Becoming a new kind of reader

I’ve been a mom for 122 days, but my reading streak is 128 days. I brought a book and my Kindle to the hospital to give birth, and I read during labor and after giving birth (after a nap, of course).

For nearly my entire life, reading has been a huge part of my identity. It’s my “tell me a little bit about yourself” answer, my conversation starter and my connection to the world.

Reading while pregnant was a little difficult. I was very tired and had a lot of brain fog. Overall, though, I didn’t find it to be too bad. My worst reading month was March as I only finished three titles.

My last month of pregnancy, I read eight books as I was spending a majority of my time in the recliner in the nursery — just trying to be comfortable.

Believe it or not, my highest reading month of the year was July, my first month as a parent. I finished 10 books that month, including the one I was reading at the hospital.

As someone with an extensive collection of nearly 300 books on my five living room shelves, I’m sad to say only one of these was a physical book. Five of them were audiobooks and four were read on my Kindle.

I recently found a box of books from my childhood. There were classic children’s tales like “Eloise,” “Anne of Green Gables” and “Bridge to Terabithia.” I found two Shel Silverstein books, one nearly out of its binding. My copies of “The Borrowers” and “Harriet the Spy,” books published in 1952 and 1964, respectively, were aged when I read them as a child. Now they are really showing their years.

All this to say that I’ve always been a reader of physical books. I’ve always been a supporter of public libraries and used book sales. But since Eliza was born, I’ve read only five physical books, and one was borrowed from Erin. The other 22 were a combination of audiobooks and e-books.

I’ve always listened to a good number of audiobooks. For starters, by working at The Latest Edition Bookstore in Creston, I get access to free advanced copies of books. I use this to listen to new titles before deciding if I want to purchase. I also do it to help research new titles for the bookstore.

With covering sports, I’m often traveling long distances. Just last week, I drove about four and a half hours roundtrip for the East Union game in Montezuma. I used that time to listen to “Princess of Blood” by Sarah Hawley.

It’s the e-books that is a big switch for me. I normally have an e-book going in the background that I slowly trudge through before bed while spending most of my energy on my current physical and audio reads.

Now, the physical has taken a backseat as the e-book has become the easier way for me to consume literature. There are several reasons the e-book has become my go-to.

For starters, when I’m nursing or holding the baby, I often only have one hand free. I’m able to read books on my Kindle or on the Kindle app on my phone with just one hand. I can read physical books during this time, but it’s much more cumbersome.

At night during her feeds, I read to help me stay awake. With the white text on a black background, the Kindle hardly lights up the space. I’m able to read in the nursery with just her nightlight on. It would not be enough light to read a physical book.

Lastly, my phone is almost always in reach. Every parent (including pet parents) know there’s nothing worse than your baby getting comfortable on your lap and then you realize you forgot to bring something.

Whether it’s my water, my glasses, the TV remote, her pacifier or my book, I’m always forgetting something. It’s usually my water bottle. With the Kindle app on my phone, I always have a book on me, even when I’m nap-trapped. My audiobooks are also on there.

I’m not going to lie, it’s actually been a difficult transition. I have a lot of books on my shelf that I’m dying to read. I’ve been stumbling my way through “Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid since Sept. 29. I want to read it, but I never want to deal with the clunky hardcover and a 4 month old.

I also don’t want to purchase an e-book of a book I already physically own. It just seems silly. While I’m greatly enjoying my current e-book, “Apprentice to the Villain” by Hannah Nicole Maehrer and my current audiobook, “The Love Haters” by Katherine Center, I miss feeling the pages between my fingers.

The books on my shelf I’m most excited to read are “What Fury Brings” by Tricia Levenseller and “Semi-Well Adjusted” by Alyson Stoner.