Elmo Moorby

Daily writing prompt

What book are you reading right now?

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This past year, I’ve leant back into reading for pleasure. When I was younger I’d always have a book on the go, but as I progressed in school and had more and more ‘set reading’ to do, reading for fun found itself at the bottom of my list of priorities.

More recently, it has regained the position as one of my favourite pasttimes. I’ve managed to read Thirty-three books so far this year. Titles such as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Circe by Madline Miller, and Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel are new favourites found through my rekindled love of books.

It is important to know that I read different things for different reasons. My current ‘Owned, Unread’ book count is well over 100, a figure I hope to reduce significantly in 2025. There are titles on my shelf I know can find new homes once I’ve read them. Currently, I am reading The Pages by Hugo Hamilton, a story told from the perspective of a book (Rebellion by Joseph Roth) that survived the Nazi book burnings. The themes and perspective of this text intrigue me, though I don’t see myself keeping it for any sentimental or significant reason.

Another book I am currently reading is Terry Pratchett’s Reaper Man. This discworld novel follows the character of Death when he is made redundant from his position and goes to live the rest of his days in a farming town. Though I’ve enjoyed this book, the plot and dialogue are incredibly humourous, I don’t see myself keeping this, either.

One book i’d set my eyes on at the start of this year was Homer’s Odyssey, translated by E. V. Rieu. I’ve picked through the first chapter, making notes on a page in Notion. I see myself keeping this book, purely for the fact I’ll be annotating it and, despite its age, it reads in an incredibly smooth and engaging way.

Though there are other titles I am ‘Currently Reading’, the last I’m making consistent progress with is an ebook of Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree. I’ve been reading a chapter a day before I go to bed. It’s a relatively easy read, with classic ‘high fantasy’ elements. I’m enjoying the cozy setting of the story so far, it reminds me of Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, or Pumpkin Spice Cafe, both slow-paced, small town stories I thoroughly enjoyed earlier this year.

What are your current reads?