I’ll cut right to the chase.
Today, I’m not talking about Sustainable Sex Toys or Greenwashing.
Bold move. I know.
I’m talking about something else I’m equally passionate about.
Reading aloud with my partner.
I do it every night. In bed. And it’s one of the most intimate things we do.
In This Article, We'll Cover:
- Why Reading Aloud is Really Awesome
- How to Start Reading Aloud
- How to Pick Your First Book
- How to Support Independent Bookstores
Reading Aloud: Not Just For Kids
When did reading aloud become synonymous with childhood?
There’s lots of research and data praising reading aloud to children.
Why stop when we get older?
Growing up, my parents read aloud at night, on road trips, and on summer days sprawled over our trampoline. We read aloud until I moved away for college.
I didn’t outgrow reading aloud. There was no end date.
And now, I read aloud with my partner.
What started as a coping skill to ease their anxiety before bed, has become a beloved pass time. We read on road trips, out in nature, or during power outages by candlelight.
When we read aloud, there’s nothing but the story, my partner, and me. Swept off to lands unknown. Histories untold. It’s another world we go to. And, we go together.
Reading is one of the few things where the process itself, not just the end, pleases us.
We read to read.
The end goal isn’t the last page.
It’s finding a book so enthralling that you keep turning pages. Unaware of how far you’ve read, and how far there is to go.
Reading is a moment. Savored.
All you need is a book.
Just Pick A Book
Just deciding on a book can be powerful moments shared. Start conversations you’ve might never had before.
Picking a book is an adventure too.
For my partner and me, we dove into our childhoods. Reminisced about beloved books. Share complaints for dull school-assigned readings.
My bookshelf of novels, carted across the country, became an exhibit.
These books, not others, trekked the world as I followed employment. Why? What made them worthy of precious cargo space? What made them enjoyable? These were questions only I knew answers to. Now my partner does too.
Decide on a book together. Or take turns picking one. Maybe just pick one from a shelf.
I prefer reading printed books. There’s something about reading aloud from a screen that takes away from experience for my partner and I. But if you prefer digital media, go for it!
Here’s a few book ideas to get you thinking:
Childhood Favorites
Who cares if it’s “youth” fiction. You like it? Read it!
The first 10 novels I read aloud were all childhood favorites. Written for a 10 year old. And you know what, my partner enjoyed them.
Sharing these books told another story to my partner too. The story of my youth. What fascinated me, what scared me, what developed my love of writing.
It’s a intimate way of getting to know someone deeper when you share childhood books.
Books with Movie Adaptations
This is helpful if you or your reading partner need some help visualizing. It works well for the reader and listener.
Before reading the book, watch the movie version. This can help with world building and put faces to names. Then, when you read aloud, you can fall back onto the movie scenes. Instead of fabricating everything from scratch.
My partner and I did this strategy. The first books I read aloud had movie adaptations. My partner, skeptical of their auditory comprehension, found watching the movies beforehand helpful.
Books on Subjects You Like
Whatever interests you, there’s a book for it.
There are no books you “should” read.
What are “classics” anyway? Just books that make me feel guilty for not reading them.
Read what you like. However that looks.
If you start a book and aren’t feeling it, that’s okay. Pick another book. No guilt. Read what you enjoy.
Fanfiction
I have an unashamed passion for reading and writing fanfiction. I’ve not read fanfiction aloud, but if you want to, go for it!
Fanfiction is an opportunity to take a story you already love and add to it. Make it yours.
Thought a favorite movie needed another hero? Boom! Fanfiction has it.
Want a different romantic paring of your beloved characters? Sure!
Fanfiction is your favorite fiction made more awesome.
And Fanfiction is a labor of love. Authors devote to writing, often with enough chapters to write their book. But they don’t make a cent. They write for the joy of writing and the love of the story.
Erotica
Erotica has come a long way from gathering dust and embarrassed glances at the convince store checkout line.
Erotica is crafted prose. Literary excellence that explores all kinds of sex, sexual fantasy, desire, and kinks. Reading erotica aloud can start conversations about sex, what you like, don’t like, what you’re curious about.
Reading erotica aloud can be just for reading. Or it can be foreplay. Or a script for role-playing.
However you like it, there’s erotica for it.
Books in Another Language
Maybe your partner is learning your first language. Maybe you’re learning theirs. Maybe you’re both learning a new one together.
Reading aloud is an opportunity for language acquisition. As both speaker and listener.
Your Own Writing
I’ve spent a night reading my own poetry to my partner. And I’m writing a novel now that I’m sure we’ll read aloud eventually.
Reading our personal works aloud lets us experience our writing in a new way.
Anything!
You don’t have to read a book.
There’s lots to read out there. Magazines, poetry, community newspaper, a movie script, comic books, a cookbook.
My friend reads random Wikipedia pages to their partner before bed.
There’s no right way to read aloud. Just read something. Anything.
Pick A Place
Where to read?
Anywhere!
Reading aloud is as mobile as you want it to be. Couch, bed, car, or park bench. Wherever you like.
