Writer Derek Owusu Reveals His Long-Overdue Love Affair with Reading
At just four or five years old, Derek Owusu's foster dad was attempting to teach him how to read using the popular Biff and Chip series. Fast forward to 24 years old, when Owusu finally opened a book for the first time, marking the beginning of his lifelong love affair with reading.
Owusu's reading journey is anything but straightforward. His favourite books changed constantly as he devoured works by authors such as DH Lawrence, EM Forster, and HG Wells. However, it wasn't until he stumbled upon bell hooks' The Will to Change that Owusu began to question his identity as a man. This book had a profound impact on him, allowing him to understand the concept of masculinity in a way he never could before.
Owusu's journey is not without its mentors and influences. Benjamin Zephaniah, whom he met through an email correspondence, played a significant role in convincing Owusu to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man also had a profound effect on him, opening his eyes to the complexity of novel structure.
Owusu's reading tastes are eclectic and diverse, ranging from Henry James' The Aspern Papers to Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy. His comfort read is Russell's philosophical treatise, which he finds helps alleviate symptoms of depersonalisation.
In a surprising twist, Owusu has also come to reevaluate his past experiences. He recently picked up Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, but was initially put off by its beautiful prose and excessive descriptions of jewels and luxury items. However, this experience taught him the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to reading.
Owusu's love affair with reading is a testament to the power of literature in shaping our identities and perspectives. As he continues to read and discover new authors, Owusu's passion for books remains unwavering, a reminder that it's never too late to develop a lifelong love of reading.
At just four or five years old, Derek Owusu's foster dad was attempting to teach him how to read using the popular Biff and Chip series. Fast forward to 24 years old, when Owusu finally opened a book for the first time, marking the beginning of his lifelong love affair with reading.
Owusu's reading journey is anything but straightforward. His favourite books changed constantly as he devoured works by authors such as DH Lawrence, EM Forster, and HG Wells. However, it wasn't until he stumbled upon bell hooks' The Will to Change that Owusu began to question his identity as a man. This book had a profound impact on him, allowing him to understand the concept of masculinity in a way he never could before.
Owusu's journey is not without its mentors and influences. Benjamin Zephaniah, whom he met through an email correspondence, played a significant role in convincing Owusu to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man also had a profound effect on him, opening his eyes to the complexity of novel structure.
Owusu's reading tastes are eclectic and diverse, ranging from Henry James' The Aspern Papers to Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy. His comfort read is Russell's philosophical treatise, which he finds helps alleviate symptoms of depersonalisation.
In a surprising twist, Owusu has also come to reevaluate his past experiences. He recently picked up Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, but was initially put off by its beautiful prose and excessive descriptions of jewels and luxury items. However, this experience taught him the importance of setting boundaries when it comes to reading.
Owusu's love affair with reading is a testament to the power of literature in shaping our identities and perspectives. As he continues to read and discover new authors, Owusu's passion for books remains unwavering, a reminder that it's never too late to develop a lifelong love of reading.
! I mean, who knew that reading could be so life-changing? For me, school days are all about getting lost in a good book 
, whether it's a sci-fi novel or a historical fiction one. It's crazy how Derek's love affair with reading started so late in life and how it completely transformed him as a person 
. I've also always been fascinated by how books can help us understand ourselves better 
, like when I read 'The Bell Jar' and realized that my own struggles were not alone 
. Anyway, this article just reminded me of the importance of reading and self-discovery, especially in our teenage years 
.
he found his "love affair" with reading at 24 which is pretty late for me i started reading way earlier... or so i think idk what bell hooks even did for him tho sounds like it had a big impact
anyway, derek owusu is proof that you're never too old (or young) to discover a lifelong love for reading and i think thats something we can all get behind! 
. Anyways, it’s great to see someone sharing their story and how reading has changed them for the better 
. Like, sure, some people need to get lost in a good book or whatever, but I don't get why everyone makes such a big deal about it. I mean, Owusu was basically just finding books that appealed to him and went from there... same with me. I started reading because my aunt had these super old paperbacks lying around the house and they caught my eye. No one "influenced" me or anything. It's just something I liked doing, you know? And yeah, some authors can be pretty hit-or-miss. I mean, DH Lawrence was cool, but then you got to writers like Bertrand Russell... who was more like a snooze fest for me 
. And who knew Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray could teach him about setting boundaries in reading? 
What's even more beautiful is that it's never too late to discover a new love for reading – Derek Owusu is proof of that! 
His journey shows us that its never too late to discover new passions and interests! 
#ReadingIsLife #NeverTooLate #BookLoversUnite