Every reader has a different experience with books. Reading is an amazing habit, one that can benefit you in more ways than one. It’s important to know how to optimize your reading experience.

Here’s a list of things that will either make you a better reader or make the act of reading more pleasurable!

1. Start a reading journal.

I’m adding this one at the top because not enough people do it! Dedicate a journal or notebook to document your thoughts about the book you’re reading. It will enhance your own thinking and will help you formulate a better idea about the book. Write what you feel and think about the characters and emotions portrayed in the book!

2. Don’t forget the tea!

A refreshing mint or jasmine tea can uplift your reading experience. It will also be great for your health!

3. Understand why you read.

You could read a book in more ways than one. You could read a book for the thrill and entertainment or you could read it to learn something. For example, Marissa Meyer’s book Cinder is part of a highly popular series. Many people love the fun stuff in the book but when I read it I saw how wonderfully the book inverted the ‘Prince Charming as saviour’ narrative.

4. Become your own curator.

Your bookshelf says a lot about you! If you love science fiction, look for classics in the genre to know how it all started. If you love YA fiction, try to read a few literary fiction or crime fiction. Try to read a bit of everything. If you’re a literary snob like me who loves the classics and literary fiction, then pick up a YA every once in a while.

5. But, read what you like.

Don’t force yourself to like a book just because everyone else likes it. Forcing yourself to read a book may put you in a reading slump.

6. Beware of the Reading Slump.

Reading slumps are every bookworm’s nightmare. Yes, it’s when you lose the motivation to read. The best solution is rereading your favourites like Alice in Wonderland or Harry Potter!

7. Read the book? Now discuss it!

Join a book club or discuss a book on Goodreads, your blog or even your Facebook status. You’ll be amazed by the different opinions that can come up in a discussion! If you like the idea of a book club but don’t have one in your location – start your own!

8. Improve your language.

Whether you read in English or Arabic, there’s always room for you to improve your language. Take note of new words and try to use them in your life. You can also highlight or underline words or sentences that you find different or interesting.

9. Use Goodreads’ Reading Update Feature

This feature is amazing. It allows you to update your progress by page number or percentage. You can add your comments about the book along with the progress update. Your friends on Goodreads can see your updates and know whether you’re enjoying the book or not. It’s definitely useful if you write reviews because you can always go back to check what your thoughts!

10. Beginnings and Endings.

Often the most important parts of a book are the beginnings and endings. Think about them both when you finish a book. What started it all? What changed? These are important questions.

Whether its entertainment or a memorable lesson, what you take from a book is what matters the most in the end because we are what we read.