Reading is the perfect hobby for anyone and everyone. No matter what interests you, there is a book about it. Want to read about historical events? There are books for that. How about being transported to a magical world nothing like the one we live in? There are hundreds of books for that.Â
The same goes for length. There are many books well over 600 pages, but also, some of the best books are those that are less than 200 pages. Books get a bad rep because everyone thinks of being forced to read in school in a short period of time and having to write a paper on it. Reading on your own time is so much better than that. You can read what you want when you want at your own pace! When you finish a book, nobody is expecting a paper from you, no need to cite passages and quotes. Through books, you can explore many new places, learn new things, and discover a world that you never could have imagined on your own.
Now I may be biased in this aspect, but having your own personal library is a pretty cool thing. As you venture through life, you may read a wide variety of books, and by collecting them, a physical tangible display is formed right in front of your eyes. The books one reads can show you who they are as a person, what they’re interested in, and unveil parts of their life. Books are not always just hundreds of pages glued together with a front cover displaying the title and author. Books are becoming more amplified works of art (they have always been beautiful works of art in just the words themselves), from sprayed edges to beautifully bound books with the most amazing artwork on the cover. Now, not only are you collecting fantastic books that you’ve read, but you also have these beautiful works of art to display. It’s important to note that buying books and reading books are very different, and I’m guilty of being a book buyer more than I am a reader. Don’t get me wrong, I’m determined to hit my Goodreads goal every year, but the rate at which I buy books far outweighs the rate at which I read them.
        There are so many benefits to reading whether you’ve only read one book or have read hundreds of books. It’s a great break from any task, as it forces your brain to focus on something else, helps improve literacy, and is something that you can do anywhere. It doesn’t require much, as long as you have a light source and a good book, you’re in great shape. There aren’t many downsides to reading, however, the one that makes me frustrated is the price of books. Unfortunately, book prices in Canada are insane, ranging from $15-$30+ per book. I highly recommend going to your local library or purchasing an e-reader such as a Kindle. I personally prefer to read physical books; however, Kindles are a cheaper alternative (in the long run) and are much easier to carry around.
I thought I should share some of my favourites from the last little while in case you are looking for your first read or your next read:
- Love, Theoretically By Ali Hazelwood. Honestly, anything by Ali Hazelwood is amazing, especially if you’re a woman in STEM like myself and enjoy romance. Her books are cute, but they also have some scientific terminology that I definitely appreciate! If you like this one, she has some others, including The Love Hypothesis, Love on the Brain, and Lothe to Love you (novellas). In exciting news, she has another STEM romance coming out in 2024!
- The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If you like mystery and puzzles, this series is for you! There are 3 initial books in the series, but Jennifer is now expanding it with her newest book, The Brothers Hawthorne, and she has another book coming out in 2024 titled The Grandest Game. These books are great if you like being kept on your toes, but not confused with what is going on.
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This is another good pick for women in STEM, as it has a strong female lead who is a scientist in the 1960s. This book highlights the issues women in science experienced in the 1960s, as well as some that are still prominent in today’s society. Â
- The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede. This is a non-fiction book that explores what the days were like in Gander, Newfoundland following 9/11. I have read this book twice, and it was amazing both times. This book shows what happens when everyone comes together and supports one another. This is the book that inspired Come From Away, which is a Broadway Musical. In high school, I was lucky enough to read the book for the first time and go see the musical. I highly recommend reading the book and trying to get tickets to the musical, if possible.Â
All-in-all, collecting books and reading them is an amazing way to immerse yourself in entirely new worlds that you could have never even dreamed of. It’s a great way to pass time as well. I always carry a book around with me (as long as I’m sure that it will not be damaged in that environment because I’m very particular with how I like my books to look). Whether you are a one-book-a-year person or 10+ books a month, a reader is a reader nonetheless.