How Reading Has Shaped Me

What ignited my love of reading? My thoughts immediately turn to family. I remember curling up on my grandmothers’ couches at a young age, hiding beneath duvets, and even sitting on the windowsill of my bedroom to read by streetlight. I remember discussing novels with my grandmother and poetry with my grandfather. From my grandparents to my aunts, cousins, and of course my mother, it seems we all thoroughly enjoy the written word. There’s a special kind of magic in that, don’t you think? 

The Magic of Childhood Reads

As a child I devoured the works of Enid Blyton. I loved the adventures of ‘The Enchanted Wood’ and dreamed of joining ‘The Twins at St. Clare’s’, not to forget ‘The Famous Five’ and ‘The Secret Seven.’ Interestingly enough, most of our guests on the podcast mention Enid Blyton as an author that they loved reading as a child. These books simply lifted me from the real world and brought me to places beyond my wildest imagination. Enid Blyton’s books are captivating to most and leave a long lasting impression, these are definitely books to read to your children if you're hoping to turn them into readers too!

Anne Shirley of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ was another favourite character of mine. She radiated optimism and warmth, was an advocate for the power of imagination, and showed me how important it was to embrace my own individuality. She was a ticket! I read all of the ‘Anne’ books by LM Montgomery, and still enjoy re-reading them to this day. I was even so lucky as to visit Prince Edward Island in my 20s and saw for myself the world in which Anne had inhabited. It really made me see how reading opens doors to worlds far beyond our own. I love when a book inspires a trip or an outing of some kind, it encourages us to try new things and explore new places, but more about that in later posts! 

As I grew older, I can recall reading ‘The Babysitter’s Club’ and ‘Sweet Valley High’ series, moving onto the likes of ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’ The characters in these books were inspiring. I loved seeing female characters who were responsible, brave, resilient and strong. Books showed me that girls were more than secondary characters, more than side kicks; we had the power to be whoever we wanted to be. Sometimes, they showed me a different kind of strength. ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and ‘The Perks of Being a Wallpaper’ were books I read in my late teens that showed me the emotional strength we possess. Those stories, among others, broke my heart, but helped me to become more compassionate and empathetic as I embarked upon the world of adulthood. Suffering was universal and inevitable; knowing that we were never truly suffering alone was key.

Losing and Rediscovering the Joy of Reading 

My love of reading led me to pursue a degree in English in University College Cork. I beamed with excitement at the thought of studying books. What could be better, more inspirational, more enthralling than to get to read a variety of books and study them in detail? Well dear reader, it turns out that in my case, many things would have been better! Studying English literally zapped me of my passion. My love of reading was diminished as we studied texts like ‘Beowulf’, ‘Tess of d’Urbervilles’, and studied modules such as 16th Century Drama. I’ll never forget thinking that I’d made a huge mistake. Perhaps I was a fraud, sitting there in the Boole surrounded by others who appeared to enjoy these texts - maybe I was reading the wrong things, or maybe what I was reading was not intellectual enough. I struggled. Big time. The joy I had once found in stories began to feel like a chore. Books became associated with essays and deadlines rather than the beauty of escape and discovery. I came to resent reading.

Nevertheless I ploughed through and successfully became an English teacher. I love to stand in front of a class and discuss texts with them. The syllabi these days have such a fantastic variety of books and provides our students with amazing, thought provoking reads. I always feel proud of myself for not giving up. I might not have enjoyed college, but I get a huge kick out of it when a student who loudly exclaimed that they hate reading turns around to me and tells me that they really enjoyed a text. We need to encourage our kids, the minds of our future, to put down their phones and pick up a book. Perhaps instead of living in a world of comparison they’ll find compassion, instead of imposter syndrome they’ll find a story that makes them feel like they fit right in, instead of feeling lost they’ll feel free. Books are truly powerful. 

Reading for pleasure was something that really only returned to me as I became a mother. I gave birth to my first child in 2021 during Covid. Not only was the world in lockdown and isolation, but that newness of motherhood felt even more isolating to me. I had no Mommy & Baby groups or coffee mornings to go to, no classes to attend. There was very little I did anymore that was just for me, and so I stumbled across some Bookstagram pages, joined The Tired Mammy Book Club, and eventually set up a page of my own. Reading gave me permission to carve out time for myself, even if it was just a few minutes a day. That time became a reminder that I was still me. It reignited a passion for stories and words that I hadn’t realised I’d missed so much. It felt very much like opening a packet of Pringles, once I started reading again I simply couldn’t stop.

Books as a Bridge to Friendship

Something that I hadn’t expected to happen when I started reading again was to establish some amazing friendships. Reading in it’s nature is a solitary activity, but when you combine reading with Bookstagram and book clubs, you’ll find yourself in a community of likeminded people. There is a special kind of joy in sharing the excitement of books. I love reading alongside friends, some of whom I’ve met, some of whom I’ve yet to meet. There’s something uniquely bonding about discussing characters and plot twists, debating opinions on 'marmite' books, or recommending books that kept you up all night. It’s a community that is kind and generous, encouraging and accepting, diverse and inclusive. I’ve met some amazing people because of my love of books and I’ll be forever grateful for that. Through these friendships, I’ve learned so much—about books, about people, and about myself.

Books have played an important role in my life. They’ve taught me so much about myself and what it means to be human. They’ve encouraged me to think about difficult topics, to explore new things, and meet new people. Talking about what I read is something I love to do. It’s what pushed me to approach Rebecca about a podcast to begin with. I’m beyond grateful that Rebecca was in, and for the many amazing opportunities that we’ve had as a result. Meeting authors, discussing their books and their writing processes -  it never ceases to fill me with awe and gratitude. The ‘Claire from the past’ would never have had the courage to approach people to discuss things like this, but this podcast has helped me to become a braver person, someone who advocates for something they are truly passionate about, and someone who wants to share that passion with others. Books truly have been a huge part of my life, and I’ll be forever grateful to my family for instilling that passion in me to begin with. 

With love,
Claire 🖤
@getting.back.to.books