My Little Reading Corner

Where is your favorite place to read?

I’m not too picky about where I read, but if I had to choose, it would be my house’s playroom. The room has a nice couch and two large sunroofs. I like reading curled up in the corner of the couch in a seemingly awkward position that’s actually super comfortable. I also love reading on sunny days where tons of natural light can flood in or on rainy days with a nice lamp and the calming rhythm of rain hitting the roof.

I like half-sitting half-lying in the corner of the couch where there is maximum cushioning and coziness. I find that corners are extra comfortable because it feels like you’re being engulfed by the cushions on all sides. There are also convenient arm rests on either side of your body for when you get tired of holding your book up. Corners also provide lots of creativity for positioning! I like to either curl up my knees and rest my book on my legs or collapse against the side of the couch.

Another big reason why I like to read in the playroom is because of the two sunroofs. The natural light that the windows let in boosts my mood and makes me feel more productive (a scientific fact!) (Davis). The color of the pages, the freshness the light emanates, and something about the way I don’t need to turn on a light or lamp just makes me more happy. Ever since I was a kid, my parents drilled in the message “No reading in the dark, you’ll kill your eyes!”, and natural light brings the best atmosphere while meeting that requirement. 

Complete dead silence is unpleasant for me, so having background noise to listen to helps me become more immersed in what I’m reading, especially. Not only are sounds like rain calming, when the weather in the book and in reality matches, it allows me to really dive deep into the story and visualize the scene. Music that matches the mood of the scene also adds another level of depth to my experience reading. OSTs or other music associated with a certain series help bring a story to life. Research has shown that music can help create a “relaxed, happier, and even more productive” environment, which is definitely the case for me, and the tranquility music brings really elevates the reading experience (Bird 46).

Give me any somewhat comfy chair with a book and I’ll be satisfied, but reading in my little corner is simply the most elite. That particular couch is pretty much the only place I read in my house, so by now I directly associate the atmosphere of that room with reading. I also pretty much have the room to myself most of the time, so it’s become my own small territory. I’ve cried many a tear (and laughed until tears) reading at that couch, so it holds a lot of significance to me and my reading journey. Definitely the best place to read!

- Sabrina

Works Cited

Bird, Jenna. Listen Up! The Impact of Music on Students' Reading Comprehension. 2017. SUNY Brockport, MA thesis. soar.suny.edu/bitstream/handle/20.500.12648/4976/ehd_theses/771/fulltext%20%281%29.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y#:~:text=In%20relation%20to%20reading%20comprehension,Rashidi%20%26%20Faham%2C%202011. Accessed 29 Sept. 2022.

Davis, Carla. "Shining Light on What Natural Light Does For Your Body." NC State University, 24 Mar. 2014, sustainability.ncsu.edu/blog/changeyourstate/benefits-of-natural-light/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2022.