have if, on the off chance, you wake up and a perfect reading day unfolds...
1. First of all, you need to sleep in a little bit, but not so much that you've slept through half of the day. Me, I woke up at about 8:15, which is two hours later than I usually get to sleep on a Monday. I was well-rested, but not hungover from too much sleep.
2. Coffee! Coffee is a must every single day. But there is no better way to start a day than to read while you drink your coffee. This has become a total rarity for me, so I was happy to partake.
3. A super breakfast. My usual weekday breakfast consists of a breakfast sandwich of some kind and it's usually eaten at my desk at work. But today was a holiday and, so I made some amazing blueberry pancakes from scratch, doused them in syrup. Then I ate them regally in bed.
4. Good books to switch back and forth between. Obviously. Can't have a day of reading without some books. Personally, I've been reading The Grapes of Wrath and Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses. I think that they strike a great balance--fiction and memoir. I can get lost in the novel for a couple of hours, then take a short break to read a chapter from Dederer.
5. A nice snack or snacks. You can totally pig out on a perfect reading day and there will be no judgment. Food groups don't exactly exist on these days. I stayed super full from breakfast until just now. I am going to eat some popcorn because I have dinner plans, which leads me to my next item--
6. An escape of some kind. Basically, you need to have some sort of option to distract you because feeling obligated to read all day with no escape in sight is not as appealing as it sounds. (Maybe this explains why I suck at readathons...) Tonight I have dinner plans. They make a great addition to a day of reading by giving you a nice break and some human interaction. But you can have any sort of distraction lined up--a walk outside, coffee with a friend, a movie, whatever you can do for a couple of hours and then blissfully return to your books.
7. Quiet. I love my boyfriend with all my heart...but it felt really good to be able to spend the day just reading and not having to worry about anyone feeling ignored or slighted. Granted, sometimes when it's this quiet and I'm this free to read all day, I have a hard time concentrating, but not today!
8. Good concentration. I am totally not one of those people who are blessed with the ability to read while the TV is on. I guess I do OK if someone had selected a show I'm really not interested in, but even so, if there is a loud noise, I wind up looking up from my book. So I just haven't turned on the TV today. At all. It's been really nice, though it is killing me because there is an NCIS marathon on. Also? Really hard to not check Twitter and Facebook a million times an hour, but once I go without checking for a couple of hours, I kind of forget about it. (I really can't find a good picture for this one...)
9. A comfy place to read. Obviously, if you're going to be sitting on your butt ignoring the outside world for long stretches of time, you need to be comfortable. Most of the day, I've been reading in bed with the overhead fan on. This allowed me to stretch out, change positions, and cover up if I got cold or throw off the covers when I got warm. The bedroom also has the advantage of there being no TV to tempt me. But the living room is great for sitting up and reading because I can go with the couch or the chair. I decided to move into the living room to do a little work and read for a bit before going to dinner or maybe watch some NCIS...
10. Comfy clothes. Again, a huge part of being able to sit and read all day is being comfortable. I've stayed in my yoga pants (I'd live in them if I could) and a t-shirt all day. Naturally, I plan to put on real clothes before I meet my friend for supper, but once I'm home? Back in the yoga pants. This is also important if you plan to eat copious amounts of food while reading all day. Tight pants just aren't fun. And dresses just aren't the best for all of the crazy positions you find yourself in while reading for hours.
There you have it. My top ten ingredients for a perfect day of reading. Can't wait to see your top ten list, whatever you choose to write about.
Also--Come back on Thursday for a Special Announcement...
Definitely coffee!!! :) My TTT is Top Ten Fictional Places I'd Love to Vacation: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/05/27/vacation/
ReplyDeleteAlice @ Alice in Readerland
Cute premise. I agree about having books to alternate between.
ReplyDeleteI love your topic choice. I feel like that describes my exact day today. No husband, comfy clothes, coffee and breakfeast and lots of books! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on the comfy place and the comfy clothes. Though I've mastered the multitask when it comes to reading. I can read while watching tv, and even while walking my dog. But I can understand how some people may find it had to concentrate and focus on the story.
ReplyDeleteI would substitute tea for coffee, and I don't always like to alternate books. But other than that, you've pretty much described a perfect reading day in my lexicon, too. Oh -- I might throw in spending some time knitting and listening to an audiobook, too.
ReplyDeleteLove your topic so so fun. I totally have to agree and definitely multiple snacks ;)
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten
I have to have my to-do list taken care of in order to truly commit to solid hours of reading. If I know I have tons of chores or work-related things to do I can't enjoy my time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea! Have to agree with the necessity for coffee (an absolute MUST) and comfy clothes to settle in for the perfect day of reading.
ReplyDeleteAmazing idea for a topic! Great list!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect day! I had one like that yesterday -- slept in, lots of coffee, sat in the sun on my back porch for a few hours with good books, lots of quiet -- heaven!!
ReplyDeleteSuper idea for a topic! Those are definitely the perfect ingredients for a day of reading (except I'd change coffee to hot chocolate ;))!
ReplyDelete- Eve @ Every Flavour Books
Love this top ten! I definitely agree with clothes, whenever I try to read in street clothes I'm also fidgeting and can't really focus as much.
