When it feels daunting to enter an unfamiliar realm of literature, whether that be an unfamiliar genre, author, or medium, it really helps to begin with smaller fragments of The Voice.

The Voice is the core element we latch onto when absorbing art. It is the magic element that entrances us, challenges us, resonates with us, keeps us coming back for more.

Perfect fragments of The Voice can lie within an author’s short story collection. For instance, the short stories of Don DeLillo are just as poetic and profound as his novels. They introduce us to the mechanics of his mind, his cosmic writing style, his thematic focus, before asking to commit to a longer and morte complex narrative.

In this way, falling in love with artists and their art is similar to the experience of romantic love. We often date a new perspective, a new kind of work, before we fall head over heels in love with it Granted, there’s always a chance for love at first sight, but even in these scenarios, it’s the relationship that follows where things get more exciting, as a deeper and more intimate affair blossoms.