Road Back to Reading

It is tragic to think about how people nowadays read less and less. Looking around in coffee shops and cafes in a city like Beirut, you see fewer people reading books and more people on their laptops or phones. Sure, they may be reading an e-book – but who are we kidding? The chances for that are quite low.

No new technological device can replace the amazing, musty smell of books and the unique sound of rifling through their pages. I refuse to believe that a wonderful pass-time like reading books is dying. A book, be it fiction or not, is a passageway into another perspective, another interpretation and another life. It can be used as an escape from your reality or a road that leads you to a better understanding of your own.

Now that the summer season is upon us, most of us are finding ourselves on Lebanon’s beautiful beaches or serene mountaintops, with so much free time on our hands. Whether you find yourself spending your days on a chaise longue, or basking in the tranquility between the Lebanese green valleys and hills, what would be better than having a book in your hand? I think that now may be the best time to call on everyone to reconnect with the reader within, and pick up a book and start reading.

After making the huge step of deciding to read again, the second step would be to choose what you want to read. This is crucial for your new-to-reading experience, as this could make it or break it for you.

I made a list, as one would do, to recommend books that may be the most ideal for your road back to reading this summer. These books were all published within the last decade; some are my personal favourites and some are admired by the general public (those who put ratings and reviews on websites such as Goodreads).

 

  • Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011)

A dystopian science fiction novel

Goodreads Rating 4.3/5

 

  • Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio (2012)

An inspiring non-fiction children’s novel

Goodreads rating 4.4/5

 

  • I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb (2013)

A non-fiction autobiography

Goodreads rating 4.1/5

 

  • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (2014)

Young adult mystery fiction novel

Goodreads rating 3.8/5

 

  • Everything, Everythingby Nicola Yoon (2015)

Young adult fiction novel

Goodreads rating 4.1/5

 

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany (2016)

Fantasy, Drama, Adventure Fiction novel

Goodreads rating 3.8/5

 

  • I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart and Neil Strauss (2017)

A hilarious memoir of the life of Kevin Hart

Goodreads rating 4.2/5

 

This may be a short and straight-to-the-point list, but I hope one of these books peaked your interest enough for you to find out more about it, and perhaps even read it. The road back to reading can only be possible with everyone giving reading a chance.

Happy Reading!