Although the session is coming to an end, reading doesn’t stop for some students here at Exeter summer.
Thanks to the different locations in town that provide a space for readers to buy, select, and read books such as the Exeter Bookstore, the Water Street Bookstore, Exeter town’s
public library, and the Phillips Exeter Library, among other places, avid readers were able to quench their bookish thirsts.
Raina Mathews, a girl who was holding “Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King in her hands, recommended Water Street, exclaiming how the bookstore itself is a “whole new experience” for readers, as they can come and select a book from the large variety of options. This is particularly helpful for students with long reading lists.
As an avid reader myself, I can proudly say that I purchased more than ten books that I had saved in my “To Be Read” list and couldn’t be happier. Back home, the nearest library is a twenty-minute drive, so the opportunities to have new books at home are many days from shipment away, compared to how I can easily get a book in a few minutes.
To a similar extent, Jacob Lee, a Korean-Filipino student, can relate to this feeling. However “it’s around five books long because I finish books really quickly.” On the other end of the spectrum, we have other readers, like Razan Amer, Saudi Arabian student, who has “hundreds of books” in a reading list.
Speaking of reading lists and great books, Raina recommends Stephen King’s “Eyes of the Dragon.” “However,” she explains: “it doesn’t fit his usual template. It’s a fantasy-fiction book with mages and all sorts of mythical creatures. It’s such a wake-up call from what he usually does, which is horror.”
Razan Amer recommends “Anything” by Emily Henry. Meanwhile Jacob Lee recommends two of George Orwell’s world-renowned books: “Animal Farm” and “1984.”
“They are books that contained different realities,” he said, “and just seeing how humans can really mess up these worlds is an interesting concept.”
As you can see, no two readers are alike. There are fantasy readers, horror fans, dystopia enjoyers, romance fanatics– you name it! But all readers enjoy reading.
Reading doesn’t have to be something you must force yourself to enjoy. Not all readers read all genres. “You just need to find what intrigues you.” Jacob Lee says, speaking about the difficulties of finding “your” genre.
To people out there who want to start reading, but don’t have a clue where to start, there are many ways that one can get into reading. In today’s modern era, we have the internet, which opens our possibilities to discovering new things. Don’t be afraid to go up to a friend or someone you know who likes books and ask him or her for recommendations. You may find just what you are looking for.