How often do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading? In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more.
Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us. While this is a book about books, at its heart is an attitude to life, one outside capitalism and climbing the corporate ladder. Lifelong and new readers will take inspiration from it, including a treasure trove of book recommendations blended seamlessly within.
"Bo-reum’s delightful collection of bite-sized essays . . . brims with observations on the reading life. Bo-reum is a companionable writer with a straightforward style and unabashed passion for literature. Her new book presents ways to cultivate and enrich the habit of reading, with reflections on the value of breaking away from the internet, approaching books with intention and exploring new genres. Bo-reum’s essays are studded with invaluable perspectives . . . From start to finish, Bo-reum delivers plenty of inspiration. Budding bibliophiles and confirmed bookworms will both savor her heartfelt volume.” —BookPage
“A gentle, uplifting collection of essays about the love of reading, what to read and what to gain from reading. Bonus: The close reader will pick up many book suggestions from Hwang." —Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"For any book lover you know . . . these essays are short, charming and relatable." —Orange Country Register
"If you find yourself dreaming of a deeper, more expansive reading life as we prepare to turn the page (forgive me) into a new year, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more charming companion than Hwang Bo-Reum’s Every Day I Read." —Book Riot
"Hwang Bo-reum turns her warm, observant gaze inward to explore not what we read, but why we read . . . Rather than offering prescriptive advice or curated lists, she meanders through the terrain of the reading life: the pull toward a bestseller when we crave connection, the thrill of wandering off-genre, the unexpected intimacy of falling for a character, and the ways reading and writing continually shape one another. Her reflections invite us to reexamine our own habits and hungers as readers. What sets this book apart is its insistence on reading as a life practice—not a productivity metric or a competitive sport, but a deeply personal ritual. Hwang suggests that to read freely is to resist the pressures of capitalism’s constant forward motion." —Summerville Journal Scene
"[A] cozy ode to reading." —Booklist
"Hwang offers . . . advice to like-minded souls on how to join her in a life of reading . . . Most every book lover will sense in [her] a kindred spirit, making this volume an essential addition to any collection." –Library Journal
"[An] affable memoir in essays . . . Subjects range from the lighthearted, as when Hwang advises on how to fit snippets of reading time into a busy day, to the profound, as in the essay 'Read Books That Preserve Your Sense of Self,' in which she considers how to use literature to protect one’s individuality in a consumerist age . . . Hwang [makes] an earnest and convincing argument that the best antidote to cynicism is time spent inside someone else’s mind . . . Dedicated bibliophiles and casual readers alike will adore this." —Publishers Weekly
“Rosa Escoda offers a warm, inviting narration of advice on living a well-read life. Hwang, author of the novel Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, reflects on her relationship to books and suggests ways to fit more reading into our lives, as well as ways to read more broadly and more deeply. It’s all done with a light and personal touch—Hwang talks about why a book club might be a good fit (or not), and about how she tackled the problem when she found her bookshelves starting to overflow. Shanna Tan’s translation from the Korean sounds smooth and natural, and Escoda, with a lovely British accent, pronounces Korean words fluently. This is an audiobook for booklovers, and it’ll make you eager to find your next read, or listen.”—Audiofile
