diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index cb7f166..6382957 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ target_sources(vm_lib
   src/vm.cpp
   src/common.cpp
   src/arena.cpp
+  src/reader.cpp
 
   PUBLIC
   FILE_SET HEADERS
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ target_sources(vm_lib
   src/pod.hpp
   src/result.hpp
   src/vm.hpp
+  src/sourcerange.hpp
+  src/reader.hpp
 )
 
 add_executable(vli src/vli.cpp)
diff --git a/src/arena.hpp b/src/arena.hpp
index faa6eb9..3b5e673 100644
--- a/src/arena.hpp
+++ b/src/arena.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ class GcRootBase {
 
   ~GcRootBase();
 
+  PodObject* get() { return _ptr; }
+
  protected:
   PodObject* _ptr;
   GcRootList* _node;
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class GcRoot : public GcRootBase {
     return GcRoot<T>::create((T*)_ptr, arena);
   }
 
+  T* get() { return (T*)_ptr; }
   T& operator*() { return *(T*)_ptr; }
   T* operator->() { return (T*)_ptr; }
 };
diff --git a/src/common.cpp b/src/common.cpp
index 858e3b5..edc00a0 100644
--- a/src/common.cpp
+++ b/src/common.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "common.hpp"
 
 #include "arena.hpp"
+#include "error.hpp"
+#include "pod.hpp"
 
 Syntax::Syntax(String filename, String modulename, Value expression) {}
 
@@ -11,11 +13,11 @@ Result<Value> Syntax::get_value(Arena& arena) {
 Result<Value> Value::create(Arena& arena, PodObject* obj) {
   switch (obj->header.tag) {
     case Tag::Nil:
-      return Value();
+      return Value(TRY(Nil::create(arena, (PodNil*)obj)));
     case Tag::Int64:
-      return Value(Int64(((PodInt64*)obj)->value));
+      return Value(TRY(Int64::create(arena, (PodInt64*)obj)));
     case Tag::Float:
-      return Value(Int64(((PodFloat*)obj)->value));
+      return Value(TRY(Float::create(arena, (PodFloat*)obj)));
     case Tag::String:
       return Value(TRY(String::create(arena, (PodString*)obj)));
     case Tag::Symbol:
@@ -37,8 +39,12 @@ Result<Value> syntax_unwrap(Arena& arena, Value& val) {
 
 Result<Value> Nil::copy(Arena& arena) { return Value(Nil()); }
 
-Result<Value> Int64::copy(Arena& arena) { return Value(Int64(_value)); }
-Result<Value> Float::copy(Arena& arena) { return Value(Float(_value)); }
+Result<Value> Int64::copy(Arena& arena) {
+  return Value(Int64(TRY(_value.copy(arena))));
+}
+Result<Value> Float::copy(Arena& arena) {
+  return Value(Float(TRY(_value.copy(arena))));
+}
 
 Result<Value> String::copy(Arena& arena) {
   return Value(String(TRY(_value.copy(arena))));
@@ -55,3 +61,37 @@ Result<Value> Syntax::copy(Arena& arena) {
 Result<Value> Pair::copy(Arena& arena) {
   return Value(Pair(TRY(_value.copy(arena))));
 }
+
+Result<Pair> Pair::create(Arena& arena, Value& first, Value& rest) {
+  auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodPair>());
+  pod->first = OffPtr<PodObject>(pod, first.pod());
+  pod->rest = OffPtr<PodObject>(pod, rest.pod());
+
+  return Pair(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+}
+
+Result<Value> Pair::first(Arena& arena) {
+  auto val = _value->first.get(pod());
+  return Value::create(arena, val);
+}
+Result<Value> Pair::rest(Arena& arena) {
+  auto val = _value->rest.get(pod());
+  return Value::create(arena, val);
+}
+
+Result<Value> reverse(Arena& arena, Value& val) {
+  if (!val.is<Pair>()) return ErrorCode::TypeMismatch;
+
+  auto res = Value(TRY(Nil::create(arena)));
+  auto cur = TRY(val.copy(arena));
+
+  while (!cur.is<Nil>()) {
+    if (!cur.is<Pair>()) return ErrorCode::TypeMismatch;
+    Pair& pair = *cur.to<Pair>();
+    Value first = TRY(pair.first(arena));
+    cur = TRY(pair.rest(arena));
+    res = TRY(Pair::create(arena, first, res));
+  }
+
+  return res;
+}
diff --git a/src/common.hpp b/src/common.hpp
index 8721a15..87206b4 100644
--- a/src/common.hpp
+++ b/src/common.hpp
@@ -12,75 +12,35 @@
 
 class Value;
 
