Why should you read? Book/Author recommendations at the end
By: K A Y
Tags: Literature, Recommended Reading, Authors, Books, Reading

Why should you read? Why should anyone read? What are the actual benefits of reading?

I am here to tell you exactly that, and therefore give you motivation and a more or less valid reason to read.

Reading, in easy terms, prepares you for long and boring tasks. due to technology our brains are used to multitasking and switching focus from one thing to another. The way in which the books are written makes our brain follow the linear layout of words and sentences to make sense of what the book is trying to tell us. It encourages us to take our time and read every sentence, without switching focus on something else.

Additionally, there is also the benefit of improving our grammar, spelling and language skills. If you are not comfortable doing public speeches, read out loud to practice. If you keep making the same grammar mistakes, read to improve them and expand your vocabulary. Not only that but it also improves our comprehension and reduces stress.

And of course, last but certainly not least, it allows us to leave our problems and travel anywhere the books and our imagination takes us. The key factor that will encourage anyone to read is if they find it pleasurable. And to find reading pleasurable, they need to find books that suit them and that they will like and enjoy. Reading is a long and boring process if you do not enjoy it and sometimes the process of looking for the books that will catch your eye can be quite discouraging as there are so many many books to read that you might not necessarily like, but after every book, you always end up with new ideas and food for thought.

Reading for pleasure is the single biggest factor in success later in life, outside of an education. Study after study has shown that those children who read for pleasure are the ones most likely to fulfill their ambitions . If your child reads, they will succeed — it’s that simple.-Bali Rai

To help some of you out, I will list a few authors in a few categories and genres that I think should catch at least someone’s eye.

Crime and Thriller

Arthur Conan Doyle — any book in Sherlock Holmes series is a good place to start.

Agatha Christie — she has 66 detective novels so you cannot go wrong with her.

Gaston Leroux — The Phantom of the Opera is a true masterpiece and the atmosphere that the book creates is simply enchanting.

Say her name by Juno Dawson is horror fiction/ghost story but it is so gripping that I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend if you like something that keeps you slightly on your toes and you are just starting you reading journey.

Stieg Larsson — Millenium series. No comment, just run and read it ASAP.

Gillian Flynn — Gone Girl, or anything of his really, just once again run and read!

Truman Capote — In Cold Blood. Once again, run and read it now.

Romance

Jane Austen — literally anything, great place to start if you want to get into the classics.

Brontë Sisters— Jane Eyre, Shirley, The Professor, Agnes Grey.

Truman Capote — Breakfast At Tiffany’s. If you still have not either watched the film or read the book, what are you waiting for?

Nora Roberts — recently read Born in Fire and absolutely loved it as it is such a quick and delightful read. She keeps her language simple and understandable while still making it magical.

Kiera Cass — the Selection series. The. Most. Beautiful. Story.

Estelle Maskame — Did I Mention I Love You series. Have not finished all the books but definitely worth your time if you want to take your mind off of something stressful.

Anna Todd — After — the most controversial book series. But they are undoubtedly better than the film adaptation.

Fantasy

C.S.Lewis — Narnia series, pretty good read.

Sarah J. Maas — anything you can find of hers is worth your time.

V. E. Schwab — The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Breathtaking, fantastic, immeasurably beautiful.

Cassandra Clare — Mortal Instruments or anything of hers really.

Lewis Carroll — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Do I really have to say anything else?

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — The Little Prince. The absolute classic although I hated it when I read it first but now it is one of my favourites.

Horror

Stephen King — Classic. Pure classic.

Shirley Jackson — The Haunting of Hill House.

Bram Stoker — Dracula.

Mary Shelley — Frankenstein.

Horace Walpole — The Castle of Otranto.

(Do I really need to even comment anything about those four?)

H. P. Lovecraft — Any book of his is a masterpiece.

For now that is all, but I am always open to suggestions and please please please share your own recommendations for other people and for me as well. I am constantly looking for something new and interesting to read whether it is a classic or anything really!