i want to start reading, where should I begin ? :)
First and foremost, just know that it's going to change your life and your relationship with it.
Secondly, do not feel feel uneasy or discouraged if your first shot at it doesn't make you fall in love with reading. It will only mean that you haven't found your book yet.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't take a long classic (*cough* russian literature *cough*) as a first stepping stone.
Instead, try one of these:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (if this one doesn't make you fall head over heels with reading ... *** also, don't worry if you haven't read "The Iliad", Madeline Miller takes your hand and patiently walks you through every room, giving backstories for every character.)
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (I'm aware that this is a thick one, but trust me, you'll fly through the pages. To me, it was quite fast-pace, yet had the right amount of depth to keep you emotionally invested. Are some aspects of this book problematic? Yup. Is it a textbook example of eurocentrism? Yes. But still I think it's worth reading.)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (no words, love, no words)
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (simply the sweetest book I've ever had the honor to read)
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (reading this book smells like cinnamon buns and hot chocolate (or warm coffee)
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi (filled with contemporary references, feels like that moment when you've slipped on something and are waiting for the fall *which isn't coming** and smells like early 20s struggles)
The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura (very strange, yet absolutely captivating)
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (okay, hear me out. I'm not just recommending this because I am biased and Kafka is the love of my life. I DO really think that this book is peculiarly interesting enough to keep you engaged and impactful enough to make you read Kafka's other works)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt (it's either love or hate with this one)
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong ( Am I recommending this book because I am Tateve Simonyan and they are Ocean Vuong? Yes. Is it one of (if not the) most beautiful accumulation of words you'll ever read? Yes.)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (I read this one at the age of 14 and remember not being able to put it down. Additionally, it's filled with wonderful music recommendations.)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (need I say more?)
Perhaps you'd better start with short stories?
Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami
Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda
Or maybe you'd like some poetry books?
War of the Foxes by Richard Siken
Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire
Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky
If I Don't Know by Wendy Cope
Now, buckle up, love, cuz you're in for a wild ride 🌼
