Every year, when it ends, I like to go through all the books I read, loved, hated, and did not care for. Maybe it's because I am a Virgo, and I get a dopamine rush ticking off things, or I am just smug (just a little) that I managed to tick off my resolution of reading 50 books this year. I am happy with my result because I had difficulty reading books last year. Reading brings me joy the same way going to the gym does. It sometimes feels like a chore, but the moment I do it and get a dopamine rush, I ask myself, why don't I do this often?
Below is a guide that got me back into reading. This guide is specifically for people who want to get out of a reading block.
Similar Themes
My friend Filippo is an avid reader. Something I learned from him is that one of the ways you can make reading fun or intentional is if you choose similar themes. This works well with non-fiction as you get a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
A recent example of this is:
"The Greatest Invention" by Silvia Ferrara discusses writing as the most remarkable invention and navigates through various scripts. Meanwhile, "Papyrus" by Irene Vallejo talks about the history of books. Both books complement the art of documenting.
This also works for fiction because if you are in the mood for a particular genre, focus on it to fuel your reading and take advantage of it. For example, some themes that I read this year:
On the art of walking
Friendship dynamics
Chaotic, messy protagonists/sad girl literature
Renaissance art
Esoterica
Food
2. Same Author
I love how Annie Ernaux writes. I love the bluntness and intimacy expressed. I love her longing and yearning. The first book I read by her was Simple Passion after watching her documentary in Lisbon's oldest theatre of home videos shot by her then-husband. The movie was in French with Portuguese subtitles. I do not speak either. Tenderness in how she is is evident across the screen and page. That was enough for me to be drawn to her work. I started with "Simple Passion", moved on to "A Man's Place", and finally, "The Years".
3. Same author but chronologically
Roland Barthes makes my heart swoon. But it does take me some time to understand his work. The first book that I picked up by him was "A Lover's Discourse". What I did later was to make a list of his works chronologically so I understood him better. In some cases, chronological reading does make you an audience to the author's thought evolution across different books. I am still working on Barthes, but happy to follow the order.
4. Similar themes and same author
Another way is to combine both. As a teenager, I read a lot of Jhumpa Lahiri. I am still a big fan of her fictional work, but reading her new non-fiction work was also a treat. I re-read "In Other Words" and read "Translating Myself and Others", where both languages focus on learning a foreign language (Italian in this case). Learning a new language can be intimidating and alienating. I like Lahiri's honesty across both of them and how she eventually finds her footing.
5. Walk into a Bookstore
Like the gym, for reading, sometimes the best way is to show up. Sometimes, you really have to be a teenager, pick a book, and think the book chose you. I did this for After Paris by Nicole Kennedy and Brian Dillon's "Suppose a Sentence". Of course, you will pick up books you hate, but it's still a motivating experience to walk into a bookstore, surrounded by the possibility of what awaits you.
6. Pick up books by the same publisher
I love Fitzcarraldo Editions. Part of the appeal is how they have surrendered their covers to just a shade of white or a deep Yves Klein blue, with the title and author in a consistent font across all. But also each work they select is very intentional and rooted in a sexy kind of intelligence.
Another favourite is Phaidon. Each Phaidon purchase has been a very thought-out decision and worth it. The vivid graphics and the tight text provide an experience and sort it out to gauge your interest.
and with that, happy reading!