By Yasaman Zavar
In my opinion, when choosing a book to read, your decision should not be influenced by others, especially not BookTok. Don’t get me wrong, TikTok’s BookTok is a great place to go when you are in need of an honest review or even some book recommendations, but I won’t lie; I am ambivalent to it. BookTok tends to bewitch people into buying or not buying books based on what the majority of people think. Be your own person, be unique, and don’t let others snatch away your decisions about what books you should love or hate. Remember, something that is someone’s cup of tea might not be yours, and vice versa. When choosing a book, you must empty your head of everything and focus on the words to see if they speak to you or your soul.
The underrated genres I see rarely mentioned on BookTok are poetry and classics, a.k.a the life-changing books. But fear not, because today I will bring you a few authors whose writing will alter your brain chemistry.
r.h. Sin, whom I find to be the contemporary god of poetry, whose words are so captivating that they will heal your soul.
- She’s strong, but she’s tired.
- A beautiful composition of broken.
- Planting gardens in graves.
- I hope this reaches her in time.
- She just wants to forget.
- We hope this reaches you in time.
However, I must warn you that his words will open up wounds you have hidden or have put a bandage on, and teach you how to heal them properly. His words are uplifting and will make you feel less lonely, knowing that others go through the same thing as you. These are just some of my favourites from his collection, but I recommend you read all his books.
Oscar Wilde…. I mean do I even need to describe him? He’s the man who said, “we are not nouns, we are verbs.”
- The Importance of Being an Earnest
- The Collected Work of Oscar Wilde
- The Picture of Dorian Grey
- Only Dull People are Brilliant at Breakfast
Here’s a mistake people make with Oscar Wilde: they take his words wholeheartedly. Some of his personal opinions are controversial beliefs that might not sit right with people, and that’s okay. Still read them, and learn about the philosophy behind his words, because even the ones that don’t align with your ethics are time-worthy readings that will change your perspective on life for the better. Trust me, he is worth it.
Trista Mateer’s Aphrodite made me do it – What it would feel like to grab coffee with your idol, who is the goddess of beauty, and to have the best conversation about female empowerment of your life?
Bianca Sparacino’s A Gentle Reminder— What would your guardian angel tell you if you ever met them?
Jacqueline Whitney’s All that you deserve — Her words are like a hug that will put all your broken pieces together.
Emily Dickinson – Miss Emily Elizabeth Dickinson is the wise, relatable older sister that we all need in our lives. These are some of my favourite poems and compositions of hers, but I suggest that you read The Complete Works of Emily Dickinson, which includes all of her works.
- I’m Nobody! Who are you?
- Hope is the thing with feathers
- The heart asks Pleasure – First
- I died for Beauty – but was scarce
Allen Ginsberg’s Howl is for all my fellow law, political science, sociology, and basically any social science majors out there. Also, hello? This is the book that Jess steals from Rory in Gilmore Girls!
The last thing that I will say is that you shouldn’t let books think for you. Let the words come and go, to dance in your mind, to be free and pass through. Don’t force them to settle or force yourself to align with the words. I think books are beautiful because they teach you about other people’s perspectives on life and allow you to learn from the pearls of wisdom the authors have graciously decided to share. If you see something that speaks to you, then keep it. Make a mental note of it, yet still don’t force it. Interpret the words, sentences, and phrases you read however you see fit in your life.
Also, from one fellow bookworm to another, reading gets a thousand times better with music. And no, I’m not talking about jamming to Drake or Travis Scott while reading Oscar Wilde. I’m talking about soft and mellow songs. Jam out to some Mozart, Ludovico Einaudi, Beethoven or other classical artists instead. And if you’re reading fantasy, I suggest searching for your favourite fantasy television show’s soundtrack and letting it play in the background. And lastly, for romance, either listen to heart-aching, soul-rejuvenating romantic piano songs or queen T’s midnight album.