What You Should Read Based on Your BTS Bias
BTS is one of the biggest music icons in the world and if you’re here, you know that it’s not just good looks, fancy feet, and killer vocals that make this group the force that it is. BTS talks directly to their fans with every album they release. The symbolism and effort in each work shows their dedication to fans and to themselves. As avid readers, BTS has inspired many to read the literature they love. So why not choose your next read based on your bias?
rm
Kim Namjoon, better known to the world as RM, is the leader of BTS and a certified genius. Despite having the moniker “God of Destruction” based of his ability to break just about anything he touches, he’s extremely well-read, intellectual, and deep. It’s not surprise to RM-biased fans that he was the driving force behind the Blood, Sweat, and Tears concept due to his having read Demian by Hermann Hess. What eagle-eye fans may have caught was a copy of The Catcher in the Rye on his desk in the Danger MV, as well as similar themes of overcoming struggle and mental health issues present in BTS songs and the JD Salinger classic. If your bias is RM, you’re not afraid to dive deep and read something that really makes you think.
"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."
The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caufield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days.
jin
As the eldest member, Kim Seokjin, or just Jin to his fans, is known as the group mom. He’s the best cook and carefully looks after his members even as he’s teasing them mercilessly. He’s also got an healthy dose of confidence – he knows he’s attractive and uses his charisma well. His sense of humor is, you might say, out of this world, which makes his Astronaut solo have another hidden layer. While on the surface it told the story of an alien stranded and, instead of going home, learning to fit in on earth, it also reflects Jin’s own path of fitting in with not just BTS, but also with his peers. Out There by Seaerra Miller is a graphic novel about a father and daughter bonding – and also looking for aliens. As a fan of video games and visual media, this books suits Jin in multiple ways. If Jin’s your bias, you might be a little offbeat and like a good graphic novel for a light read.
Julia didn’t always believe in aliens.
It was her father who convinced her otherwise. You see—Julia’s dad believes he was abducted by aliens. And ever since then, he’s been obsessed with the extraterrestrial beings living out there.
So when a festival commemorating the 75th anniversary of the infamous UFO crash in New Mexico rolls around, Julia turns down a dream vacation to Hawaii with her best friend, Sara, to join her dad for a weekend trip to Roswell, where he expects the aliens to make contact.
But amid the alien-themed goofiness of the festival, Julia finds she isn’t sure whether her father really did get abducted. His memories of alien interference are starting to sound increasingly shaky, and with them, her faith in him. Will this weekend bring the two closer together or only drive them apart?
A heartfelt story of family, loyalty, and the lengths we go to support those we love.
suga
Min Yoongi, better known as Suga (or Agust D) is the next youngest, but has the energy of the eldest. He’s the group grandpa, frequently found sleeping at odd times since he’s often up at night working hard on music. His inimitable rap style and skill with music production make him a force to be reckoned with, but his schedule doesn’t exactly follow typical patterns. It’s no wonder that his choice of reading is influenced by his sleeping patterns. He’s read Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams, maybe because he’s had some interesting ones during his catnaps. If he’s your bias, you might also have a unique sleep pattern and some interesting dreams to interpret.
What are the most common dreams and why do we have them? What does a dream about death mean? What do dreams of swimming, failing, or flying symbolize?
First published in 1899, Sigmund Freud's groundbreaking book The Interpretation of Dreams explores why we dream and why dreams matter in our psychological lives. Delving into theories of manifest and latent dream content; the special language of dreams; dreams as wish fulfillments; the significance of childhood experiences; and much more, Freud offers an incisive and enduringly relevant examination of dream psychology. Encompassing dozens of case histories and detailed analyses of actual dreams, this landmark work grants us unique insight into our sleeping experiences.
Renowned for translating Freud's German writings into English, James Strachey―with the assistance of Freud's daughter Anna―first published this edition in 1953. Incorporating all textual alterations made by Freud over a period of thirty years, it remains the most complete translation of the work in print.
j-hope
Jung Hoseok aka J-Hope is the moodmaker of BTS, a ray of sunshine that it’s difficult to be unhappy around. His free-flowing rap and dance styles are an extension of himself and it’s not surprising that he’s often represented with bright and cheerful colors. But like many people who make others happy, J-Hope has hidden depths, as has been seen with his solo releases. If he’s your bias, it’s likely you recognize this duality, and possibly know of his interest in fairy tales and classics. What better comparison to him than fairy tales, stories that have dark origins, but are often told with brighter connotations than their original forms? Literary Wonderlands is a journey through fictional worlds from Wonderland to Middle Earth and beyond. Rather than just one tale, it dives into the influences of some of the most beloved locations of the imagination.
Literary Wonderlands is a thoroughly researched, wonderfully written, and beautifully produced book that spans four thousand years of creative endeavor. From Spenser’s The Fairie Queene to Wells’s The Time Machine to Murakami’s 1Q84 it explores the timeless and captivating features of fiction’s imagined worlds including the relevance of the writer’s own life to the creation of the story, influential contemporary events and philosophies, and the meaning that can be extracted from the details of the work. Each piece includes a detailed overview of the plot and a “Dramatis Personae.” Literary Wonderlands is a fascinating read for lovers of literature, fantasy, and science fiction.
