Almost any degree of vision loss makes reading a challenge. It doesn’t take much to realize just how much is dependent on our ability to see. The reading of books requires significant adjustment. I can vividly recall the last few print books I was able to consume with my eyes, more than twenty years ago. The words were slowly fading away and there were no corrective lenses, magnifiers or reading machines that provided a reasonable replacement. Over time I embraced audiobooks and more reading options became possible through mobile technologies.
Considering the many ways I’d learned to compensate over the years, it seemed my reading was covered. That is until my partner, Neil, said he would like to read books to me. There wasn’t actually a day that went by when he wasn’t already reading something to me, like news articles, restaurant menus, movie reviews and cooking directions. But now we were reading best selling novels together. It is the sweetest, most loving gift, and you don’t have to be visually impaired to appreciate it. He happens to be a skilled reader and approaches the task with enthusiasm and ease. I can ask him to pause, repeat, or search a definition. There is no set schedule, we fit in a chapter or two, here and there, on an almost daily basis. A book club built for two, we summarize, question, laugh and cry together as the story unfolds. We love to predict what is coming and how the book will end.
Currently immersed in the fifteenth title of our successful reading venture, I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. A beautiful experience, which can be as good for the reader as it is for the listener. Reading aloud together can bring you closer, improve memory, and elevate your overall perspective. As it turns out, Neil and I are not the only two enjoying the practice of reading together. Articles discussing the benefits of reading to someone you love, include: A Simple Way to Build Intimacy in The New York Times, Read Me A Story in The Guardian, and Try This In Bed Tonight on Oprah Daily.
Consider creating your own Book Club for Two. Ease into the process with a quick read, an essay or a short story. Read the summaries and discuss your reading list together.
Post originally published May 31, 2023 and update Mar 12, 2025