Hi everyone, at the beginning of 2026 I decided that this year I want to seriously start reading books. I am completely new to reading and I have not read many books before, so I am confused about where I should begin. I am not very interested in self-development or motivational books; instead, I am drawn more toward deeper, sad, or thought-provoking literature, especially writers like Franz Kafka, Sylvia Plath, Albert Camus, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. I want to start with books that suit a beginner but still have depth and meaning, so that reading feels engaging and I can build a real habit. I would really appreciate any suggestions, advice, or personal experiences you can share to help me get started. Thank you.
by spreadxhatred
3 Comments
Have you read Kafka, Plath,Camus or/and Dostoevsky?
If not, maybe start there?
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – a dystopian novel about outlawed books. Might get you thinking about the value of books and themes of censorship. Though written in 1953 it was quite relevant, enjoyable and concerning to read.
I joined a book club for exactly this reason – it forced me to read and I was exposed to books I would not have chosen for myself but found many I enjoyed. There have only been a handful I didn’t. The first book I read for club I did not enjoy very much and considered backing out of group but I’m glad I didn’t.
These may not be in the genre/category you’re looking for but some examples that were picked by group members that I enjoyed were The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Girl in His Shadow and The Surgeon’s Daughter by Audrey Blake, All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. All were easy reads. All the Colors of the Dark looks like a very long read but it’s because the book is formatted in a strange way.
I also like some autobiographies. I enjoyed Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. Failure is an Option by H. Jon Benjamin was hysterical.
A friend gave me Hunt for the Skinwalker by Colm A. Kelleher and I really did not think I would enjoy it but I found the story fascinating.
Even if you don’t pick up any of these I mentioned, I hope you find some books that engage you and you develop a love of reading 🙂 happy new year!
Edit: oh and some advice: keep at it! Initially I found my attention span to be quite short. I had to divide the book into smaller chunks (e.g., I have to read 15 pages a day to finish before book club) and sometimes I’d have to read paragraphs over and over because my mind was wandering. This has improved the more I read. It was initially a struggle to get through one book per month but now I’m reading 4-5 books a month easily and my attention has improved. I mention this because other people have told me they struggle with reading due to attention, too. A problem with being chronically online, I suppose.