545 reviews for:

How to Read Now

Elaine Castillo

4.18 AVERAGE


Thought provoking essays around how we read, interpret art and the world, and how to do those things deeper and better in order to question status quo and tired tropes. Her use of the unintended reader gives interesting thought to who reads what, who writes what and why. I haven’t fully appreciated/understood all of her nuance—this book calls for lots of conversation and discussion.

I was intrigued by the intro and some of the first-hand perspectives, but many of the essays were intellectually shallow and "preaching to the choir." 
challenging informative reflective medium-paced

A collection of essays that would harm the ego of anybody unaware of how far their white biases truly reach within them.

I have been a reading slump for years, and it became very apparent how rusty my vocabulary has become from the first essay. This book made me break out the dictionary, but for the best. Thank you, Elaine Castillo.
hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Beautiful, insightful close reading. If you were a grad student who actually did all the reading, you will deeply enjoy this book.
funny informative medium-paced
challenging informative slow-paced

  • I didn't anticipate as much film criticism as there is - the analysis is thought provoking but pop culture/media critique is not my fav to read. But also I never would have picked this up if that were a genre tag so what do I even know about my own reading preferences tbh
  • LOVE the term "unexpected reader" and the first few essays blooming this language!!
  • it's so much fun to read authors shouting about how California doesn't belong to Didion or Steinbeck and absolute shoutout to this author. I hope they've encountered Zora Neal Hurston's memoir on their reading journey - the attitude is very that.

1.65x
challenging funny informative inspiring medium-paced

Superbly written and astoundingly insightful 

smart, ambitious, thought provoking, funny. really really enjoyed my time with this one