Laura Miller is the book’s general editor. Co-founder of Salon.com, where she worked as an editor and writer for 20 years, she is currently a books and culture columnist at Slate. A journalist and a critic, her work has appeared in the New Yorker, Harper’s, the Guardian, and the New York Times Book Review, where she wrote the “Last Word” column for two years. She is the author of The Magician’s Book: A Skeptic’s Adventures in Narnia and editor of the Salon.com Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Authors.
jimin
Park Jimin, known mononymously as simply Jimin, is celebrated for his unique, high, honey-sweet voice and fluid dance moves. His generally sweet nature makes him easy to like and his dedicated to his craft is evident in his ever-increasing skill. His recent solo work has netted him as much international recognition as his elder members, and he never seems satisfied with “good enough.” His choice of reading material is also as unique as his voice: he’s been spotted reading a near-futuristic novel about MMORPGs being the most popular form of entertainment and commerce. Considering one of Korea’s most popular form of entertainment is esports, we could hardly ignore Ruination by Anthony Reynolds as the perfect choice for a Jimin-biased reader. Based on the extremely popular game League of Legends, Ruination is the first-ever novel set in that world. And considering its creator is developing an MMORPG version, it comes full circle to Jimin’s reading choice.
Discover an epic tale of magic, revenge, and an empire on the verge of ruin in the first ever novel set in the blockbuster universe of League of Legends.
Camavor is a brutal land with a bloody legacy. Where the empire’s knights go, slaughter follows.Kalista seeks to change that. When her young and narcissistic uncle, Viego, becomes king, she vows to temper his destructive instincts, as his loyal confidant, advisor, and military general. But her plans are thwarted when an assassin’s poisoned blade strikes Viego’s wife, Isolde, afflicting her with a malady for which there is no cure.
As Isolde’s condition worsens, Viego descends into madness and grief, threatening to drag Camavor down with him. Kalista makes a desperate gambit to save the kingdom: she searches for the long lost Blessed Isles, rumored to hold the queen’s salvation, if only Kalista can find them.
But corruption grows in the Blessed Isles’ capital, where a vengeful warden seeks to ensnare Kalista in his cruel machinations. She will be forced to choose between her loyalty to Viego and doing what she knows is right–for even in the face of utter darkness, one noble act can shine a light that saves the world.
"In the tradition of the most memorable Greek tragedies, Anthony Reynolds weaves a propulsive tale of love, loss, war, and duty that recalls the adage, ‘the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for the good to do nothing.’ Those familiar with League of Legends know where this story must leave us, but Ruination's power is that—like all good myths—knowing how it ends is just the beginning." – Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons
"Ruination is a rousing, intrigue and action rich tale sure to delight fans of fantasy." – Anthony Ryan, author of The Pariah
"Fast-paced and entertaining epic fantasy – thoroughly enjoyable, and a worthy addition to the world that League of Legends began fleshing out with Arcane. Recommended for fans and newcomers alike." – James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost
v
Kim Taehyung, known to the world by the single letter V, has come quite a long way since the group’s debut. Often referred to as the puppy or “4D” member, V was cute and a little offbeat in an endearing way in his younger days. As he grew up, he developed his trademark smooth, husky, velvet voice as well as his acting skills. If V is your bias, you might also have some awkwardness in your past (or present), but it doesn’t matter because he’s as influential as they come. He was seen carrying his favorite book, which was a book on public speaking. Though it’s not available in English, him being seen with the book skyrocketed its sales in various Asian countries. Whether it helped him become the smooth operator he is today is for him to tell, but we can suggest The Fine Art of Small Talk for V-biases who want to read something similar in English (and maybe work on conversation skills for when you meet someone you’re longing to talk to).
In this bestselling guide to social success, communication expert Debra Fine reveals the techniques and strategies anyone can use to make small talk in any situation.
Help is on the way with The Fine Art of Small Talk, the classic guide that’s now revised for the modern era. Small talk is more than just chitchat; it’s a valuable tool to help you climb the corporate ladder, widen your business and social circles, and boost your self-confidence. With practical advice and simple conversation “cheat sheets,” this book offers easy-to-learn techniques that will allow you to feel comfortable in any type of social situation—from a video meeting to a first date to a cocktail party where you don’t know a soul. Nationally recognized communication expert Debra Fine will show you how to:
- Learn to connect with others regardless of the occasion, event, or situation
- Come across as composed and self-assured when entertaining
- Avoid awkward silences and “foot in mouth” disease
- Convey warmth and enthusiasm so that other people feel good about being near you
- Make a positive, lasting impression from the minute you say hello.
Once you master The Fine Art of Small Talk, you’ll excel at making others feel included, valued, and comfortable. Let Debra Fine turn you into a small-talk expert—and watch the contacts, business deals, and social relationships multiply before your eyes!
jungkook
Jeon Jungkook, better know as simply Jungkook, or even Kookie, is the youngest or maknae of the group. As such, he was still in school when they debuted and for several years after. Longtime fans watched him grow up and he holds a special place in their hearts whether or not he’s their bias. He’s been called the “Golden Maknae” and with good reason: he excels at everything he tries. Singing, dancing, rapping, athletics – he crushes it all. If he’s your bias, you probably want to be as skilled as he is, but no matter how much growing he’s done, he’s still youthful at heart. Nowhere is that more evident in his favorite book choice: The Little Prince. While you’re busy following your faves – who’s in the military, who’s on tour, who’s releasing a new song, when that memoir is releasing – you might want something to keep track of all that information in. Why not grab The Little Prince: A Journal based off Jungkook’s favorite book? That way you’ll never miss a moment, and you’ll feel just a little closer to your bias.
In addition to lined pages, the deluxe hardcover book features some of the most memorable quotes and full-color artwork from The Little Prince sprinkled throughout for inspiration. Includes ribbon marker.
Saint-Exupé’s immortal story has captured the imaginations of readers both young and old since its initial publication in 1943. Its themes of humanity, concern for the environment, the specialness of childhood, love, and friendship have resonated across generations.