In the Throes of Love and Hate

Most readers share a precious, yet complex, relationship with books, marked by joy, guilt, discovery, and so much more. Dear Troubled Reader, written by Suresh Menon, is an advice column on all things literature and language. It addresses questions that readers have, from the simple to the profound, treating every question with equal seriousness. You might ask: How do I begin reading? Or is writing a mirror into the writer's world? Expect recommendations from the columnist, remedies for ‘bad’ reading habits, advice on navigating the inevitable reading slump, and much more.

We hope this column becomes a space of hope and companionship for you, the reader. A place that brings you back to your bookshelves with renewed love for reading, greater curiosity about languages, and the desire to discover new voices and fresh literature.

Send your questions via email to editor@the-hyphen.in, or leave a comment below.

I recently read a book and really enjoyed it. But when I looked up reviews online, almost everyone criticised it, calling it “the worst thing to happen to literature since ChatGPT.” Now, I don't know what to think about the book anymore. How do I know if a book is actually good?

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