ReplyDeleteAlise @ Readers In Wonderland
My Top Ten Tuesday
I just had a golden weekend (i.e. no shifts on Saturday or Sunday) and Saturday was one such perfect reading day! I don't drink coffee, but African rooibos tea does it for me. I'm also fortunate that The Boy makes delicious breakfasts and loves him some peace and quiet too. "An escape" is an excellent point, I had never thought of it like that before.
ReplyDeleteLove your top ten!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten YA Book Series:
Eveline's Books
Yes, that describes it. Glorious. A perfect day of reading!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I'm not teaching this summer, so I'm looking forward to a few days like this. I'm woefully behind in my reading.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list! I spent the vast majority of my day writing because I found that I had the ingredients for the perfect writing day, which are pretty similar to your ingredients for a perfect reading day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list! I spent most of my Memorial Day writing, and I had several of the ingredients you had for your perfect reading day, so I guess it works for either one!
ReplyDeleteI love your list sums up the prefect reading setting
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the inability to read with a TV on; so distracting!
ReplyDeleteThe place is important! Great list =)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great top ten, all the ingredients for the perfect reading day. Those pancake pictures are making me feel hungry!
ReplyDeleteI chose to write about the book settings I'd most like to live in or to visit. Some books just make me long to pack my bags and board a plane - or TARDIS, or some kind of reality-hopper into bookland.
http://katiesbookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/top-ten-tuesday-book-settings-i-want-to.html
Wonderful list! Sounds like you had a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteI love this! You've got all the important considerations down to a t.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an amazing day. Great list.
ReplyDeleteSwap tea for coffee and you would have my perfect reading day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun meme. This is my first one. Thank you for hosting.
ReplyDelete~Summer
My Blog
Honestly, my perfect reading day would involve getting out of bed as little as possible. Great idea for a post!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great list! Today is my birthday so I decided to list 10 books that are also celebrating birthdays today! It was harder than I thought it would be! :)
ReplyDeleteI chose top ten books i've read this year (so far) :)
ReplyDeletehttp://booksabc.com/2013/05/28/top-ten-tuesday-freebie/
I definitley agree with coffee and a comfy place to read.
ReplyDeleteFun topic! Change the coffee to cocoa, and that IS a perfect list of necessary items :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so with you on this list! I have to start my morning off with coffee, it's a must.
ReplyDeleteFor me quiet, comfy clothes, a good book, and a comfy place, are extremely important. It makes the reading experience so much more enjoyable!
I would be most bothered if I didn't have at least one of coffee & quiet. I would probably would feel so blessed when that good concentration was delivered to my brain...
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed joining TTT for the first time ever. I had a bad first attempt but life goes on: http://spreadingukya2013.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-ten-tuesday-freebie-what-reviewing.html
Love Your list. I think I'll have to make a list like this in my head, and then do it! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Top Ten Tuesday! Thanks for hosting!
Totally agree about alternating books. I can't read just one at a time. I always read 2-4 at once.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Sadly I don't have "reading days" anymore - haven't had one since I was in high school and got days off from school (and even then most days off I'd spend at my grandparents'). I'm hoping that by moving into my own condo next month I'll be able to have more time for myself. We'll see if that happens...
ReplyDeleteThe bright side about missing out on an NCIS marathon is there's always another one right around the corner. I appreciate USA finding any excuse possible to marathon it :)
ReplyDeleteLol! Sounds wonderful and I know what you mean about getting to enjoy a quiet day without people feeling they're being ignored.
ReplyDeleteI chose to go back and pick a previous top ten - a quiet day is something I relish as well:)
ReplyDeleteI totally get the "quiet" one! My family likes to turn up the TV really loud, and I just can't concentrate. I also hate getting interrupted when I'm in the middle of a good story. A lot of the time I have to lock myself in my room!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to check out "Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses", sounds like it could be a fun read! I just read a great book called “Secrets of a Spiritual Guru” by Tamara Lee Dorris. I loved it and would definitely recommend it; it somewhat pokes fun and serious topics and is a nice breath of fresh air. You should check out her website, http://tamaradorris.net/ and some of the other books she’s written. Thanks for this post, love everything about it and since it's supposed to rain tomorrow, I think I might take these cues and spend the day reading!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic list! We have very similar reading habits - quiet, drink (tea instead of coffee for me), snacks. And to make my next perfect reading day even better, I got a new reading chair yesterday :-)
ReplyDeleteVyki @ On The Shelf
It's strange, but I can read quite well if there's a television on. I can't deal with background music at all, but television is no problem. I think my brain just thinks of TV dialog as a neighboring table at a restaurant and filters it right out for me. Thanks, Brain!
ReplyDeleteI wrote my TTT this week on books about people who read.
Top Ten Harry Potter moments for me.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could have a day like that! Since it was my first Top Ten Tuesday I decided to keep it simple and do a list of my top ten favourite book covers of 2013! :)
ReplyDeleteJoana @ Joana In The Sky With Books
I just posted my first ever Top 10. I'm excited to see what others chose.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really unique idea for a top ten list! :)
ReplyDeleteI dream of this being everyday. It doesn't really happen, unfortunately. Your day sounds great.
ReplyDeleteYes to All..agree with all 10 points!! Maybe a nice ocean view or mountain vista to look out at?
ReplyDeleteYes to everything (except coffee). Never been able to get into the stuff. Too bitter.
ReplyDelete