3 Reasons to Ignite Your Love for Reading

• Lifestyle

3 Reasons to Ignite Your Love for Reading

In a world that scrolls too fast, reading slows us down long enough to remember who we are.

Books have always been more than paper and ink — they’re vessels of culture, healing, and imagination. At Vivian’s Door, we believe every story holds the power to transform, to teach, and to liberate. That’s why we created The Urban Intellect Book Club — a space for thinkers, dreamers, and doers to gather, reflect, and grow together through the words of Black authors and visionaries.

This National Book Month, we asked a few of our members to share how they fell in love with reading, why they joined our community, and which books have left an indelible mark on their hearts.

Their stories are a reminder that reading isn’t just a pastime — it’s an act of power.

1. Reading Plants the First Seeds of Wonder

• “My mom would often take my sister and me to the library, where we could join book events and spend time reading whatever sparked our interest. From there, she ordered us kids’ magazines to read and enjoy from home. I believe that’s when I fell in love with reading.” – Shan Washington

• “In elementary school, we had this contest — whoever read the most books and scored high on the AR tests won a pizza party. At first, I read for pizza, lol — but then I actually liked reading. It became my home away from home, where I could explore different worlds and stories.” – Ashley Coleman

• “One memory that still sticks with me is when I discovered that words themselves have the power to bring unimaginable things into reality. Books literally made me into the man I am today.” – Dylan Walker

Reading often begins in innocence — a mother’s encouragement, a school competition, a story that sweeps us somewhere new. But somewhere between the laughter, the curiosity, and the late-night page turns, we discover something sacred: Reading teaches us how to see.

2. Reading Connects Us to Each Other

• “Honestly, the engagement and grasp that Vivian’s Door has on the community convinced me that joining the book club is time well spent. I enjoy the perspectives of others — it forces me to see the oddities in life differently.” – Dylan Walker

• “I used to teach U.S. History and have always enjoyed studying Black culture, history, and art from all over. This helps me understand how complex and multifaceted we are — and to embrace it even more.” – Shan Washington

• “I just wanted to get back into reading more and revisit that feeling of being lost in a book before life took over.” – Ashley Coleman

Every time we open a book together, we open a door to dialogue. Within The Urban Intellect, we don’t just read stories — we build bridges. We learn, we challenge, we laugh, and sometimes we even heal. Because reading in community reminds us that we don’t walk this world alone.

3. Reading Honors Our Legacy and Heals Our Spirit

• “Sacred Woman by Queen Afua has influenced me to better understand the power of feminine healing and promoting a healthier lifestyle from an Afrocentric, holistic, and spiritual lens.” – Shan Washington

• “Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston — her empathy and respect were top tier. The way she listened to Cudjo without fixing his language or interrupting him — I loved it. It gave a voice to the silenced and connected the past to the present. That book makes you feel, not just know.” – Ashley Coleman

Books by Black authors are our inheritance — a living record of triumph, tenderness, and truth. They remind us where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and how deeply our stories still matter. When we read Zora, Baldwin, Morrison, or Afua, we are not just turning pages — we are turning toward our history and carrying it forward with grace.

Keep the Fire Burning

The Urban Intellect isn’t just a book club — it’s a movement. A gathering of minds and hearts determined to learn, grow, and lead.

As we turn the page from October into November, we invite you to join us for our next read. Bring your curiosity, your questions, your voice — there’s a seat waiting for you at our table.

Join us anytime. Be part of the culture, the conversation, and the change.

Join Us  HERE

Because every page we turn today plants the seed for the thinkers, leaders, and storytellers of tomorrow.