I’ve always been a reader!
Not just someone who enjoys books, but the kind who walks down the road with her nose buried in one. The kind who brings a novel to a party “just in case.” That was me.
As a child, I wasn’t loyal to any genre. I devoured crime, legal drama, romance; anything I could get my hands on. My first book loves were James Hadley Chase, Mills & Boon paperbacks passed down by aunties (and swapped between each other in secondary school), and anything with intrigue or passion on the cover.
In my 20s, I was deep into Jeffrey Archer, James Patterson, John Grisham, Nora Roberts, Maya Banks; and the list goes on. I didn’t care what category it fell into. If the story pulled me in, I was in.
Then came the Kindle era.
I don’t know what happened, but once I bought my first Kindle, physical books lost their magic for me. I couldn’t read them anymore. Literally. I had shelves of unread books I couldn’t get through, yet once I downloaded them digitally, I flew through them. If I wanted to finish a book, I had to buy it again… on Kindle.
That was shift one.
🎧 From Kindle to Audio: Another Unexpected Shift
In the last five years, I’ve noticed another change: this time, in how I consume books altogether.
Now, I listen! Almost exclusively. I lose focus when reading. My mind wanders to all the other things I should be doing (I can’t sit still to enjoy a read like the old days), my eyes glaze over, and before I know it, I’ve re-read the same line three times. I can’t explain it, but I wonder: has anyone else gone through this?
I’ve embraced audiobooks, but here’s the thing; I can only seem to listen to nonfiction, especially personal development and business books. Maybe it’s the season I’m in: growing a business, growing as a person. But it means my “fun reads” have taken a back seat.
I’ve tried reading autobiographies in physical form (thinking they’d be lighter and more narrative), but progress has been slow… until recently.
🌟 A Rediscovery: The Meaning of Mariah Carey
Out of curiosity (and because I love a good story from a powerful Black woman), I picked up The Meaning of Mariah Carey on audio. I was blown away!
The voice, the vulnerability, the storytelling, it pulled me in completely. It reminded me of how good it can feel to get lost in someone else’s truth. So now, I’ve lined up a few more biographies of Black women to explore. Fingers crossed they’re just as engaging.
🎧 Check out my TikTok @kudimatters where I share my reflections.
👉🏾 Curious? You can find The Meaning of Mariah Carey on Amazon right here. or the audiobook, here. P.S. These are affiliate link s and I may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you.)
✊🏾 On Black Authors and My Next Chapter
Over the last 10 years at least, there’s been a beautiful surge in books by Black authors; fiction and nonfiction alike. It feels like a genre of its own (correct me if I’m wrong!). But for some reason, I haven’t been able to get into it… yet.
Maybe it’s the season. Maybe it’s attention span. Maybe I’ve just not found the right entry point. So here’s where I’m at:
• I want to try again.
• I’m looking for short, engaging reads by Black authors — especially if there’s an audiobook version.
📥 Got a recommendation? I’m all ears. Drop it in the comments or message me!
đź’› Why This Matters
Books have always been a constant in my life. They’ve shifted with me, grown with me, and sometimes even held me when life felt uncertain. My reading journey has changed, from physical to digital to audio, but my love for learning through story remains.
This is part of what Life’s Riches is about: people, real-life experiences, and the tools (books included!) that help us live better, feel deeper, and think differently.
So here’s to rediscovering what reading looks like, one page (or audio chapter) at a time. 🥂
đź’› Leave your thoughts and/or suggestions in the comment and share this blog with someone who might enjoy reading it.
Want more? Sign up to get updates aoout when the Life’s Riches podcast launches and new blog posts drop.
👉🏾 You can also grab a free booklist or money checklist.