I see a lot of people complaining that they don't get the time to read or that they're not sure what to read. That perhaps they have limited time available and wouldn't like to waste that on a mediocre or bad read. And I get it, but the truth is that if you don't try, you're never going to know, are you? You have to give it a chance and see where it takes you because I believe there's something to be gained from every book, even the bad ones. You can always learn something, you just have to keep an open mind.
Still, I've met a lot of people who seem confused about what to read, so don't, for lack of an option. And I asked myself, how do you get people to read when they don't know what to read? Well, you could give them a book recommendation, but those are tricky. You may not like what I like and vice-versa. What I found exciting you might see as tedious and I wouldn't want that. So, it seems to me that suggestions should be a bit more general. And I figured I'd share some suggestions with the ADSactly readers, because...who knows? You might be sitting out there, not quite knowing what to read and this might come at the perfect time for you. So here we go.
1. A classic
Feels like you can never go wrong with a classic and there are so many out there, I'd say it's unlikely you've read them all. Especially since there are so many new books out each year, it seems hard to keep track of books that came out some two hundred years ago. And besides, it really depends on what you view as a classic. Perhaps a classic, to you, means reading Euripides. Who am I to argue with that?
So, if you're stuck in a reading rut, why not give Jane Austen a try? Have you read all her books or just skimmed through Pride&Prejudice for school? Now, be honest.
Or perhaps romance isn't for you. How about some Dickens? You'd have a hard time pinning ole Charlie down as a romantic author. Go through your have-read list, can you spot Great Expectations? What about Oliver Twist or A Christmas Carol?
Do you love a good party? Then why not sink your teeth into The Great Gatsby? Nobody quite captured the 20s the way F. Scott Fitzgerald did and it's a truly fantastic book. As is Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte or Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
Really, there's a ton of great “old” books out there, you just have to look.
2. An autobiography
Everyone has a field that they love, whether you're obsessed with a famous author like Tom Cruise or with rock music (like I am), or with the lives of American presidents, chances are, you're going to find an autobiography relating to your genre. Now, I don't know if Tom Cruise himself has written an autobiography, so I may have mislead you there, but a well-written biography works just as well. If you don't really fancy music or film, why not read the memoir of a famous writer, like Roald Dahl or Stephen King?
Biographical books are truly amazing because they give you an insight into the life of someone you love and might make you love them even more. And besides, they're so full of atmosphere, particularly the autobiographies. For example, as I said, I love rock and I love rock musicians' autobiographies because they really offer a unique insight of what the scene was like back in the 80s or 90s.
You can't go wrong with an autobiography!
3. A translated book
Now, this one is a particular favorite of mine, because there's just so much good material out there that is lost because of language barriers. Much as we'd like it, we can't really speak all the languages in the world and this often stops us from discovering excellent art native to say Spain or China, simply because we don't understand it. But that's not really a problem because loads of amazing books are being translated each year, from various cultures and you might find your next favorite where you least expect it.
A lot of people read books in English, even though they are not native English speakers, so I'm not really counting those. Those are so easily available, after all. Why not challenge yourself? Why not look for a French author (translated in English, or whatever language you prefer)? Or a Brazilian? Or a German? Or a Russian?
Actually, that's how I got to thinking about this suggestion, because I'm planning on reading Anna Karenina. Though not in Russian, of course. The interesting thing about this suggestion is that it gives you a glimpse into a completely different culture. Have you read Carlos Ruis Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books? Why on Earth not? It's a phenomenal series and offers huge insight into a rather dark period in Spanish history. It has a terrific English translation, too.
How about Isabel Allende? Or Dostoevsky?
There's an ocean to choose from.
4. An anthology
The great thing about anthologies is that they are written, by definition, by multiple authors, so your chances of being disappointed are cut down immensely. Even if you don't enjoy the first story, there's a good chance you will enjoy the second, or perhaps the third. And another good thing is that they're a great way of discovering new favorite authors. You might find one writer's style goes particularly well with you or that another has plot twists that are right up your alley. Who knows, a chance meeting in an anthology might spark a lifelong love.
Or not.
But at the very least, you won't be disappointed by the whole book. It would be quite impossible. So find your preferred anthology. There are so many great compilations on the market. From zombie anthologies, to monsters, to romance, to mystery. Anything. Right now, I'm reading one about angels and demons and it seems pretty great already. I'm sure a quick search on the Internet will provide a couple of good ones.
5. A YA book
I know, many of you are no longer young adults or find such literature puerile. There's a terrible distaste for such books, it seems. A lot of adults seem to think that it's beneath them to read a book intended for teenagers. And while some of them do tend to follow the same basic plot or have very similar characters, there is a lot of good YA literature out there that should not be ignored. I'm not saying you should read Twilight (except of course, maybe that's your thing, in which case, go ahead). Maybe Hunger Games? Maybe Cassandra Clare's books? Or some Patrick Ness.
The fun with such books is that they're quite easy to read, particularly if you're used to reading “heavier” books. You might find a quick YA read was just the break you needed. And look at it this way, you might very well finish reading in just a day or two and then you'll feel good about finishing a book so quickly. Bonus!
These are just some examples and I really hope you try one of them. But who knows, maybe none of these is for you. There are loads of good reading challenges circulating, for 2019 as well as for previous years. Maybe read a book written by two people? Or a book with numbers in the title?
Just never stop reading! Happy 2019!
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