Knoji’s Book Nook – Your September Read

This month’s read is: Why We Read

Author: Shannon Reed

Genre: A collection of creative non-fiction (discursive) essays

Release Date: 2024

Knoji ratings

For those who secretly smell books in libraries: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

For those who start a book then forget to finish it: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For those who get a little too emotionally invested in fictional characters:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The story in one sentence

A reminder that every book places the world right in your hands.

The full story

“Why We Read” is a love letter to all forms of literature. Originally titled Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out, Shannon Reed brings together forty short essays that celebrate the joys (and struggles) of reading. With humour, warmth, and honesty, she explores everything to do with the role of literature in our lives. She goes from cheekily explaining how to actually love reading and how to choose the best book for you, to breaking down how books can powerfully carry us through grief, identity, and change.

Reed writes from the perspective of both a lifelong reader and an educator, weaving personal stories with broader reflections about literature, representation, and the culture of reading. Each essay is quick to devour, but together they form a bigger picture of why books matter—not just for school or work, but for the way they connect us to each other and to ourselves.

If you have never liked reading or never given it a proper try, Reed reassures you it’s never to late to start, believing it takes the right book at the right time to make you a reader.

Why should I read this?

“Why We Read ” serves as a valuable exemplar and inspiration text for Year 12 Advanced English students studying the Craft of Writing module, but at its core, it is a heartfelt exploration of our enduring relationship with literature. It’s a book that will make you pause and rethink the way you see your own bookshelf.

As students, reading can often feel like a chore—something tied to assessments rather than enjoyment. Reed’s essays push back against that view, reminding us that books can be companions, teachers, and safe havens when life feels overwhelming. Stories have the power to put words to experiences we struggle to articulate, while also offering the chance to step into lives vastly different from our own—teaching us empathy, curiosity, and connection to the world around us.

Most importantly, Reed highlights the lifelong value of reading for pleasure. She notes that the act of reading doesn’t need justification through grades or outcomes; instead, it enriches our lives by sparking imagination, building resilience, and nurturing the simple joy of getting lost in a good story.

Where do I go from here?

Go pick up a new book and give it a try 🙂

Read an excerpt of “Why We Read” for free here: https://lithub.com/less-is-more-shannon-reed-on-re-learning-how-to-read

Purchase a copy of “Why We Read” here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Why-We-Read-Bookworms-Libraries/dp/1335007962