I woke up this morning to raindrops outside; I noticed the impressions on the small river behind my apartment, and a local meteorologist confirmed the activity as I watched the news while getting ready for work. Oh, how I daydreamed about staying home, opening up a book, finishing that book, opening another, and so on, but – oh, the humanity! – I still had to go to work, far away from my bookshelves and piles of novels. I got some satisfaction when at lunch, I was able to live inside a few pages of the book that claims current residency in my bag: The Pier Falls.
By the time I left work the sun was shining and the rain was long gone, but I still had rainy day reading on my mind. So I decided to create a guide to this particular type of reading for the next time clouds decide to dominate the day. Follow closely…
Choose a variety of reading materials
My go-to reading materials for a rainy day are a book (okay, two or more), the stack of half-read The New Yorker magazines floating around my apartment, and an electronic device on which to read blog posts.
Choose a beverage – remember, it’s a rainy day so time doesn’t exist!
Wine is my beverage of choice. A rosé or Pinot Grigio will do just fine.
If you are up early or feel like something with less alcohol content, tea will do just fine. It’s true, I would choose coffee over tea in any other situation, but tea’s appeal heightens dramatically when wind and rain are pounding the windows of your abode.
Choose a spot in your place of residence
Ah, the most important decision you’ll make in this process. Do you choose your bed? Undeniably comfortable, but perhaps too much risk of falling asleep. Hey there, couch. Eternally reliable, but maybe you’re feeling a new spot for this dreary day. Recliner/easy chair? You can lay back or sit up, put your feet on the floor or up on the foot rest. You’re not thinking the floor are you? Well, there is virtually unlimited space to roll around in happiness/angst/winemotions, but you don’t want to be there all day. And besides, when was the last time you vacuumed?! You’re certainly not doing it today. Okay, back to the couch. Plenty of room to spread out, and the coffee table is right there to place your reading materials and beverage(s).
Don’t forget your favorite blanket or throw
Even if it’s muggy and one million degrees in your home, you’ll want this to hold if you need to cry, need extra comfort during heartbreaking plotlines, or something non-destructive to throw when your favorite character dies or lets you down.
Select your writing utensil(s), notebook, memo pad, dictionary
You know you’ll find a word you need to look up right away or later, and will want to remember that particular scene or phrase to add to one of your many “favorite” lists. I prefer to keep my smartphone within reach for emergencies, but stick to my physical notebooks, pencils, and other bound resources while reading. They are less distracting to me, and rifling through a dictionary or index is more satisfying than having Google look something up for me. But if you have them all on your smartphone and prefer to use it, all the power to you! This is your day, after all.
Relax, Replenish, Recharge
The three R’s of rainy day reading! The first is the easiest, the second will come with thirst or hunger (light snacks recommended), and the third is important not to neglect. Get up, do some stretches, crunches, pushups, jumping jacks; get your body moving – you won’t feel as sluggish than if you don’t utilize this last R, and your mind will work more clearly when you return to your reading.
Using this guide, you will have a successful day of reading on your next rainy day. Have a tip you would like to add? Leave a comment or send me an email – I’ll be happy to hear from you. Happy reading!
