Books

12 Women Reading Aloud From Their Famous Novels

by Caitlin White

March 4, 2015

Audiobooks are gaining huge popularity for good reason: There is something magical about being able to take in a book while you lie down, relax with your eyes closed, and just absorb the words. (Or, you know, clean your bathroom.) You can find new meaning in the cadence and tone of a writer reading his or her own work that you may have missed if you were just reading along in your head. So I think we adults should co-opt World Read Aloud Day from the kids, and we don't have to just be the ones who read aloud, but we can relax and be the listeners, too.

World Read Aloud Day, celebrated every year on the first Wednesday in March, is a holiday that advocates for literacy in all corners of the world. It works to motivate kids and teenagers to read, and enjoy reading, and find power and strength in words on the page. Whether teachers take the the time to read aloud to their classrooms, parents find more time to read bedtime stories, or even famous authors read to schools over Skype (jealous right now), the mission is simple but the results can be vast and empowering.

I say we adults take part in this, too. Take a half hour out of your day today and read from your favorite children's book to your little nieces and nephews, cousins, or to kids you babysit — even if you have to do it via FaceTime or Skype. And sure, you may not be J.K. Rowling, but if you pick an engaging book that you really love, they'll love it, too. And then take the time for yourself to listen to books read aloud. Or have your BFF or boyfriend read aloud to you. (Am I the only one that has found this incredibly swoonworthy, especially since the incredible Dawson's Creek scene when Pacey reads aloud to Joey on his boat?)