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Reading vs. "Studying": How I Finally Fell in Love with English Books


For a long time, picking up an English book felt less like a hobby and more like a punishment.

To me, reading meant heavy textbooks, endless comprehension questions, and boring essays about Shakespeare. I convinced myself that I just hated reading. But I realized later that I didn’t hate reading; I hated what I was reading.

We are often told that to improve our English, we have to read the "Classics." But let’s be honest: "Important" books are often difficult, old-fashioned, and incredibly slow.

Here is the truth: If you are struggling to get through page one, you aren't learning—you are just suffering.

My Recommendation: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Recently, I decided to try something different. I picked up a book called Wonder. I promised myself I would read just one chapter. I ended up finishing the whole thing in three days.

Why did this book work when others failed?

  • Real-World Vocabulary: The author uses words people actually say in daily life. I didn't feel like I was deciphering a secret code.

  • The "One More Page" Effect: The chapters are short and punchy. I felt a rush of achievement every time I finished a section, which kept me turning the page.

  • The Heart: I genuinely cared about the main character, Auggie. When you emotionally connect with a story, your brain works harder to understand the language because you need to know what happens next.

The "No-Dictionary" Rule

I used a risky new strategy while reading Wonder. I banned the dictionary.

If I saw a word I didn't know, I made a deal with myself: I would guess the meaning from the context and keep moving.

The Old Me ❌The New Me ✅
Stop reading immediately.Guess the meaning.
Look up the word.Keep moving.
Write down the definition.Enjoy the story.
Forget what was happening in the plot.Actually have fun.

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you are looking for your first English novel, start here. It will remind you that English is a tool for storytelling, not just a subject for exams.

Interactive: The First Sentence Challenge

Authors try to hook us with the very first sentence. Here are opening lines from three famous books. Which one makes you want to keep reading?

  1. Peter Pan: "All children, except one, grow up."

  2. 1984: "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."

  3. Harry Potter: "Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

(Vote in the comments below! I’m curious to see which style wins.)

📷 Behind the Scenes

I wanted to write this review because reading has historically been the hardest skill for me to master. I chose Wonder because it was the first time I read in English without feeling forced. The photo attached is my actual copy of the book—if you look closely, you can see my highlighter marks. It shows that I’m not just looking at the words; I’m interacting with them.

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