My partner and I read often. Every night in bed, on road trips, when we go hiking, and at the beach.
We like to bring snacks when we read out in nature, and dress for the weather. That way, hunger bellies or cold weather doesn’t interfere.
Support a Cause
Reading aloud is powerful.
What’s also powerful? Supporting causes you like.
Like libraries? Reading aloud is a great fit! Borrowing books from the library is not only cheaper than going to the movies, it supports local jobs. Yay librarians!
If your library doesn’t have the book you want to read, then there’s still an opportunity to help your community.
Your local bookstore.
Shopping at a local bookshop supports your local community, local jobs, and local businesses. Better than online marketplace shopping. (1, 5, 6)
Shopping local means ~ 2/3 of every dollar spent stays in local communities. Shopping local has ~7x more positive impact on communities than online third-party shopping. (1, 6)
There are two exceptions.
Bookshop.org and BetterWorldBooks®. Both are great online shops with positive impacts. Locally and globally.
1. Bookshop.org, Libro.fm Audiobooks, 'My Must Reads' E-Books
Bookshop.org is a convenient online marketplace connects you to local bookshops.
You can buy directly from your local bookstore or choose a store, like a Black–Owned bookshop to shop directly through.
Or you can buy through bookshop.org without selecting a specific store. Bookshop.org will split the sale amongst independently owned bookshops across the US.
Added awesomeness? Bookshop.org collaborates with Libro.fm, an audiobook platform.
When you buy an audiobook, that sale can still support local bookstores!
There’s a fantastic list of Indigenous–Owned and Black–Owned bookstores at Libro.fm you can shop audiobooks from too.
While not for everyone, audiobooks do offer a more sustainable reading option. There’s no shipping, no packaging, no paper book. And while not free, like at the library, audiobooks typically cost less than physical books.
Wait! There’s more!
If you prefer E-books, Bookshop.org also partners with My Must Reads, an E-reader app. I’ve not used this app myself, But it’s another no shipping, no packaging, no paper option that still supports local bookstores. Yay options!
For digital formats on Bookshop.org check out the “Get the Audio Book” or “Get the E-book” link located under the print options.
Company Kudos
- Connects book, e-book, and audiobook lovers to local, independently owned bookshops.
- Every Sales have distributed over $14million dollars for independent bookstores across the US. Purchased is a book donated to someone is need. Over 26million donations and counting.
- Partners with Libro.fm and My Must Reads, providing digital formats and audiobooks that still support local bookstores.
- When you shop for books, you’re supporting local communities & local jobs.
(1, 2)
2. BetterWorldBooks®
Where bookshop.org is USA and local bookshop focused, BetterWorldBooks®, focuses on, well, the world.
Most books sold are donated or surplus, rather than from shops directly. This business model has different impacts.
It’s up to which ones you’d rather support.
Company Kudos
- Accepts book donations from libraries, drop off centers, textbook drives, and surplus inventory.
- Carbon offsetting shipping options.
- Certified B-Corporation®
- Every book purchased is a book donated to someone is need. Over 26million donations and counting.
- Funds Annual Literacy Grants for libraries and educational non-profits around the world.
- Has reused or recycled over 300 million books.
- Offers employees paid time off for volunteer work.
(3,4)
The Takeaway Message
Reading is awesome. Reading aloud is too!
Reading aloud is a rare screen-free pleasure. One that often leads to conversations and experiences you might not otherwise had.
What to read, where, and how long is all up to you and whom you’re reading with.
Here’s some inspiration:
- Books in another language
- Books with movie adaptations
- Childhood favorites
- Erotica
- Fanfiction
- Genre-based novels: historical fiction, mystery, autobiography, politics
- My Bookshelf
- Personal works
- Poerty
Here’s another awesome thing about reading aloud: You can support your local community while you do it!
Borrowing books from the library or shopping at a local bookstore. Both supports your community, local economy, and local jobs. Better than online book shopping. (1, 5)
But here’s two exceptions if you do prefer to shop online:
These two online bookshops offer ethical shopping that can support your community, local bookstores, educational nonprofits, local jobs, or redirecting used books from landfills.
Reading aloud. Bringing folks together. Helping the world. My favorite things.
That’s How i Healthy!
-Artemis
- Hebert, Bridgett. “Support Your Local Community by Shopping Small.” S. Chamber of Commerce, 27 Nov. 2018, https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/everything-you-need-to-know-about-small-business-saturday
- About BookShop, https://bookshop.org/info/about-us
- “Our Impact.” About Better World Books, https://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/mission
- Better World Books Cares, https://cares.betterworldbooks.com/
- American Booksellers Association &Civic Economics, 2019, Prime Numbers, http://nebula.wsimg.com/4f6bb2c546c33ca88b1084a9a04d4541?AccessKeyId=8E410A17553441C49302&disposition=0&alloworigin= 1
- Independent We Stand, The North American Retail Hardware Association, The Paint and Decorating Retailers Association, Civic Economics, 2018, Home Sweet Home. Locals Vs Amazon, www.independentwestand.org/wp-content/uploads/Home-Sweet-Home-Amazon_.pdf
