5 Books That Made Me Fall in Love with Reading (Again)
I am a firm believer in New Year’s resolutions . As one year ends and another begins — and the days are at their darkest — I find it helpful to throw myself into a new hobby or practice a new skill. At its best, New Year’s resolutions are a fundamentally hopeful practice that helps us recognize our ability to change and grow and start anew, even in times of struggle. I especially love reading resolutions. In terms of wanting to read more this year, I have personal experience in that area. I went from barely reading the books assigned in high school to being an English major at the University of Washington. My personal path to my love of reading isn’t applicable to everyone — but in the spirit of the new year, here are 5 books that helped me fall back in love with reading.
1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I loved reading as a kid, but when I started high school all my energy became devoted to the herculean task of being a teenager, leaving me with very little motivation or time to read. While I liked English class enough, I identified as more of a STEM kid. I only started to read in my free time again after I graduated, beginning with Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2013 novel, The Goldfinch. The novel follows the life of Theo Decker after he loses his mother in a museum bombing and steals a famous painting that changes his life. I’m not really sure why I began reading this novel, other than the fact that my mom had read it and owned a copy, which meant that I could borrow it. I fell hard and fast, devouring the 700-plus page novel while visiting family in Miami. I have such vivid memories of hiding indoors to escape the heat and humidity of the Florida summer, and feeling utterly transported to the novel’s seedy yet charming New York City. Tartt’s work isn’t necessarily the most accessible place to start, but The Goldfinch is a quality work of fiction that grabs you and doesn’t let go, showing just how powerful a well-told story can be.
2. How to be both by Ali Smith
I was assigned How to be both as part of my second undergrad English class, my last class before COVID 19 . It was the class that convinced me to be an English major, and this was the book that firmly cemented my love of literature. The novel, told in two parts, follows teenage girl George as she tries to navigate the world in the wake of her mother’s sudden death. It is also about the Renaissance fresco painter Francesco Del Cossa — or rather, his ghost. The novel is a stunning meditation on grief, words, and human connection. I used to read it in my dorm’s laundry room, waiting for my clothes to dry. I could never stop myself from audibly reacting to the novel’s joyful and cathartic narrative. Again, this is a book that showed me what books, at their best, can be capable of — introducing you to new ideas, emotions, and parts of yourself.
3. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
I always hesitate to recommend this book, because it’s a difficult-to-explain can of worms that not everybody connects with. That said, its impact on me is undeniable. I read House of Leaves in May 2020, and it changed my life. Danielewski’s postmodern labyrinth of a novel is an academic text about a documentary that doesn’t exist, about an impossible house which grows larger on the inside than on the outside. It’s also a story about a mysterious old man and the lengths he went to in order to create something extraordinary. It’s also also a story about a very flawed man coming to terms with his past while simultaneously failing to come to terms with it. It’s about a lot of things, but mostly about unruly houses and uncanny homes. At 736 pages, it’s another doorstopper — but if you’re a fan of horror (which I became, after reading this book), it’s impossible to put down. Check those content warnings, though.
4. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows was published in 2015, but I feel as though it's been around forever. Leigh Bardugo's wildly popular fantasy novel follows six teenage criminals as they try to pull off an impossible heist. With vivid characters and compelling worldbuilding, Six of Crows is a fantastic read. So much has been said about this almost universally beloved YA novel, but it earns a place on my list because it was the first book I read using Libby, an app that lets you check out ebooks from your local library and read them on your phone. Reading on your phone can be hard on the eyes, but it also makes books more accessible. When I was waiting for coffee or my bus, I could just pull out my phone and read. Many dear friends had recommended this book to me many times while I was in high school, but it took me until I was out of the YA demographic to really give it a go. I’m so glad I did. No matter how old you are, Six of Crows is an engaging and emotional journey and I highly recommend you give it a chance.
5. Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane
Underland was another book I read on Libby. It was the first nonfiction book I read in a long time, and it made me realize that nonfiction can be just as compelling and gripping as fiction. Underland is an exploration of underground spaces and how we, as humans, have imbued them with different meanings across time and across societies. From the depths of England and Paris to the hidden rivers of Italy to the coast of Norway, Macfarlane takes his reader on a journey that won’t soon be forgotten. I owe my love of historical nonfiction almost entirely to this book.
To conclude, reading is a skill that, like all skills, can be practiced and formed into a habit. If your New Year’s resolution is to read more, I’m beyond excited for you to begin reading and exploring. Books will change your life if you let them — and that’s a fact that gives me hope, no matter what time of year it is.
