I have not always loved to read. In fact, I used to resent it. Until a few years ago, it felt like a chore for school. Once I began reading for pure pleasure and genuine interest, I began to love it. Reading gives you the ability to escape from the stresses of daily life, understand different perspectives, and expand your knowledge. There’s nothing else like it.
I am not an avid reader, but I consistently read a couple of books a month. I use the app Goodreads to track the books I read. I set a goal of 30 books for my 2023 Reading Challenge. I also use Goodreads to read reviews and share my reading progress with friends and family.
Some of my favorite books I have read in the last couple of years are A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Gentleman in Moscow, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Americanah, in addition to many others.
I finished reading Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie just last month. I had watched her TED Talk, Dangers of a Single Story, and was immediately interested in her writing. Americanah is about a Nigerian woman named Ifemelu who immigrated to the United States for university, leaving her boyfriend, Obenize, behind. At first, Ifemelu struggles with the change and loses contact with Obenize. After adjusting to life in the United States, Ifemelu starts a very successful blog about race, and she explores what it’s like to be Black in the U.S. After 15 years, she returns to Nigeria and reunites with Obineze. The book is about race, identity, and love. Although I have little in common with Ifemelu and have had very different experiences, I was able to connect with the story. The writing was beautiful, thoughtful, and entertaining; I will definitely be reading more by Adichie in the future.
Although Americanah is more of a romance novel, the Coming of Age genre might have to be my favorite. The books The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and The Catcher in the Rye are among my favorites in this genre. These types of books are ones I can very much relate to.
One thing that I am very conflicted about is BookTok. I have found most books that have trended on BookTok incredibly cheesy and almost unbearable to read. I just finished reading The Midnight Library, which is very popular among the BookTok community. It has 4.01 stars on Goodreads with over 1.5 million reviews. I found it boring, cringey, and predictable. From about a quarter of the way into the book, I was able to predict the ending. It is an interesting plot, but I thought it lacked substance. It didn’t make me feel anything in particular, so I rated it two stars.
Furthermore, BookTok seems to highlight quantity over quality. It’s all about reading as many books as possible. It’s a competition. I often see people attempting 24-hour reading marathons or unreasonably high reading goals. In my opinion, it’s important to take your time so you can thoroughly enjoy and digest a book.
On the other hand, BookTok has created a community where people can bond and connect over books. Aspiring authors can share their work, and new readers can easily find recommendations.
No matter what book genre you prefer, I think it’s important to read. Reading expands our empathy and understanding of others. It can also be a fun way to pass the time and escape from your reality. Next time you’re bored, pick up a book instead of picking up your phone.
