Blog 2/13: 📚Read Between the Covers 📚

I don't believe people who say they “don’t like reading.” I refuse to. To me, it's not about disliking reading altogether; it's more like they haven't found their “book soulmate” yet. It's like dating — you can't force a connection with a book you had zero interest in picking up. If classics like “The Great Gatsby” or “Of Mice and Men” don’t satisfy your literary taste buds, being forced into reading them during school will most definitely skew your opinions towards reading.

When I say there’s a book for everyone, I mean it. Out in the book universe, there’s a character who not only looks like you but thinks like you too — whether aligning with your morals, culture or sexuality, there are parts of them that will undoubtedly resonate with you. And if not, they could embody a completely contrasting personality, which could even be more intriguing.

Discovering the perfect book often involves sizing it up by its cover. Despite the age-old advice not to judge a book by its cover, there's a valid reason behind the sentiment. The cover holds a pivotal role — after all, how can you feel the pull to read a book if the cover fails to captivate your interest? So do it. Judge that book by its cover. I personally set my criteria high because I'm on the hunt for that next five-star read.

I've got this nagging fear that Barnes & Noble is going down the Blockbuster lane. You know, with Amazon and other huge corporate monsters pushing them out of the game. Soon, the thrill of walking into a bookstore, sniffing that unique scent of paper and ink, and stumbling upon your next read might be gone. It's like losing a bit of magic — the kind you get from getting lost in different worlds and soaking in other people's stories. Writing a book, like producing an album or directing a movie, is one of the purest forms of self expression.

When I need some alone time, I head to a cafe with just me and an open book. There's something about sipping coffee and diving into a story that's therapeutic to me. I treat Goodreads like a social media app; my to-be-read list is like a never-ending scroll, and my Spotify is stacked with audiobooks. Since the beginning of this year, I've powered through 13 books. My favorites include "Crying in H-Mart" by Michelle Zauner, "Educated" by Tara Westover, and "Mistborn" by Brandon Sanderson. As someone who’s loved reading since I was a child, it hurts a little to see that the pool of book lovers seems to be shrinking with each generation.

In a world hooked on instant gratification and short attention spans, the joy of getting lost in a book seems to be losing its shine. My wish is that, by sharing my book love, I can light a spark for those around me. Because, honestly, in a world full of noise, a good book is like a silent retreat for your soul — a place where imagination runs wild, and the quiet is a welcome friend.

Joshua Lau

Event Coordinator