Skokie Reads
April 21, 2022
For our May-June 2022 newsletter, which is all about reading, we spoke to some of your Skokie neighbors about what, why, and how they read. We have space here to expand on the newsletter feature, including more responses and more patrons speaking about what connects them to reading.
Abidemi
What inspires you to keep reading?
"I'm studying nursing, so I keep reading to achieve my goals in life."
What do you read for fun?
"Things about everyday life. One book that helps me relax, because it is familiar, is The Beggars’ Strike by Aminata Sow Fall."
Lyn and Ian
_HiRes_220224_01.jpg "An older man and woman, both masked, pose for the camera with their grandson (also masked) who stands between them. The woman is wearing a green shirt and brown jacket, the man is wearing a blue shirt and blue jacket, and the child is wearing a hooded sweatshirt.")
What do you read for fun?
Ian’s taste is eclectic, but he loves history. “It might be how buildings get constructed or it might be a mystery. I’m starting Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages by Dan Jones. I’ve got about four books going right now, including one on Julius Caesar's campaign in Gaul.”
Lyn: “I like mysteries, family stories. I love detective novels, anything that catches my eye, really.”
How do you make time to read regularly?
Lyn: “I try to read before I go to bed. If I have a free afternoon. I say I’m going to read for half an hour. Two hours later, I’m still reading!”
Ian reads books on his phone, allowing him to take them anywhere. “I’ve got about 200 books on here.”
Seth
What do you read for fun?
“Manga and comics”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“I read during independent reading time in class.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
"The Percy Jackson books"
Carly
What do you read for fun?
“Romance and mystery”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“In school. That’s easiest. If I put my time toward it, I can get pretty far into a book, enjoyably.”
What is the best part of picking up a new book?
“Having a new story to be immersed in, having new characters to fall in love with.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
"Pinkalicious and the Biscuit books"
Sarah
What do you read for fun?
“Mystery books and science fiction”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“I usually have a book on me, so I am usually reading during my free period or when I’m done with my assignment in class.”
What inspires you to read?
“I like to write stories myself, and I like storylines. It draws me in to see what happens with the characters. The tone of the book I’m reading, or a character’s attitude toward something, inspires my writing.”
What is the best part of picking up a new book?
“Being drawn into the storyline, finding new characters I resonate with, finding a new perspective on something I’ve read about or seen before.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
"The Harry Potter books"
Dianne
What do you read for fun?
“The news (on my phone), The New York Times, stories in French (which I’m studying)”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“I read every day. I get up in the morning and read the news. It’s really not a question of making time, it’s about not having enough time.”
What inspires you to read?
“To know more. I love to read different styles of writing. Last fall, I read all of Colson Whitehead’s books. I like to see what people are writing, what’s out in the world. Now that I’m out of school, I can just read what I want to read. It’s such a comfort in these times.”
What is the best part of picking up a new book?
“Reading a first paragraph. I want to know: ‘Okay, can they pull me in right away?’ I can kind of tell by the beginning. I love the sound of words. If that opening has a melody to it, I love it. The best part is opening the book and seeing whether I can believe I’m there in that time and place.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
“I won the book Alice in Wonderland as a prize, and I loved that book. The poetry in it and the whimsical nature of it. But I loved so many books.”
Payal
What do you read for fun?
“Fantasy and romance novels. I just finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was not my normal read, but I really enjoyed it.”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“I wake up early in the morning to read or I’ll get all my work done by 7 pm and I’ll read late into the night.”
What inspires you to read?
“I think a lot of the plots of shows and movies aren’t as good as book plots, so I like imagining things.”
What is the best part of picking up a new book?
“When they introduce the male lead, I’m like, okay, yes, it’s picking up the pace.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
“The Hush, Hush series. I still reread it to this day. I love it.”
Nichole
What do you read for fun?
“Fantasy, romance, and mystery”
How do you make time to read regularly?
“I usually just make time. I don’t watch as much TV as I used to. It came to a point where my mom was like, put down the book and go watch TV. I was going to the library and getting three books a week.”
What inspires you to read?
“Seeing other people read. I always say that the book’s better than the movie. The books really give you everything and the movie doesn’t.
What is the best part of picking up a new book?
“The introduction of the characters is what really draws me in and keeps me reading.”
What was your favorite book growing up?
“The Selection series. It’s literally The Bachelor, but in a book. It’s my comfort book.”