This weekend I've been to a theme park. Since it's summer, I thought more people would be there and there would be long waiting times, so I brought my book. There, I noticed that, actually, there were very few people. Heat wave must've scared many off. Longest waiting time has been 30 minutes.

For that 30 minutes line I decided to read my book. To make sense of something that will be said later on, you must know I'm Italian and was in Italy. After a while the lady behind me starts talking and says "This is horrible, all the kids here are on their phone. Once, this would've never happened. At least there's this girl reading." Then she starts talking to my mum and tells her how good I am and that she's very happy to find that there's still a few teens that prefer reading over staying on their phone.

My mum started chatting a bit and said that I read a lot and that I read 100 pages a day (really wish that was true, it happens every once in a while but not every day). They kept talking and I'm very happy my mother started advocating for the other kids too and told the lady that actually, many teens like to read and do it way more. Then the lady addressed me to know what I was reading, I showed her the book (Legendborn) and she was even more stunned "That's in English! Not only reading, but also in a different language, good job." I smiled and thanked her. After that, we all kinda went back to our business.

On one hand, I was very happy to have gotten all of those compliments, on the other, really frustrated by the same old narrative that gen Z is brain rotted and always on the phone, especially because there were so many adults on their phones as well and many kids were talking to each other instead. Plus, what if somebody was reading a book on their phone? Many do because it's more portable.

In my country, the category that reads the most is girls between 20-25 years (at least it was like that two years ago, doubt it changed much since then), and many teens do as well. I don't get why the judgement when, actually, younger folks are the age group with the most avid readers by statistics. Has this happened to you? And, if you're from an older generation and ever made those comments about gen Z, why do you think that? Also really curious to know if older generations got the same backlash when they were younger, I see many gen Z make fun of gen Alpha and that makes me so mad too.

Sorry this is so long. I'm not good at synthesis.

I was in a book shop the other day and this thought started to form. Not that I would necessarily point blank refuse to read a book with a less than aesthetically pleasing cover, but that the beautiful ones are just more elevated in my perception. I told my mum who I was with that I would give anything to be the person who gets to design the covers of Penguin Classics & Modern Classics because they are so impeccable. Meanwhile, I observed that all the books in the crime genre, which I do not tend to read much of, have the same irritating font. I would love to give them all a makeover. Anyway, end of my little rant. Perhaps others relate to this? 😅 Maybe I'm being a little pedantic.

I was just hit with the realisation (or remembrance) that I will never be able to read all the books I want to, because there’s simply not enough time, and it made me a bit melancholic…

Does anyone else feel like this? Also, what is a book (or books) that you would love to be able to read at least once in your lifetime?

I would love to have read some of the works in the Library of Alexandria, but sadly that’s not an attainable dream, so I’ll just have to settle for reading everything I can get my hands on. Maybe one day I’ll work my way through my local library! Wishful thinking, I know 😂

What about you, fellow boundlings?

I've just finished reading a title called Music and Silence by Rose Tremain and it deserves some attention. I thought this would be a nice opportunity for people to drop some underrated gems. Especially since PB is still growing, and I do often see the same few books getting attention.
Music and Silence is a historical fiction set in 17th century Denmark which follows the lives of several courtiers and other characters through multiple perspectives, usually narrative, sometimes letter form. I found it very well written. ** as a warning to anyone who does decide to pick it up, there are some uncomfortable moments including SA and some disturbing sexual acts, as well as racial abuse portrayed.