Derek Owusu's Reading Journey Reveals a Path of Self-Discovery
At just four or five years old, Derek Owusu began his literary journey with foster parents teaching him how to read using Biff and Chip books. However, it wouldn't be until the age of 24 that he picked up his first book, marking the start of an incredible reading experience.
As a young man, Owusu's reading taste was eclectic, spanning authors such as DH Lawrence, EM Forster, HG Wells, Joseph Conrad, and F Scott Fitzgerald. His favorite books changed often, with some remaining favorites for extended periods. St Mawr by DH Lawrence held the top spot until he discovered Vladimir Nabokov's The Real Life of Sebastian Knight at 25.
A pivotal moment in Owusu's reading journey was when he stumbled upon bell hooks' The Will to Change. This book exposed him to new ideas about identity and challenged his understanding of masculinity, making a lasting impact on his perspective as a young man.
Benjamin Zephaniah's influence can be seen in the author's decision to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Owusu credits Zephaniah with instilling confidence in his abilities, convincing him that he could achieve academic success despite initial doubts about his intelligence.
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man played a significant role in opening up novel-writing possibilities for Owusu. His reading of Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely and Yrsa Daley-Ward's The Terrible granted permission to experiment with writing, letting him shape stories in ways that felt necessary.
A decade after first encountering Henry James' Washington Square, Owusu returned to the author's work and discovered a new appreciation for his unique writing style. He devoured five of James' novels in quick succession, captivated by his distinctive voice and complex sentences.
Emerson's Self-Reliance serves as a personal comfort read for Owusu, who seeks guidance when struggling with self-doubt. Conversely, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray remains an unwelcome re-read, its prose initially beautiful but ultimately cloying to Owusu.
A more recent discovery in Richard Yates' A Good School has left Owusu smitten, an instant love affair that has drawn him into the author's entire oeuvre. Julian Barnes' Departure(s) currently occupies his reading list, a testament to Owusu's ongoing quest for new stories and ideas.
At just four or five years old, Derek Owusu began his literary journey with foster parents teaching him how to read using Biff and Chip books. However, it wouldn't be until the age of 24 that he picked up his first book, marking the start of an incredible reading experience.
As a young man, Owusu's reading taste was eclectic, spanning authors such as DH Lawrence, EM Forster, HG Wells, Joseph Conrad, and F Scott Fitzgerald. His favorite books changed often, with some remaining favorites for extended periods. St Mawr by DH Lawrence held the top spot until he discovered Vladimir Nabokov's The Real Life of Sebastian Knight at 25.
A pivotal moment in Owusu's reading journey was when he stumbled upon bell hooks' The Will to Change. This book exposed him to new ideas about identity and challenged his understanding of masculinity, making a lasting impact on his perspective as a young man.
Benjamin Zephaniah's influence can be seen in the author's decision to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Owusu credits Zephaniah with instilling confidence in his abilities, convincing him that he could achieve academic success despite initial doubts about his intelligence.
Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man played a significant role in opening up novel-writing possibilities for Owusu. His reading of Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely and Yrsa Daley-Ward's The Terrible granted permission to experiment with writing, letting him shape stories in ways that felt necessary.
A decade after first encountering Henry James' Washington Square, Owusu returned to the author's work and discovered a new appreciation for his unique writing style. He devoured five of James' novels in quick succession, captivated by his distinctive voice and complex sentences.
Emerson's Self-Reliance serves as a personal comfort read for Owusu, who seeks guidance when struggling with self-doubt. Conversely, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray remains an unwelcome re-read, its prose initially beautiful but ultimately cloying to Owusu.
A more recent discovery in Richard Yates' A Good School has left Owusu smitten, an instant love affair that has drawn him into the author's entire oeuvre. Julian Barnes' Departure(s) currently occupies his reading list, a testament to Owusu's ongoing quest for new stories and ideas.
. I mean, can you imagine not having someone to spark that love of reading in you? It's amazing how much an author can influence our perspective and interests, right? 
I think it's so cool that bell hooks' book was like a game-changer for him - I've had similar experiences with books that just opened my eyes to new ideas. And yeah, I'm all about giving props to authors who help us find confidence in ourselves, like Benjamin Zephaniah 
. His story is really inspiring!
Derek Owusu's story is so inspiring! He literally started reading at 4 and now he's like a total bookworm 
. I love how his taste in authors changed over time, it's like he was on this amazing literary journey of self-discovery 
. And I'm totally with him on Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man being life-changing 
I'm totally against Derek Owusu's literary journey being all about self-discovery... like it's some kind of personal achievement or something 
. What if he just stuck with Biff and Chip books his whole life? Would the world be better off for it? 
And honestly, I think bell hooks' The Will to Change is way overrated - all that identity stuff sounds like a bunch of navel-gazing to me 
. Give me something with more action and less introspection any day! 
. He talks about how reading shaped him, especially when he stumbled upon bell hooks' The Will to Change 
.
the way he talks about reading as a journey of self-discovery is so relatable 
, and I'm still trying to process all the food I ate 
! Anyway, what's with books being so important in people's lives? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good story too, but sometimes I just wanna watch Netflix all day 
...
But what I love about this story is how Owusu discovers new authors and books as he grows older - it's like his tastes evolve with him! He goes from Lawrence to Fitzgerald, then jumps to bell hooks and Benjamin Zephaniah... it's a pretty eclectic mix. 
And it's awesome that he finds comfort in Emerson's Self-Relience when he's struggling with self-doubt. 
I think we can all learn from Owusu's journey - being open to new ideas and authors is key to growth, whether that's in reading or life itself. 
. And while it's awesome that he found solace in bell hooks' The Will to Change, I wonder if his perspective would be different if he had been exposed to similar ideas earlier? 
.
. What I'd really like to know is how he balances his creative pursuits with other responsibilities in life, but overall, his reading journey is just incredible 
!
is it rude if u read out loud? Shouldn't u whisper or something?
. It's amazing how having an open mind and willingness to explore different genres and authors can lead you down paths of self-discovery. For me, reading is all about finding comfort in familiar voices while being challenged by new perspectives. It's great that Owusu has a book like Emerson's Self-Relience that makes him feel more confident when he's facing self-doubt