Books | Esme Kontu reads more than 300 books a year – how does she do it?

318. So many books Esme Kontu36, read last year, almost a book a day.

Kontu, who lives in Tampere, keeps a book account called Paperimato on Instagram.

Konnu's life is full of much more than books: he works as a sign language interpreter, sees friends, enjoys culture in its various forms, plays console and board games, and plays sports.

How does he manage to read so much?

Homestead says that at the beginning of the year, his goal is to read a hundred books a year. It's easy for him, and little by little he raises the goal if it seems like he's reading more.

The minimum goal for him is to listen to an hour of an audiobook and read fifty pages every day. In general, however, he listens and reads significantly more.

“I like reading, it's my favorite pastime. Reading broadens the mind and gives more information about the world and people. It can also be escapism”, explains Kontu via video call. Vanja the cat is also lounging on the sofa.

Like like many others, Kontu has combined listening to books with performing mechanical tasks. Walking outside, going to the gym, cleaning and cooking go smoothly while listening to an audiobook.

“I get bored easily, so with the help of audio books, I make things more interesting and it's easier to grasp them.”

Kontu usually listens to audiobooks at double speed. In the summer, Kontu even goes for walks while he is at the summer house, reading a physical book at the same time.

“I'd rather read than listen, because reading is faster for me and, on the other hand, more calming.”

Violent Kontu often misses reading just to calm down.

He used to watch hundreds of movies a year, but during the pandemic, his ability to concentrate on movies deteriorated.

“I started reading even more, because reading is not as hectic as following a moving image and sound. I feel like reading has calmed me down.”

He still watches a lot of movies and series.

Esme Kontu spent his childhood with a large flock of siblings in a small municipality in Pohjois-Savo, where there were few opportunities to do anything. In addition, there was no television at home.

He remembers that he learned to read when he was four or five years old. He became a voracious reader at a young age.

Konnu also sometimes finds it difficult to concentrate on reading.

“The smartphone is the worst interrupter. It's easy to browse social media every now and then.”

He has solved the issue by leaving the phone in another room or putting it on airplane mode.

Sometimes Kontu engages in reading marathons that challenge his concentration. Then the goal can be to read four, eight or even 12 hours a day.

He usually enjoys reading marathons with his spouse, but sometimes he also goes to friends' houses to read together.

Konnu also has a social side to reading.

He writes a review of every book he reads on Instagram and writes online with his followers and other book lovers.

For many starting a new book can be difficult. Kontu can best get hold of library books, because they have to be returned. Because of this, he doesn't even buy physical books.

The rhythm of reading is also given by the fact that he is involved in several group chapters and reading circles.

Kontu has come up with different ways to add excitement and ease of choice to which book to read next.

Perhaps the most special way to do that is with game boards. Kontu has drawn routes on which he has written his valid library reservations on the squares. He has game boards for different genres.

“I put the game piece on paper, roll the dice and see which book I get next from the library.”

Kontu has also asked his spouse to package some of his loan books. Thus, when he takes the package, he does not know which book will be revealed.

Correction February 5 at 8:05 p.m.: In the caption of the article, it was previously mistakenly written as Elina Pitkäkanka's fantasy novel Nakara. The novel is called Naraka.