reading
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.
Home is where my books are
How do you pack 25 years of your life in two suitcases?
The comfort of rereading old books
I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of new books that I still want to read—so many stories, so little time—and understand that this is an ambition that rereading can only delay.
Public libraries could solve our public space problem
There needs to be a push for a strong public library culture in Dhaka.
How we romanticise reading books
Books can offer a lot more than relaxation and aesthetic pleasure.
Memories of Eid and ‘Dipu Number Two’
One of my most vivid memories growing up was discovering the joys of reading during one train journey to Rajshahi, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal's novel of childhood adventures
Only books and longing for this year’s Eid
Since I did not have a busy itinerary on Eid days, books were my unwitting companions
How reading the Quran turned from a hobby into a habit
Every evening, after coming home from school, the first thing I would do is sit with the Quran and an English translation of it that my father had on his shelves.
Reading for spirituality during Ramadan
A unique opportunity to enhance one's spirituality and reflect on one's faith
Reading as a form of resistance: Some anecdotes from the 1971 war
After the war, the library authorities placed advertisements requesting people to return any books from the library that they might have in their possession, but the response was poor. The library's hundred-year-old collection was lost forever.
The special bond between bookshops and readers
For avid readers, bookshops hold a special place in their lives.
At the Blums’—A review of 'The Netanyahus' by Joshua Cohen
Cohen’s book confidently deals with the comedy of the Jewish family.
How BookTok motivated me to read again
It has made literary criticism—often regarded highbrow or excessively academic—feel accessible.
