In an interview, acclaimed writer, feminist and genius Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie admitted that the one advice she gives aspiring writers in her workshops is “to read and read and read. I’m a believer in reading, to see the wide range of what’s been written. I’m also a believer in reading what you dislike at least once, just to know. I often say to my students, “I’m going to have you read something I don’t like.” I don’t like cold fiction. I don’t like fiction that is an experiment. I find that often it’s the boys in the class who love the fiction I don’t like. I say to them, “I’ll tell you why I don’t like it. And, then, if you like it, I want you to tell me why.” Most of all I believe in reading for what you can learn in terms of not just craft and technique but worldview. It’s important to think about sentences and how one develops character and all of that, but also to think about what the story is as a big thing. Most of all, we have fun in the workshops. For me, it’s important that we find reasons to laugh. And we mostly do.”
Who doesn’t agree with Chimamanda? However, we are constantly exposed to a great information load; how much time are we really spending reading anything longer than 300 words?
Reading is an untapped resource
We are all aware of the amazing benefits of reading (such as improved vocabulary and writing skills, creative thinking and helps you become an amazing small talk generator at network parties), but we battle to find the time to turn our smartphones off and just read! How can use technology to our advantage on this one?
We asked the TSIBA Community to share the 3 Best Reading Apps that allow them to read books & connect with their book club on the go! The apps are all free, so you better give them a try!
1. Anybooks
Andrew Selondo, BBA 3 Student and Founder of the TSIBA Book Club, highly recommends Anybooks “The application lets you read books for free with a great interface, which includes a Dictionary setting if you want to look up a word. You can create your own digital bookshelf with books you plan to or are busy reading. The real advantage for us students is that once you have downloaded a book, you don’t need data to finish the book.
2. Goodreads
“Goodreads is the Facebook of book lovers!”says Clotilde Angelucci, Story Lead at TSIBA. “Once you are signed up, you can create your own bookshelf, write reviews and see what your friends are up in terms of reading. This provides a great form of inspiration, as I have explored different genres and authors like never before! If you are into social challenges, Goodreads helps you set up a number of books you wish to read before the end of the year and monitors your goal.”
3. Our Own Book Club
If you struggle at managing your Book Club, this one if for you! Our Own Book Club is an online management platform that will change the way you manage your group. Atiyyah Karlie, Fundraising Administrator & Brand genius raves about the tool, “Besides reminders and the digitial bookshelf option, Our Own Book Club has a chat option, so that I can discuss the book of the month with the other members of the book club, even if we’re not in the same city or country’. One of the features, oobSeer, can break any impasse by choosing the next read, as it will randomly pick a title from the ones your club added to the Suggested Books section.
These 3 apps are free and will help you slot reading (social or not) smoothly in your life. Do you have other apps that you would like to recommend? Post in the comment section!