Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum

Do you – or someone in your life – need a nudge to read more or motivation to explore a wider range of books? In Every Day I Read,  Korean author Hwang Bo-Reum suggests more than 50 convincing reasons to shake up your reading habits.

In each short chapter, Bo-Reum offers a fresh perspective on reading. She recommends titles and authors, and shares memorable quotes from a range of writers, including scientists, philosophers, journalists and poets. She suggests when and where to find opportunities to read and captures the many joys – and occasional challenges – of being a reader.

There’s no point waiting until you have enough free time to read, Bo-Reum says; instead, start by setting aside even a few minutes a day. Above all, be patient: …there’s no point trying to rush and jump from book to book. Take your time; stay on a page and savour the words.

As she reads, she takes notes and keeps a list of meaningful quotes, believing that sometimes a single sentence can be more powerful than an entire book. A quote she often returns to is one I’ve always liked as well: How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. [Annie Dillard]

Bo-Reum often has six or seven books on the go. Her reading pile is likely to include best-sellers and classics, poetry, fiction and non-fiction,  slim books and chunky ones. She reassures readers that it’s OK to forget what you’ve read once you close a book, quoting German author Patrick Süskind:

Reading isn’t about remembrance, but the change that can come from reading a book.

Such changes, she suggests, come from keeping an open mind so that we can deepen our understanding of the wider world, everyday life, ourselves, and other people. Even when the plot fades from memory, books – and particular characters – can continue to influence our lives.

                For the rest of my life, the characters remain etched in my mind.

Many of the chapter titles provide insights into simple ways to make our reading lives more rewarding. For example: Read Widely, Then Deeply; Read to Live the Life you Want; Read Beyond What You’re Interested In.

Bo-Reum sometimes reads in unexpected settings, such as a cosy book bar in Seoul, South Korea.

The vibes are great, the drinks delicious. Surrounded by patrons reading at the next table or speaking in hushed tones so as not to disturb others … Music was playing in the background and the only white noise was the occasional clink of ice cubes as the bartender made the drinks, and the rustle of paper. Everyone was deep in concentration on their books. 

This description reminds me of the ‘Reading Parties’ hosted up and down New Zealand by Radio NZ host Jesse Mulligan, after he learned about the worldwide reading party trend. A reading party is different from a book club because people read their own books in silence for most of the session, although discussions may happen later on.

Perhaps you belong to a book club, are considering joining one, or are setting one up. Bo-Reum describes how anxious she was the first time she went to a book club, and her self-imposed pressure to contribute meaningful insights. She was worried about having “serious conversations” with people she didn’t know. To her relief, the book club offered a safe space to share opinions and explore differing points of view, as well as to develop her critical thinking. As an alternative to a book club, Bo-Reum suggests a ‘buddy read’ – choosing one friend to read and discuss a book with, allowing as many months as you need to read the book.

I like Bo-Reum’s suggestion to occasionally focus on and discuss an idea – or even a sentence – from a particular page, instead of only talking about our overall impression of a book.

Bo-Reum says that it’s ok not to finish a book, even if it’s one that everyone else is raving about.

…by insisting on reading a book you no longer want to read, you’re taking the time away from the books you’re truly interested in. When reading is reduced to a dreaded chore, many people end up distancing themselves from books altogether.

On the other hand, she also suggests that if you are finding a book difficult to read,  sometimes it’s best to persevere.

Keep going, even if you’re just doing a few pages a day. Step beyond ‘I want to read a book by this author’ to ‘I’m reading their book now’. So what if you can’t understand everything? You’re reading, and that’s what matters.

Every Day I Read is translated from Korean, which may explain why the occasional phrase is a bit awkward, and there are one or two typos. I found the numerous references to her heart (and heartache) distracting and wonder whether alternative translations might have worked better in some sections. A lot of the entries in the ‘notes’ section at the end of the book are in Korean script, although most of the books she recommends are available in English.

As well as thoughts on reading, Bo-Reum tells personal anecdotes. She’s been through rough patches, including periods of constant worry, sadness and despair. In some chapters, her outlook is rather bleak, and I found these aspects of the book less engaging.

Life is like a pendulum swinging between utter despair and a reluctant acceptance of fate. … We live in an odd space where being positive about the future is seen as naïve, whereas expecting the worse is wise.

Still, I agree with her observation that “in life, light and darkness exist side by side”.

This book tackles many topics, and Bo-Reum’s reflections – on screen reading, attention spans, and work-life balance, for example – are often thought-provoking. Every Day I Read sits alongside books by British author Lucy Mangan (such as Bookish) that offer insights into both familiar and unfamiliar books, and a unique perspective on what it means to be a reader.

Reviewer: Anne Kerslake Hendricks

Bloomsbury