📚Happy Reading!

March is National Reading Month in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and we hope you are smack in the middle of a book you enjoy. A few months ago, Julia wrote about how reading can help us feel less alone by introducing us to others whose experiences resonate with our own. In his poem entitled Good Books, the British-born American poet Edgar Albert Guest seems to agree.

He has true friends for both night and day, who has a few good books to read.

Edgar Albert Guest

As we’ve pointed out before, reading is an inherently solitary activity but you can bond with friends over books in many ways. One of my favorites is being in a bookgroup. If you’re not in one but would like to be, all you need to do is invite a few friends or acquaintances over to discuss a book that each of you have read. Bookgroups don’t have to be fancy or full of rules. If you don’t feel like initiating the group, many public libraries facilitate and/or sponsor book discussions that are free and open to anyone.

Or, try bringing a book tradition into one of your close friendships. I have one with my friend Michelle. For years, we’ve been exchanging books on each of our birthdays. We also lend books back and forth whenever we can. We don’t always have the same taste in books, but our reading exchanges have been a great way for us to strengthen our bond and learn more about each other.

Another book-bonding activity is to plan a book-oriented excursion with friends. I recently visited the Morgan Library & Museum (photo above) in New York City with my family, and we were astounded by both the opulent surroundings and the antique books in the collection. Independent bookstores can also be fun places to visit with friends and compare book lists. Public libraries can also be exciting destinations for more than just the books. Check out the cafes and exhibits at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. And if you’re near Springfield, Mass., March seems like a great time to visit The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.

However you decide to spend this month dedicated to reading, try to keep an open mind. One of the best ways to learn about the world is through reading.

You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.

Dr. Seuss