Passionate bookworms know the deflating feeling of wanting to eloquently articulate their thoughts about books, but often falling short. This is because, as I’ve come to learn the hard way, reading books isn’t enough to be able to talk about them in a clever and coherent way.

For about a year now, I’ve been in a modern classics book club with some very smart and well-read women. As classics aren’t my strong suit, I often feel out of my depth when talking about these books with my fellow club members, and it doesn’t help that most of them are real academics, while I’m not.

An avid reader nonetheless, and quite good at literary commentary, I’ve taken this in my stride and started treating the way I read, think, and talk about books in a more reflective manner.

I’d like to share some of my tips and tricks with you, as I’ve become more comfortable at articulating my critical thoughts and making stronger arguments on why I liked, disliked, or felt ambivalent about certain reads.

Slow Down

How many of the books you’ve read this year do you truly remember? How many of them could you talk about for longer than five minutes? Really think about that for a second, and consider why the number is most likely way lower than expected.

There are many reasons why we forget what we read. Information overload, life getting in the way, or simply because the book itself is unremarkable, would be some of them. But notice how the reader is removed from the agency here.

When truly, as I’ve been analysing the way I read, I’ve found that, in my case, I’m mostly to blame for not remembering even my favourite reads. It’s because I often read passively. And I think this is the case with most people.

How often do you stop to annotate or write down your immediate reactions or thoughts while you read? How often do you sit with the story for a few minutes, before going straight to your phone to doom-scroll after a reading session?

The way we read changes how we feel, think, and talk about books. If you read actively, take notes, write a quick review, or reflect on your reading experience, you most likely will have much more to say about it.

Be Specific

There are two aspects to consider when talking about books: the process of reading, which will provide a strong foundation for conversation, and the way we actually communicate.

When talking about a book in a casual way, most readers will blurt out their strongest opinions:

• I liked it/I hated it
• the characters were great (or not)
• it was fast/slow

Instead of launching into a very personal account of your opinions, try questioning them, and being specific. Consider why you liked or disliked the book, whether the plot was fast, slow, gripping, or simply not a key element of the story (in Sally Rooney’s books, in my opinion, the plot is hardly important).

Consider the characters — did you relate to them? Why or why not? What are the specific character traits you appreciated and which ones fell flat? Consider the genre and ask yourself if you’re among the target readership. What kind of reader would benefit from and enjoy the book?

Even if you don’t talk about books that often, stopping to think about these key elements can shape the way you read and feel about books, making it a more fulfilling experience.

Read About Books

Don’t just read books. Read about books. Subscribe to book reviews sites (wink wink) or check that section of your favourite newspaper. I recommend the New York Times’ The Book Review podcast, for a varied and entertaining way to listen to experts talk about books. Consider why those conversations work.

How do reviewers convince you to read certain books? How can you evoke that in the way you talk about books? If you want your best friend to read a book you absolutely love, instead of going full fangirl and flippant with enthusiasm, but incoherent otherwise, think more carefully about the case you make for that book, and you’ll be more likely to succeed.

I’m speaking from experience. “This is so cute and sweet and amazing, you’ll laugh and cry and feel all the feels” is how I tried to sell Red, White and Royal Blue to my best friend. To my disappointment, she didn’t pick it up until I tried again, this time in a more considered way:

“It’s an entertaining queer romance that will surprise you with how many emotions it can awaken in you. The protagonists sound cheesy, but are explored more profoundly than you’d expect, and the iconic secondary characters truly drive the plot along.”

No matter how often and in what context you choose to talk about books, I hope these tips will help you organise your thoughts and articulate your feelings better. Plus, it feels awfully good when something clever and eloquent comes out of your mouth to prove your passion for books even more.