Welcome friend! Books don’t just fill our physical and virtual shelves – for a reader, they are to be found in the quiet corners of the day, in restful pockets of time as well as in transitions. In the new Reader Life series, we explore how readers weave books into their daily rhythms. I am so happy to host Ariel for this first feature. She shares how audiobooks, crafting, and the occasional lavender earl grey make reading a grounding presence in her life.
Morning
For Ariel, mornings set the tone. “It really depends on the day,” she says, “but I always enjoy catching up with socials and book updates on Goodreads/Storygraph with breakfast.” When it’s a commute to work day, an audiobook is her companion, turning travel time into reading time. “It’s a really great way to start my day off.”
Midday
Reading is deeply tied to creativity for Ariel. At home, she often pairs audiobooks with crafting. “Between embroidery, cross stitch, and weaving, I have a plethora of projects at any given time. It helps me feel doubly accomplished – when I finish a craft and/or finishing an audiobook.”
When she needs a quick reset, she turns to shorter reads. “I love a fun middle grade horror or a quick graphic novel. Something straightforward and an easy read; usually done in one sitting. It’s a great way to get past a reading slump or still enjoy some reading even if I don’t have the focus for a longer reading session.”
Evening
As the day winds down, Ariel reaches for comfort. A cozy couch, a pile of pillows, and a blanket set the scene. Depending on the weather, a cup of lavender earl grey makes an appearance. “If I’m listening to an audiobook, that’s all the sound I need, but if it’s a physical book, then maybe some calm instrumental music in the background.”
Closing Pages
Not every evening has a ritual—sometimes she simply rests—but her love of stories has become a steady anchor over the years. “As the Horrors of Adulthood™ have developed over the years, I’ve found myself increasingly reliant on reading to ground me. In college, I didn’t read for fun very much because I was reading hundreds of pages a day for grad school and having to get through a huge quantity of literature in a short amount of time. That made reading for fun a continued chore. Once I graduated, my love of reading came back; and when I began commuting regularly for work, audiobooks became a staple in my daily routine. ”
Recently, one book gripped her so tightly she read it in a single sitting: Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang.
Thank you, Ariel, for giving us a glimpse into your reader life – it is so uniquely your own!
Thank you, reader, for joining Ariel and I on her day.
Over the years, I have hosted readers and creators on the blog in various capacities, but primarily to learn about their favourite books or their craft. Reader Life is about the everyday. How people make time for reading. Why it matters to them. How it has changed them. This is open to everyone who reads. If you would like to have a chat about your reading life, send me an email at kriti@armedwithabook.com 🙂
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