Every Day I Read

Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books 

by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars (really 3.5)

From the subtitle I was expecting this to be a "tips-and-tricks" book with ideas for enriching your reading life. Had I read the blurb I would have known better. It is actually a collection of very short essays each of which considers a specific aspect of the author's reading life. She talks about the joys and challenges in her reading life and in most essays discusses specific books that she has read that connect for her to the topic being addressed. 

The author is a young Korean woman and a voracious reader. I was charmed and fascinated by this intimate glimpse into her daily life and her views on the books she has read. I was also challenged to consider my own views on the various topics she covers. Reading multiple books at a time; reading "difficult" books; not finishing a book you started; and visiting the library were some of my favorite of her topics.

She is a collector of quotes--I was also when I was young but have fallen out of the habit. Her expanation of what she gets out of the collecting habit has inspired me to go back to it myself. I was also inspired to add quite a few titles to my TBR list.

Here are some of the quotes that spoke to me:

• "...reading isn't about remembrance but the change that can come from reading a book." (p. 23)
• "And when I see a particularly insightful quote, I sigh in relief. If I hadn't come across this nugget of wisdom, life might have turned out to be completely different." (p. 78)
• "I imagine a line of writers holding hands across time and space, If we can understand how the books are connected, we can read with greater depth." (p. 113)
• "When reading difficult books, have trust in the process and keep going. You'll come to realize no book is too difficult." (p. 197)

This book wasn't what I expected it to be, but it was a fascinating look into the mind and life of a woman living in Korea and finding meaning and guidance in her reading.