24/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 24, 2025 theSunday Special III

Traditional reading is not losing its shine but thriving due to increased accessibility.”

Nothing beats recharging with a good book and zero small talk.”

It’s not just entertainment; it’s a way to understand life better.”

Online communities help make reading feel social and accessible.”

Elvina

Nojey

Chloe

Vijayan

For aspiring readers and reviewers, he recommends exploring apps like Goodreads for tracking and reviews, StoryGraph for mood-based recommen dations and Libby, which allows users to borrow eBooks from their local library for free. NetGalley is another valuable tool for obtaining early reader copies and developing your reviewing skills. “More and more people are turning off their gadgets to pick up physical books. Reading isn’t just educational; it’s therapeutic, helping us calm our minds amid digital noise. #bookTok is not just another passing trend. It’s a movement. As long as people keep sharing their love IRU VWRULHV WKLV FRPPXQLW\ ZLOO ÀRXULVK ´ said Vijayan. Turning the pages together For a 28-year-old married couple, Chad Boonwaat Nojey and Chloe Hor, reading is more than a pastime. It is a shared passion that enriches their relationship and life perspectives. Nojey and Hor both have careers in marketing. They credit each other with reigniting and sustaining their love for books. “I was a bookworm in secondary school but drifted away during university. It was only after dating Chloe that I picked up books again. Seeing her excitement about stories pulled me back in. What makes reading more rewarding now is my ability to engage with texts more deeply and UHÀHFW RQ KRZ WKH\ VKDSH P\ ZRUOGYLHZ It’s not just entertainment; it’s a way to XQGHUVWDQG OLIH EHWWHU ´ H[SODLQHG 1RMH\ As for Chloe, her love for books began early, with mysteries like those of Nancy Drew. She started devouring books in secondary school and has always felt a strong pull towards reading. Online com munities help make reading feel social and accessible. It romanticises reading while assisting people to connect with others who share their interests. Physical books are a way to reclaim something tangible in a digital world. Owning a book is like owning a CD in the streaming era. There is an aesthetic and emotional value that eBooks or audio books cannot replicate.

Nojey’s favourite genre is fantasy. He would love to read more urban fantasy sto ries that do not revolve around romance, which are currently quite impossible to come across. Hor’s taste in books leans toward magical realism and contemporary ¿FWLRQ The newlywed’s monthly book budget can reach up to RM200. To stick to the DOORFDWHG EXGJHW DQG NHHS UHDGLQJ D̆ RUG ably, Nojey and Hor suggest considering pre-loved books, borrowing from friends or joining book swaps, as these are great ways to discover new reads without over spending. It also helps build a community. The reading duo both use apps to enhance their reading experiences. They use Goodreads for tracking and reviews, Audible for audiobooks and StoryGraph for mood-based reading insights. “For Malaysians who are still hesitant to read, you don’t actually hate reading; you just haven’t found the right book or genre yet. There’s something out there for HYHU\RQH ´ VDLG 1RMH\ Life with books At 35, Elvina is a full-time freelancer and proud mom who describes herself as a µFHUWL¿HG ERRNZRUP¶ VLQFH WKH DJH RI For her, reading is not just a hobby, it is

part of her identity and a vital source of recharge amid life’s chaos. “I’ve never been apart from books. They’ve been with me through school, college and every phase of life. Now in my thirties, nothing beats recharging ZLWK D JRRG ERRN DQG ]HUR VPDOO WDON´ said Elvina. What excites Elvina most about reading today is the sense of global community that it fosters. She is no longer reading alone. Through internet communities such as Goodreads, #bookstagram and #booktok, she sees how others experience the same stories. It makes reading feel alive and connected. Social media hashtags such as #booktok have made reading ‘cool’ again, especially for younger generations. They introduce books in a fun, emotional and sometimes even chaotic way, with direct interaction between authors and readers. “From my experience and what I have witnessed within these past few years, not every viral book is worth the hype. I think LW¶V ¿QH EHFDXVH ZH QHHG WR EX\ ERRNV with intention, not pressure. Ask yourself: Do I really want to read this or am I just IROORZLQJ D WUHQG"´ (OYLQD VKDUHG Financially, Elvina is thrifty, which is EHQH¿FLDO EHFDXVH VKH NHHSV LW VXVWDLQDEOH

by buying mostly pre-loved books or borrowing from friends and participating LQ ERRN VZDSV ³, VSHQG DERXW 50 WR RM200 quarterly. I’m grateful for friends who lend books; it keeps things fresh ZLWKRXW RYHUVSHQGLQJ ´ Although she owns a Kindle and an iPad, Elvina prefers physical books be cause, to her, reading a physical book is a form of digital detox. Turning pages and smelling paper is comforting, especially in this screen-heavy era. Her favourite genres include mystery, emotional ro mance that can evoke both laughter and tears, as well as dystopian fiction that UHÀHFWV UHDO ZRUOG LVVXHV ´ As Malaysians, we need to support local authors and indie bookstores. If you are a beginner, consider using reading trackers like Bookmory to stay motivated. Start small. Even one page or chapter a day makes a difference. Read what JHQXLQHO\ H[FLWHV \RX´ (OYLQD DGYLVHG The new reading revival is not just about consuming stories, but about build ing connections, supporting local voices and nurturing lifelong habits that enrich both mind and soul. Reading should not be treated as a chore or an exclusive club. It is an accessible, joyful journey that anyone can embark on.

Reading isn’t just educational; it’s therapeutic, helping us calm our minds amid digital noise.