Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

Books bring colour to my simple life and if I have a book in my hands, it feels like I'm always connected with the world. Whether I'm bored, lonely, upset, depressed, books soothe me and everything feels all right again.

Just as how the seaman finds a barrel to save himself in the rough seas, I keep myself afloat with stories. Books may not solve all my problems, but at least they prevent me from sinking into the abyss.

We read because we want to be understood. And don't we all wish that the person we love will be able to see the pain we are carrying? And when the characters in the novel hug each other, somehow it feels like we're being comforted too.

The moment we welcome books into ourselves, we're bravely opening the door to our hearts. We confess our loneliness, our weaknesses, uncertainties and worries at the same time we open up about the values and worldviews that each of us holds close to our hearts. The doorway to self-reflection that's hidden inside us opens, and we grow to become a person who understands introspection.

But most importantly, I read because I love it. Every day I read, and I'll keep reading.

I find myself crying more often. I cry because I am sad, and because I am emotional. Strangely, I've become an even more emotional person than before. Darkness seems to blanket life like an algae bloom, and I rub my eyes hard for a glimmer of hope. I turn towards books, as if that's the most natural thing to do. I collect sentences that speak of hope. I engrave the scenes in my eyes. Over and over again, I keep comforting myself that darkness hasn't swallowed the entire world.

Because those who read need time to feel and understand the ripples reverberating in us, there's no point trying to rush and jump from book to book. Take your time; stay on a page and savour the words.

Knowing that I’m not navigating life alone makes me feel a little more courageous, a little less unsure.

There’s no bigger satisfaction than getting up to stretch after finishing a thick book

There are how-to books out there introducing 'hacks' to increase reading speed, and when we've just made up our minds to get into the habit of reading, it's easy to fall into the impatience of wanting to read quickly and read more. But reading is about understanding the world and ourselves, not finishing as many books as possible. We aren't reading to become faster, but to feel and understand more.

The moment we realise that the life we struggle to flee from might be what someone else yearns for, our worldview, once the size of a keyhole, expands as if we're standing in front of a full-length window, and our ears, clogged with lies and exaggeration, clears to welcome genuine voices speaking to us. We're still living the same life as yesterday, but with our eyes and ears open; we become a different person. Knowing that there isn't only one path in life assuages our worries, and instead of pacing nervously at every crossroad, we gain the courage to walk ahead with confidence.

If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I? Nobody but a defeated, deflated, pathetic testimony to a wrong way of living … If I am who I am and not what I have, nobody can deprive me of or threaten my security and my sense of identity.

I want to remember the book that has healed me today.

Are you struggling with your current read but feel obliged to keep reading? Are you stealing glances at the other books you wish you were reading instead? If so

How romantic. A person deep in concentration on a book exudes a special energy. A vibe. A certain look in their eyes. As if quiet

Let’s each bring something from home that we don’t use, but that’s still good to be given as a present.

The curation is what gives each indie bookshop their personality and reflects the owner's tastes and preferences. Kim Young-geon, the third president of the Donga Bookshop, which has now become a Sokcho city landmark in Gangwon-do, writes that curation is a challenging task because it's impossible to predict if your picks will resonate with the readers.

Every time I close a book and go, 'Wow, that was amazing!', I feel a heat spread in my heart and I can practically hear the cogs in my brain whirling. Which group should I put the book in? The second, or the first? All right, I'll go with the first. I can't quite describe the feeling of finding yet another 'life-changing read'. It makes me feel a little surer in life, if you know what I mean?

If we're reading poetry at bedtime, does that mean we've been living in uncertainty the entire day? Are we hoping to find camaraderie?