Confessions of a Midlife Bookworm: How My Love Affair with Books Began

Confessions of a Midlife Bookworm: How My Love Affair with Books Began. Hey there, fellow book lovers!   Let’s talk about our shared obsession – the magic of getting lost in a good book. They call me a “Leseratte” in German, which translates to a “reading rat.”  To be honest, I prefer ‘bookworm’ it sounds cuter. You could say I’ve been obsessed since those teenage years, curled up in bed with a book, completely immersed in another world. My mum even found a plate with chicken bones one Sunday afternoon, that I didn’t have ‘time’ to clear out of my room.

From Library Hunts to Flea Market Scores: The Thrill of the Bookworm Chase

Back then, anything went – recommendations from friends, library visits, spending hours browsing in bookstores. My heart ached a little whenever I lent out those precious hardcovers, especially the ones bought with my hard-earned pocket money. Remember that one friend who returned a book in a state?    Those were the days! Oh how I loved Anne of Green Gables, all the Astrid Lindgren books, the famous five and so many more.

Little Muck and the Magic of Old Books

Speaking of treasures, I used to spend my Saturday afternoons at flea markets with my friend, another fellow bookworm, searching for vintage fairy-tale books. Always looking out for a first edition, the sad thing is I never found one!  Those timeless stories still hold a special place on my bookshelf, even after my move to England. I think my favourite fairy-tale is The story of Little Muck (German: Die Geschichte von dem kleinen Muck), written by Wilhelm Hauff. It was published in 1826 in a collection of fairy tales and tells the story of an outsider called Little Muck.

Paperbacks vs. Pixels: The Enduring Magic of Turning Pages and the Allure of E-readers

Books bring me endless joy.  While I still adore the feel of turning crisp pages, my trusty Paperwhite Kindle has definitely become a close companion.  There’s something about reading at night with that soft glow – it takes me back to those teenage nights spent reading under the covers with my small torch(don’t tell my parents!).

The Game Changer: How Audiobooks Opened Up a World of “Reading” on the Go

The past few years have seen me delve into more “grown-up” reads. But here’s a secret weapon for busy bees like us – audiobooks! Tuning into audiobooks has been a game-changer, allowing me to “read” on the go or while doing chores. I find it easier to listen to these kind of books, I think I would nod off if I had to read them, they just don’t keep me as captivated as a good old Science fiction or novel.

Life-Changing Reads and Powerful Voices: A Few Books That Left a Mark

Brene Brown is a favourite – I simply adore her voice and the way she tackles vulnerability.  “Miracle Mornings” by Hal Elrod became a life-changing read (or rather, listen) about maximising your mornings.  James Nestor’s “Breath” completely transformed my awareness of breathing, especially during swimming. ‍And Dr. Stacy Sims’ “Next Level” – well, her TED Talk on ‘Women are not small men’ ; women’s bodies needing different exercise approaches than men completely resonated with me! The list goes on.

I bought the ‘Girls that want to have funds‘ book for my daughter , which I downloaded on audible. Those young female entrepreneurs opened my eyes and I wished I had the insight and knowledge at a much younger age. I was taught to put my money in a savings account and investing was ‘only’ for rich people. I think there is another blog on the horizon.

My “to-listen” list is ever-growing, and one book I’m particularly excited about is “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.  I heard nothing but amazing things! and also a little bit of relationship education ‘Empowered Love’ from Steven Stosny.

The “Seven Sisters” book series: a story about humanity, love, family, joy, loss, fear and pain

I love the 7 sister book series, by Lucinda Riley a story about humanity: love, family, joy, loss, fear and pain. The last, 8th title was released last year and it was specially painful when my mum and my friend were far behind in their reading and I couldn’t discuss Pa Salt’s journey. It is so cleverly written and all books get you hooked from the get go. The author has written so many stories and it is so sad that she died not too long ago.

Beyond the Hype: Exploring New Authors with the Help of BookTok and Kindle Unlimited

Speaking of recommendations, TikTok has opened up a whole new world of book suggestions. But hey, not everything lives up to the hype, right? That’s where the beauty of Kindle Unlimited comes in. It’s a fantastic way to discover new and emerging authors, all with that convenient e-reader access.

Honestly, if I kept every book I’ve ever read, I’d need a library bigger than the one down the street!  The good news is, the joy of reading keeps multiplying, with endless worlds waiting to be explored. When I was younger, I had to have brand new books that were never read by another person. Nowadays I look out for second hand books, if I don’t want to read it on kindle, especially books about gut health, omega 3, diet, nutrition etc.

 Here’s a sneak peek at some of the titles mentioned in this post:

Brene Brown: Any of her books are fantastic, but “The Gifts of Imperfection” is a great starting point. You can find it on Kindle and Audible.

Miracle Mornings by Hal Elrod: Available on Kindle and Audible.

Breath by James Nestor: Another great choice for both Kindle and Audible.

Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims: Check it out on Kindle or listen on Audible.

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes: Available on Kindle and Audible.

Oh what do you think about Dune! Have you read the books or are you, like my husband Mr D, just waiting for the film to come out?

Happy reading (or listening), will you become the next book worm?

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