Siti Norakasah (left) and other participants at a reading session at the Mutiara Rini Urban Forest organised by the Silent Book Club Johor Baru. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/
IN AN age of constant distractions, packed schedules and neverending to-do lists, finding time to read can seem like a luxury to many.
However, three working adults in Johor make time to read despite their busy schedules. They read in between tasks or as part of their self-care routines.
Cafe owner Low Jing Tong tries her best to read at least one or two books a month.
Aside from running a business in Taman Mutiara Mas, the 30-year-old emcees at weddings and organises community programmes with her non- governmental organisation.
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“I used to read more when I was younger, but it slowed down due to work and social life as I grew older.
“Now I try to create moments in the day to read, even if it is just a few pages here and there. I usually reach for my book when the traffic at my cafe slows down,” she told StarMetro.
To her, books offer a quiet contrast to the digital distractions. She gravitates towards short stories and philosophical reads.
Low said her love for reading inspired her to open a book cafe, stocked with titles from her personal collection and donations from friends.
Low creates moments in the day to read. She usually reaches for a book when the traffic at her cafe slows down. The Star
“I did not want my books to just sit at home after they were read. When customers pick them up to read while sipping coffee, it makes me happy.
“Besides sharing books with others, it gives the books a longer life and renewed purpose,” she said, adding that she allows regulars to borrow them.
Low believes reading does not have to be a solitary experience.
She used to participate in a book club in Kuala Lumpur, where members discussed featured books and offered their perspectives.
“This helps me to better digest a book, especially philosophical ones, and keeps me thinking about the topics even after finishing it,” she said.
For Siti Norakasah Azli, 29, reading is something she genuinely enjoys but has little time for, when juggling a demanding job in the legal and corporate sector.
“Last year, I only managed to finish three books. I set a target of 30 books this year. It is June and I am now already on my 24th book,” she said with a smile.
“I make time to read daily, sometimes for an hour or more. I no longer wait for the ‘right time’ to read – I just make it happen,” she said.
Siti Norakasah said sustaining the habit of reading took motivation and self-discipline.
“I usually read and stop when the storyline gets exciting so I have something to look forward to the next day,” she said.
A reading slump is described as a phase in which the reader has little or no interest in reading.
Siti Norakasah said to prevent any reading slump, she would squeeze in time to read at least five to 10 pages a day, no matter how tired she was.
“Having a peaceful environment to read – like being wrapped up in a blanket in my bedroom, or sitting in a quiet park or a cosy cafe – also helps.”
Sakthivel prefers reading at home because he finds reading a personal experience.
She said that one of her favourite locations to read was the Adda Heights public park, which she described as cool and peaceful in the morning.
“I also join monthly reading activities organised by the Silent Book Club Johor Baru, a community movement which gathers book lovers to read in silence. It helps to be around others who enjoy reading.
“Through these sessions, I have made new friends and received lots of great book recommendations,” said Siti Norakasah who enjoys genres such as young adult, fantasy and romance as well as religion and history.
While others enjoy being around fellow book lovers, B. Sakthivel, 34, feels reading is an intimate and personal experience, so he prefers indulging in a book in the comfort of his own home.
The senior programme manager does not like being disturbed while reading, so he typically avoids noisy areas.
“I used to be a bookworm in school but as time progressed, I became very dependent on my smartphone and my daily amount of screentime alarmed me.
“Realising this, I made a conscious decision to go back to books to curb my screen addiction,” he said, adding that he now allocated 30 to 45 minutes to read daily or whenever he has free time in his day.
Sakthivel said it was his love for movies that became an expected gateway to returning to his reading journey.
“I am a movie buff and I noticed from actor interviews, that the industry icons always stress on how writing is the essence of a great movie.
“This reignited the spark in me to read,” he added.
Even with a busy work schedule which requires him to travel from state to state, Sakthivel said he would bring along a book, which could be either fiction or non-fiction.
These days, he prefers reading books that explore and debunk myths related to history and religion.
“When I read, it feels like I am entering the world of the writer. It is as if I am communicating with the author without even meeting that person,” he said.
Sakthivel hopes more people will make time to read and find the spark that ignites their passion for books.
He suggested that government and non-governmental organisations hold more book-related activities besides book fairs, like reading challenges, family reading nights, and celebrity-led reading campaigns.
He also suggested the provision of more reading spaces to make the activity more fun, accessible and a part of daily life for all age groups. — By YEE XIANG YUN
