reading
Why wait for the 'perfect moment'? Start these 5 micro habits today!
We have all experienced it—the period when we hold out for the perfect moment to make changes in our lives. The reality is, there’s no such thing as the “right time” to start. The important thing is to take action now, even if it’s just a small step, and allow those small actions to build momentum over time.
How to get yourself to read (and finish) a book
For most people, the size of a book is what might repel them from picking it up in the first place.
ESSAY / To read as an academic: The transformative journey of a reader turned student
I became curious as to how the experience of reading might change for someone who studied it for a living, and how the lens of a literature student might differ from that of a creative writing one
Technology for when writing feels tough
A bunch of free places on the internet that allow me to complete assignments or personal projects when the going gets rough.
BOI MELA 2024 / Ekushey Boi Mela: Children's books and what to expect
With only a few days to go, there’s still a chance to take the younger ones to the book fair and check out the wide range of books available
BOI MELA 2024 / Navigating the Ekushey Boi Mela
With rows upon rows of book stalls offering everything from timeless classics to contemporary bestsellers, navigating through this maze of books can be both exhilarating and overwhelming
THE SHELF / What's trending among writers in 2024?
Readers follow trending genres and the latest writing practices, which change within seconds. Keeping up with these trends is difficult for writers
If you don’t like reading, then comic books are for you
Very few avenues of storytelling have the same level of diversity and versatility as comics, and if you are someone who has an aversion towards reading general books, comics might turn that dislike into a regular reading habit.
How to cope with reader’s block
Reading and writing go hand in hand. And perhaps that’s why, just like there’s writer’s block, there’s also readers block. Only reader’s block is probably worse because reading is easier than writing, yet you just can’t do it.
Reading tips for a full-time working mom
As I wrote in “Motherhood—the story of a transformed reader”, my essay for Daily Star Books on International Mother’s Day on
Why it’s okay to forget the books you read
What makes them my favourites, if I can’t remember the names of the engrossing characters or the details of the intricate plots in some of my “favourite” books?
Why you should give your books a break
A week or two ago, I came across an article by Hassan Munhamanna on Daily Star Books in which he talked about his struggles with reading books in their entirety.
Re-reading ‘The Alchemist’: A book of omens
Before I knew it, I developed a personal relationship with the book. I was glued from beginning till end. I read slowly. Sometimes I read the same section twice. I could not focus on anything else till I finished. The experience was psychedelic: an expansion of the mind (imagination). In the end, the second omen worked. I was out of depression. Ricardo was right: “a good book (or film) can pull you out of depression”.
WORDS THAT HEAL: The comfort of literature in times of mental duress
For Mahera help came not only in the form of relatable characters, but also the physical comfort derived from holding onto a book. "I've carried a book or a Kindle with me during the worst times of my life. It's like a security blanket," she told me.
Uganda, where a book can cost a month’s salary
The hunt for a good book in Uganda's capital is not for the faint-hearted; in fact it feels like a black market.
The surprising benefits of reading before bed
Those who read consistently exhibit significantly greater memory and mental abilities at all stages in life.