Dear Reader,

When I disclosed my reading metrics last week, I could hear your gasps all the way across the screen. Actually, some of you wrote to me about it, gasping, through your words: HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO READ SO MUCH? I want to answer that, but it is important to me that you know that the joy of reading has absolutely nothing to do with the number of books you read. That said, it is a very legitimate question if you want to read more and find yourself unable to do so.

Let me preface by saying: If you haven’t read a book in a while, it doesn’t make you any less of a reader. You can love books and reading even without devouring them like you’re famished.

In this edition of Kritikal Reading, we talk about:

• What’s Lit This Week?

• How to turn reading into a fun activity

• You’re not a bad person for abandoning books

• Bookings of the Week

What’s Lit this week?

In this section, I gather all the fun, juicy, and news-y updates related to books and publishing.

• The Booker 2025 Longlist: How did my predictions go?

Last week, I shared my wishlist for the books I wanted to see in the Booker Longlist.  Here’s a snapshot to jog your memory:

Out of these, 2 (Universality by Natasha Brown and Audition by Katie Kitamura) made the longlist. Other books on the longlist include:

• Love Forms by Claire Adam (Faber)  

• The South by Tash Aw (4th Estate)  

• One Boat by Jonathan Buckley (Fitzcarraldo Editions)  

• Flashlight by Susan Choi (Jonathan Cape)  

• The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (Hamish Hamilton)  

• The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits (Faber)  

• The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller (Sceptre)  

• Endling by Maria Reva (Virago/Little, Brown)  

• Flesh by David Szalay (Jonathan Cape)  

• Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (Viking)  

• Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga (Daunt Books Originals)

I will be spending until September reading these books so I can share reviews and make fun predictions about the books I think will make the shortlist. Thanks to my library making the books available through Libby, I have already finished reading Universality. (Watch for my review next week!)

Did you know that one of these books is not even published yet, so we may never be able to make accurate predictions about the shortlist? (Can you guess which one it is? Hint: It’s also the LONGEST book on this LONGLIST)

• A new favourite celebrity book club 

In an earlier edition I talked about Dua Lipa’s book club and how much I love the books they select. I have a new favourite and safe to say, I’m floored by their choice of books (many of them get nominated for multiple awards!).

It’s called TeaTime Pictures, and it’s the book club Dakota Johnson has started.

HOW TO: Make Reading Fun

I have read 100+ books already this year, and while I wish I could say there has been a “hack” behind why I could read so much, the truth is much sadder: I was sick for weeks at a time and I found myself unable to do anything but read as I lay waiting in recovery. I will attribute this forced time off for those staggering numbers.

That said, I do read very consistently, even when I am in the pink of health. Reading has never felt like a chore. I think that’s because I’ve figured out a few ways to keep it fun, sustainable, and social. So here’s what works for me — maybe it’ll work for you too?

• Buddy Reading

Over the years, I’ve found (and made) friends who like similar books. And I often end up reading with them — either we buy the same book, I give them the one I’m reading, or we pick something together. Sometimes it’s for a book club, other times it’s just the two of us acting as accountability partners.

Honestly, I do this with multiple people. Different genres, different moods, different conversations. It’s like having your own personalised book chat across different themes. Makes it more exciting — and a lot more likely that I’ll finish what I’m reading!

• Book Clubs (on my own terms)

Book clubs are everywhere now — online, in cafés, in bookstores. Most have a monthly pick (some even split fiction and non-fiction). But here’s my rule: I don’t force myself to commit.

I’m a moody reader. If I’m not in the mood for that book, I won’t read it. So I cherry-pick the ones that sound fun, join when I feel like it, and skip when I don’t. No pressure. I also enjoy trying out different clubs just to see what kind of readers and vibes they bring. It’s a great way to taste new genres and meet new people.

• Gamify Reading!

Yes, I track my reading. Religiously. Goodreads, StoryGraph, Fable, Bookmory — you name it, I’ve tried it. But beyond tracking, I also love creating little reading challenges for myself.

Last year, I set a goal to read 90 books by women authors. I didn’t announce it. No public accountability. Just me, my list, and the quiet satisfaction of hitting a goal that mattered to me.

Oh — and I joined the Kunzum Graduates in Reading program! I’ve completed the certificate, diploma, bachelor’s and master’s levels. And now I’m working toward my Doctorate in Reading. Do I treat it like an actual achievement? Absolutely. It’s such a fun way to celebrate reading milestones — and also a great excuse to buy more books. 😄

• Make it a social activity

Have you heard of Silent Book Clubs? They’re the coolest thing. Basically, a bunch of people meet up and — get this — just read silently together. One whole hour. Phones away. No distractions. Just reading.

