Read These 100 Books Before You Die! …Or Don’t
When a coworker asked me for a book recommendation, I froze for a moment.
I thought to myself, is this it? Does my habit of sitting alone at my desk reading a book instead of socializing finally make me look like a book connoisseur and my opinions on book become relevant? Am I a book person now?!
Struggling to give him a real answer, I said jokingly, “Go read Quran,” and planned to walk away before he said that he seriously need a book recommendation.
He said, “I want to read a book instead of being on my phone all the time, especially when I’m commuting on train.”
Alright. There were many book titles that came to mind; Kitchen, Convenience Store Woman, Days at Morisaki Bookshop, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, A Diary of Genocide, Garis Batas, Titik Nol, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, Menulis Sosok, Salvation of A Saint, Sihir Perempuan, There’s No Such Thing As An Easy Job, Keajaiban Toko Kelontong Namiya, Teka-teki Rumah Aneh… But my mouth was silent. I couldn’t seem to recommend anything — what if he doesn’t like my choice of books?
He said it’s been awhile since he read. Great… So, not only do I have to guide him back into the world of literature, but I also have to do it in a way that doesn’t involve throwing him into the deep end with something heavy.
I tried recommending books from the “Best Seller” section at the bookstore, thinking that anything listed there must be generally good books to reintroduce someone to the world of books. On the other hand, maybe deep down I just don’t want to feel like a failure if he doesn’t like my recommendation.
But then, he asked if I had read any of the Best Sellers myself.
When I told him that I hadn’t, he said, “I want a recommendation based on what you read.”
Well, I felt honored that he trusted me so much about my taste in books. However, I didn’t think it was wise to rely on my book recommendations as the deciding factor in whether he would start reading again.
But at the same time, I understand where he came from. He had a genuine intention to read more — to reduce his screen time — while also having been away from books for so long. Thus, he could use some guidance to get started. I just happened to be the person he turned to for an advice.
I began by asking him follow-up questions, like what types of stories spark the most interest for him and what kinds of books he’s enjoyed in the past. Initially, I suggested A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, but then I decided to give him my Indonesian copy of Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, since I planned to buy the English version for myself.
If I’m counting correctly, I’ve read around 17 books this year, as of November 2024. Aside from memoirs, essays, and illustrated books, most of the books I’ve read are fiction novels — specifically, heartwarming, slice-of-life Japanese literature that explores themes like grief, the lives of office workers, letting go of the past, and young adults navigating societal expectations while trying to figure out their own paths.
I don’t have a hard time deciding what I wanted to read because I know what kind of books that I enjoy.
But it wasn’t always like this. Back in 2016, after I graduated high school, my interest in reading and my ability to focus on books was practically non-existent. This continued throughout university. I still bought some books, but I barely finish them. I stopped reading altogether in my final years of university, and even after graduation, I didn’t pick up a book at all.
It wasn’t until a few months into my job that I finally started reading again. I wanted to try reading novels again after years of only consuming self-improvement books (which sums up why I stopped reading altogether, lol).
So, I began with a simple Google search: “Rekomendasi Novel.”
The Google search resulted in listicle articles, with SEO-friendly titles such as “100 Buku yang Wajib Kamu Baca” or “7 Novel Remaja Terbaik” and so on… and so on…
I ended up buying a 688-page Indonesian teen-lit novel because of the “book reviews” and “book recommendations” for me to not even made it to the 100th page before setting it aside and eventually giving the book away to another coworker. Boy, nothing feels worse than reading a book that felt like a chore !
I tried my best to keep searching for something to read, mainly by googling book recommendations and asking people I thought were avid readers. But most of the books ended up disappointing me. As much as I wanted to enjoy them — especially since everyone else seemed to love them, including the person who recommended them — I just couldn’t. I felt pressured to like them too, and eventually, I stopped reading altogether again.
This struggle led me to reflect on my approach to finding books. I realized I had been picking up books based on external validation rather than following my own instincts and preferences. It wasn’t until I let go of the pressure to conform to others’ tastes that I truly began to rediscover the joy of reading.
It took me a while to get back into my usual reading routine. Thanks to Na Willa series, Life of Pi, Convenience Store Woman, Minimarket yang Merepotkan, Kesetiaan Mr. X, my reading habit returned two years ago.
During my journey of rediscovering books, I realized that while I’ve always been a sucker for fast-paced crime fiction, I also enjoy slow read about the mundane life of office workers. I also discovered that, unlike when I was younger, romance novels no longer hold the same appeal for me, and I feel less comfortable with them now.
Along the way, I tried reading several memoirs and found that I really enjoyed them (Britney Spears’ The Woman In Me, I’m talking to you!). I also came to terms with the fact that self-help books no longer serve me the way they did years ago. My preferences have changed, and I’ve stopped limiting myself when it comes to what I want to read.
Most of the books I read now don’t come from a place of “book recommendations.” Thus, I feel no pressure in liking the books, making the habit more sustainable in the long run.
I rediscovered the joy of reading and welcomed books back into my life. I found myself learning from the characters, finding solace in stories that reflected my own experiences, and feeling validated and accepted through the books I chose. I even made a few decisions because of the books I read.
I don’t force myself to read whatever’s trendy, and I’m careful when recommending books to others, knowing that what resonates with me might not be the right fit for them. Rather than urging people to enjoy what I read, I’d rather encourage them to explore whatever reads they like— fiction, memoirs, essays, self-help, philosophy, illustrated books, poetry, history, travel writing, academic texts, popular science, comics…
There’s no limit to what one can read, nor is there a rush to find the “best” books.
So, what about those “100 Books To Read Before You Die” articles? Is it wrong to recommend books or search for one? No, not really. It’s just that, don’t feel pressured to enjoy every recommended book. Keep searching what works for you, and don’t give up on picking up books again.
My coworker whom I gave a copy of Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop to, told me he’s been reading it on the train. He even said he takes pictures of quotes that resonate with him. It’s great to see him gradually circle back to reading, and I’m happy he liked my recommendation. But even if he hadn’t, that’s fine too. I just hope he finds books that truly sparks the joy in him.
At the end of the day, books always have a way of finding the right readers at the right time. So, don’t rush. Sit back and enjoy the read…
