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12th July 2024
05:50pm BST
The number of incredible books out there is impossible to even comprehend. There isn't enough time to read every book written, but I can embrace my inner Rory Gilmore and try my best.
Reading is something that has mattered to me since I was a little kid, a reliable hobby that is both reassuring, educational, and a lot of fun too. It's usually always part of my everyday routine whether I squeeze in a chapter on the bus or a page or two before dozing off at night.
So many books have changed my life in some way, shape, or form. Certain novels educated me and shaped my beliefs. Others were a huge comfort during heartbreaking times in my personal life.
And many simply kept me company on long train journeys or on a rainy Sunday in a local cafe.
This week, the New York Times revealed the top 100 books of the 21st century. A phenomenal and eclectic mix of books featured in the prestigious list, but only one book came out on top.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein, was voted number one.
The publication described the novel as "unforgettable and uncompromising" and it's immediately gone on my reading list.
The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other.
So many people have spoken out about the list with many admitting they've read so few of the top 100. There is pressure for readers to read the most respected books but I'm a firm believer in reading what makes you happy.
Life is too short, and my reading list too long, to spend time reading novels you don't care about.
Reading to impress other people is a wasted effort, especially when your favourite novel is sitting on a shelf in a bookshop somewhere.
They may not be fancy enough to feature in the New York Times list but they're pretty special to me. And isn't that what matters when it comes to reading? Focus on the books that you enjoy and that piques your interest.
My top books are Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, One Day by David Nicholls, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