I’ve found that I can sometimes read 50 to even 100 pages in that hour! It’s that focused.

It’s become one of my favourite ways to block off time and read. Plus, it’s oddly affirming — like a reminder that hey, if I actually put my phone away, I can read faster, deeper, and with more joy.

On Abandoning Books

I want to talk about something that tends to be a bit contentious—and can create a lot of guilt in the process of reading. But since, in the spirit of today’s newsletter, we’re focusing on how to make reading more joyful, I want to make it very clear: this one habit should not take away from the joy of reading.

And that is the very controversial topic of abandoning books.

Consider this:

You read the blurb of a book, or someone recommended it to you. In some form, you trusted the recommendation enough to actually get the book. And now, it’s in your hands.

You start reading. A few chapters in, you realise it’s not really working for you. Maybe it’s the writing style. Maybe it’s the pacing. Maybe the genre sounded great, but the book just isn’t clicking. (Quick aside: Remember how a lot of Irish authors don’t use punctuation or quotation marks in their dialogue? That’s a stylistic choice that can make reading quite tough for many people.)

Now, in the very avid readers’ community, there’s a term for this: DNF-ing a book. It means Did Not Finish.

I used to feel a lot of guilt about this. I’d force myself to finish every single book I started. But over time, I realised that what I was doing was falling for the sunk cost fallacy. Because I’d already spent money on the book, or borrowed it from the library, or read the first few chapters, my brain would convince me that giving up now meant all that effort would go to waste.

But here’s the truth:

Pushing yourself through a book that isn’t right for you at that moment can lead to book slumps. I’ve experienced it more than once — forcing myself to finish a book drained the joy out of reading for weeks.

Instead, if the book isn’t clicking, it’s completely okay to set it aside. Maybe you’ll come back to it later when you’re in a different headspace. And in many cases, you’ll realise that letting it go actually saved you from building resentment toward reading in general.

Of course, there are times when you’re very clear that you’re not going to revisit it. Maybe the book includes a trope you dislike. Maybe it touches on a topic that triggers something personal. Maybe it’s just too slow.

All of those are perfectly valid reasons to stop reading.

Being honest about why you’re not continuing with a book is actually a really important part of understanding yourself as a reader.

You learn what styles you enjoy, what genres work for you, what kind of pace keeps you engaged—and yes, even what book length feels ideal.

In the end, DNF-ing a book isn’t quitting. It’s curating your reading life with intention.

Let it go…joyfully.

Bookings of the week

This is the section where I discuss my book escapades and adventures from the week. 

• I DNF’ed a book

I received an Advanced Readers Copy for a summer read. I’ve read some really excellent summer books this year, so my standards were really high. So when I started reading this one, I realised 4 chapters in that nothing in the plot had picked up momentum and that was a lot of slow, painful anecdotes to see the characters live through with no commensurate payoff. It was so slow on the uptake that the rest of the book could have been just my type and it still wouldn’t have redeemed the initial slow pace.

• I stepped into a bookstore after MONTHS

And I got George Orwell’s Keep the Aspidistra Flying. This is another thing I am doing: reading the lesser-known works of well-known writers. Orwell is coming out to be my favourite with his essays and diaries and niche works.

Keep the Aspidistra Flying is about Gordon Comstock (exactly my age) who is disillusioned by his job in advertising and takes a job at a bookstore instead, so he can focus on his writing.

Coming up next week:

• A lot of books are being adapted to the screen. My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan and Hot Milk by Deborah Levy are the latest to be made into movies. And I have thoughts. Excitement, yes, but also some contemplation about this.

• I will be headed to the book fair in Delhi (6th-10th Aug, if you’re here!)

Thank you for signing up for Kritikal Reading! It’s a pun! On my name! 

A small introduction: I am Kritika. I have been writing and talking about books online since 2013 (when personal blogspot blogs were a thing; I am ancient!) Professionally, I am a freelance content marketer for tech companies and nonprofits. 

I’m as hooked on coffee as I am on books. I’m doubling down on my book advocacy because I firmly believe that “I’m not a reader” is a temporary phase; you just haven’t found your perfect book. Kinda like love? I hope I can introduce some people to their book-lomls. 

Stay connected with me on my Instagram. More fun updates to follow!