For One Man, Reading Wasn't Always a Lifeline - Until His 24th Birthday
At four or five years old, Derek Owusu's foster parents attempted to teach him how to read with Biff and Chip books. Yet, it wasn't until he turned 24 that Owusu developed a taste for reading, which would go on to shape his life as a writer.
Owusu's journey into the world of literature was marked by a patchwork of favourite authors, many of whom introduced him to the complexities of human experience. The turning point came with St Mawr by DH Lawrence, followed by EM Forster's Where Angels Fear to Tread and HG Wells' The Time Machine. As he continued reading, Owusu discovered the works of Joseph Conrad, F Scott Fitzgerald, and Vladimir Nabokov, among others.
One book that profoundly impacted Owusu was bell hooks' The Will to Change, which helped him understand masculinity. Another author who changed his perspective was Benjamin Zephaniah, with whom Owusu started a correspondence that eventually led to a master's degree in creative writing.
For Owusu, reading was a catalyst for growth, and the following authors played pivotal roles in shaping his literary tastes: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely, and Yrsa Daley-Ward's The Terrible. Even Henry James, whom Owusu had struggled with as a younger reader, eventually became a favourite author.
Owusu has an unusual relationship with certain books - some he re-reads to boost his self-esteem, while others have become too cloying for him. In the case of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Owusu found himself increasingly frustrated with the novel's prose and descriptions.
In recent years, Owusu discovered Richard Yates' A Good School, which became one of his all-time favourites. His current read is Julian Barnes' Departure(s). Among his comfort reads are Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy, which helps him cope with depersonalization.
At four or five years old, Derek Owusu's foster parents attempted to teach him how to read with Biff and Chip books. Yet, it wasn't until he turned 24 that Owusu developed a taste for reading, which would go on to shape his life as a writer.
Owusu's journey into the world of literature was marked by a patchwork of favourite authors, many of whom introduced him to the complexities of human experience. The turning point came with St Mawr by DH Lawrence, followed by EM Forster's Where Angels Fear to Tread and HG Wells' The Time Machine. As he continued reading, Owusu discovered the works of Joseph Conrad, F Scott Fitzgerald, and Vladimir Nabokov, among others.
One book that profoundly impacted Owusu was bell hooks' The Will to Change, which helped him understand masculinity. Another author who changed his perspective was Benjamin Zephaniah, with whom Owusu started a correspondence that eventually led to a master's degree in creative writing.
For Owusu, reading was a catalyst for growth, and the following authors played pivotal roles in shaping his literary tastes: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely, and Yrsa Daley-Ward's The Terrible. Even Henry James, whom Owusu had struggled with as a younger reader, eventually became a favourite author.
Owusu has an unusual relationship with certain books - some he re-reads to boost his self-esteem, while others have become too cloying for him. In the case of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Owusu found himself increasingly frustrated with the novel's prose and descriptions.
In recent years, Owusu discovered Richard Yates' A Good School, which became one of his all-time favourites. His current read is Julian Barnes' Departure(s). Among his comfort reads are Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy, which helps him cope with depersonalization.
! It's amazing how books can have such a profound impact on our lives, you know? For me, reading is like a superpower that opens doors to new worlds and perspectives 
. I think it's so cool that Owusu found his way through authors like bell hooks and Benjamin Zephaniah, who helped him navigate complex issues like masculinity and social justice #RepresentationMatters #LiteracyIsKey. And I'm intrigued by how some books become "too cloying" for us - I've had those moments with novels that just don't resonate anymore 
. Anyway, I'm inspired to keep reading and learning, and I hope we all can find our own literary superheroes in the process 
I mean, have you seen the layout on this website lately? It's like they're trying to make it harder for us to read the articles 
. And can someone please explain why they're still using that old font? It looks ancient 
.
. But seriously, it's great that he found solace in books, especially with The Will to Change by bell hooks - that one sounds super impactful 
. And the ads on this site are getting out of hand 
. Can't we just have a peaceful online discussion without all the distractions? 
he wasnt always into it but then discovered st mawr by dh lawrence and everything changed for him 
it's like his brain was just waiting for the right words to click into place 
I'm also curious, what's with the Oscar Wilde thing? How can a book be cloying?! 
). It's also lovely to see how certain books can become comfort reads – same here! There's nothing like curling up with Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy when you're feeling anxious 
. Anyway, I love how Owusu turned his reading journey into his writing career 
. Who knows, maybe one day I'll find my own 'St Mawr' and discover a new passion 
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... but it wasn't till i hit 20 that i actually got into reading for real. now owusu's story is so inspiring! he literally went from not enjoying reading as a kid to finding solace in books at 24, which is crazy 
. His journey from struggling with authors like Henry James to finding comfort in Bertrand Russell's philosophy is fascinating 
. I can definitely relate to re-reading books that give us a boost of confidence or feeling all cozy with certain comfort reads 
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. Give me a break 
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! I mean, who needs a gaming boost when you've got St Mawr and The Time Machine? 
. But seriously, it's awesome to see how books can help us find ourselves... unless they're Oscar Wilde, then maybe we just need to switch to a different book 
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It's all about finding those personal connections and nurturing them into lifelong love of reading