I’m a voracious reader, but don’t always have a lot of time to read, so I’ve developed some ways to get my reading in without giving up my working time. I read a lot of short stories. First off, I love short stories because they tell the whole tale in a few pages and often have ironic endings that stick in my mind much longer than a novel does.

For example, here is a link to a short story online that I read while in grade school and still remember clearly. It’s written by Jack London and titled “To Build a Fire”.
You can find short stories in any literary genre you may prefer. I’m a mystery reader, myself, with a bit of fantasy thrown in here and there.
Besides short stories, don’t forget about audio books! You can wear a cassette player or CD player and listen to a story while you work or while you lay down for a rest. If you’re alone, just put them on and let them play when you have you free time. You can craft, clean house, do stretching exercises or just chill in your favorite chair a bit and listen…
Another way to read books quickly is to read the ones written for young adults. They tend to be shorter, but many of the novels are great fun to read! I loved reading Eragon, about a young boy and his dragon. And Dave Barry has written some new varieties of Peter Pan that make a good read. There are also books about animals written for young adults that I still enjoy reading now, and I’m 56!
Even if you’d like to learn a new craft or about a new country, young adult books can be very comprehensive and much more interesting than the dry fare written for adults.
And if you prefer to read a whole book, but don’t have time or ability to sit for long, try doing it a chapter at a time. Take time for one chapter, and then come back another time to continue it.
I was always saying, “Just let me finish this chapter, Daddy.” when he wanted me to set the table for dinner. And then I’d quickly read another one… But he smarted up one day and stood behind me and caught me going on to another, so that trick didn’t work anymore…
And don’t forget periodicals. Many magazines have some great stories in them or are great resources for homemaking, cooking, crafts, etc. I subscribe to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. (Told you I was addicted to mystery short stories!)
Whatever you do, do try to do some reading each day. It helps keep your mind alive!
Article written by Jo Ann Hakola, “The Book Faerie” © 2008 butyoudontlooksick.com