4 Ways To Spend National Book Lovers' Day (Besides Curling Up With A Good Read, Of Course)

If you love to read, then you probably know that August 9 is National Book Lovers' Day. While the exact origin is a bit murky, the point is that it exists and pays homage to one of the most beloved pastimes: reading. Not that anyone needs a reason to read, but it's nice to have a day that celebrates it.

Reading isn't just enjoyable, but it's also good for you. It increases cognitive skills, heightens how we process language, and improves memory and vocabulary. According to a 2015 study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, reading fiction makes us more empathetic to our fellow human beings and whatever may be plaguing them, even if it's a situation that's foreign to us. "Reading novels enables us to become better at actually understanding other people and what they're up to," novelist and professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, Keith Oatley, told Discover Magazine. "Reading fiction enables you to sample across a much wider range of possible people and come to understand something about the differences among them."

If you're wondering how to spend National Book Lovers' Day, we have a few ideas. From reading the best banned books or delving into the most tragic classic novels, to actively avoiding the mistakes you don't want to make when picking a new read for your book club, there are plenty of ways to celebrate. Including, of course, hanging out at home and rereading an old favorite.  

Sometimes even the biggest book lovers get stuck in the same genre. Thus, by hosting a book swap party, you're allowing attendees to leave their comfort zones to try reading something new. After all, you can't read the best family saga picks from the Read With Jenna Book Club forever.

To get your swap underway, send out invitations letting people know to bring at least one book that they're willing to part with. When people arrive, have a designated area for these specific books, ideally a shelf, so all the titles are easily visible. Naturally, you should provide snacks and beverages, maybe giving everything a book-related theme to get everyone in the spirit. For example, in taking a page from "Pride and Prejudice," you can serve cold ham and chicken finger sandwiches, or make fried green tomatoes, as inspired by "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café." If you want something sweet, make a Lane cake, which is a delicious bourbon-filled treat Scout's neighbor, Miss Maudie Atkinson, made in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

As a book lover, décor for such a soirée is easy: books everywhere. Books make great centerpieces for tablescapes, a fantastic backdrop, or simply piled up around the space where you're having the party. Also, don't forget to send everyone home with a party favor, like iconic literary quotes printed on t-shirts or tote bags for your guests to take home.

If you want to celebrate National Book Lovers' Day solo, we've got you. Start your day with a book-inspired breakfast, maybe something with peaches, as a nod to "James and the Giant Peach" or Alice B. Toklas's summer champagne fruit salad from her eponymous cookbook. Toklas was the partner of Gertrude Stein and did all the cooking for the pair, and, naturally, after having lived in France for so long, the majority of the recipes are heavily French-inspired and a lot of fun.

After breakfast, go for some book-themed nails to set the mood for the day. You can keep your manicure fairly general with simple book designs, or if you have the time, go deeper and have each nail done to reflect a specific book. When you're done, go for a book-themed pedicure too, because why not?

Once your mani and pedi are finished, go to a bookstore — either your favorite, or one you've never been to before — skipping the big corporate chains if you can. As you walk the aisles, promise yourself that you won't leave without a book that you normally wouldn't read, therefore expanding your mind and heart to other types of writing. When you get home, join an online event with others who are celebrating National Book Lovers' Day. From the comfort of your couch, you'll still be rolling solo but will be surrounded by like-minded people, making it the perfect way to end the day.

According to Demand Sage, of the 8.14 billion people on the planet, 5.24 billion use at least one form of social media. So if that's you, celebrating National Book Lovers' Day on your favorite social media platform isn't just an easy way to spread the joy of reading — it's fun too. Alert your followers a few days in advance about the fact that on August 9, your account will be temporarily turning into one that's all about books.

You can post photos of your favorite books and, in the caption, share why you love them so much. You can spend the day uploading your favorite literary quotes to your Instagram stories, explaining why the quote moves you. Also, to get others involved, post polls and quizzes about books and authors, offer fun little-known facts about specific novels, or go live so you can chat about how much reading has influenced your life.

If you're over 40, this is a great opportunity to share the best book club picks for women in their 40s and beyond. If you're a feminist, then listing Greta Gerwig's favorite books, which are the ultimate feminist reading list, is another option. Allow yourself to get creative and go for it. After all, everyone can use book recommendations from time to time — even if they don't realize it. Don't forget to use #NationalBookLoversDay on your posts and stories, too, so you get more traffic and, therefore, more people partaking.

Although most book lovers are quick to point out that a film adaptation normally can't live up to the book version, there are exceptions to this. In fact, many books put on the big screen have proven that sometimes the movie is actually better than the book. A perfect example of that is "Jaws." Peter Benchley published the book "Jaws" in 1974, and although it became a bestseller, the film adaptation, which was directed by Stephen Spielberg and premiered just one year later, was so extraordinary that it quickly became the highest-grossing film ever at the time.

So if you want to make the most out of your book-themed film night, choose movies that, in some cases, really put the books to shame. "The Godfather," "The Princess Bride," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Jurassic Park," and "The Shawshank Redemption" are all great options for this type of movie night. If you start early enough in the day and go well into the evening, you might even be able to fit them all in, too, which would be very impressive. If you can't, then there's always National Book Lovers' Day next year. Make sure you have food and beverages that are inspired by the movies you'll be watching to give the event an extra kick. For "The Godfather," Cannoli and Chianti. For "Jaws," A New England clam chowder and Sam Adams beer will hit the spot. You get the point.