-struct SourcePosition {
-  size_t line{1};
-  size_t column{1};
-  size_t offset{0};
-};
-
-struct SourceRange {
-  SourcePosition start;
-  SourcePosition end;
-};
-
-class PodInt64 final : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodInt64() : PodObject(Tag::Int64){};
-
-  int64_t value;
-};
-
-class PodFloat final : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodFloat() : PodObject(Tag::Float){};
-
-  double value;
-};
-
-class PodString final : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodString() : PodObject(Tag::String){};
-
-  uint64_t size;
-  char32_t data[];
-};
-
-class PodSymbol final : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodSymbol() : PodObject(Tag::Symbol){};
-
-  uint64_t size;
-  char32_t data[];
-};
-
-class PodSyntax : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodSyntax() : PodObject(Tag::Syntax){};
-  OffPtr<PodString> filename;
-  OffPtr<PodString> modulename;
-  OffPtr<PodObject> expression;
-  SourceRange sourcerange;
-};
-
-class PodPair : public PodObject {
- public:
-  PodPair() : PodObject(Tag::Pair){};
-  OffPtr<PodObject> first;
-  OffPtr<PodObject> second;
-};
-
 class Object {
  public:
   virtual Tag tag() = 0;
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) = 0;
+  virtual PodObject* pod() = 0;
 };
 
 class Nil : public Object {
  public:
   Nil() {}
+  Nil(GcRoot<PodNil>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
 
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Nil; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
+
+  static Result<Nil> create(Arena& arena, PodNil* obj) {
+    return Nil(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
+  }
+
+  static Result<Nil> create(Arena& arena) {
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodNil>());
+
+    return Nil(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
+
+ private:
+  GcRoot<PodNil> _value;
 };
 
 class String : public Object {
@@ -88,6 +48,7 @@ class String : public Object {
   String() {}
   String(GcRoot<PodString>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::String; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
   static Result<String> create(Arena& arena, PodString* obj) {
     return String(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
@@ -129,6 +90,7 @@ class Symbol : public Object {
   Symbol() {}
   Symbol(GcRoot<PodSymbol>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Symbol; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
   static Result<Symbol> create(Arena& arena, PodSymbol* obj) {
     return Symbol(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
@@ -154,6 +116,7 @@ class Syntax : public Object {
   Syntax(GcRoot<PodSyntax>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   Syntax(String filename, String modulename, Value expression);
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Syntax; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
   static Result<Syntax> create(Arena& arena, PodSyntax* obj) {
     return Syntax(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
@@ -172,12 +135,15 @@ class Pair : public Object {
   Pair() {}
   Pair(GcRoot<PodPair>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Pair; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
   static Result<Pair> create(Arena& arena, PodPair* obj) {
     return Pair(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
   }
+  static Result<Pair> create(Arena& arena, Value& first, Value& rest);
 
-  static Result<Value> first(Arena& arena);
+  Result<Value> first(Arena& arena);
+  Result<Value> rest(Arena& arena);
 
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
 
@@ -187,34 +153,54 @@ class Pair : public Object {
 
 class Int64 : public Object {
  public:
-  Int64() : _value(0) {}
-  Int64(int64_t val) : _value(val) {}
-  virtual ~Int64() = default;
-
+  Int64() {}
+  Int64(GcRoot<PodInt64>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Int64; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
-  int64_t value() { return _value; }
+  static Result<Int64> create(Arena& arena, PodInt64* obj) {
+    return Int64(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
+  }
+
+  static Result<Int64> create(Arena& arena, double val) {
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodInt64>());
+    pod->value = val;
+
+    return Int64(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  int64_t value() { return _value->value; }
 
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
 
  private:
-  int64_t _value;
+  GcRoot<PodInt64> _value;
 };
 
 class Float : public Object {
  public:
-  Float() : _value(0) {}
-  Float(double val) : _value(val) {}
-  virtual ~Float() = default;
-
+  Float() {}
+  Float(GcRoot<PodFloat>&& val) : _value(std::move(val)) {}
   virtual Tag tag() final { return Tag::Float; }
+  virtual PodObject* pod() final { return _value.get(); }
 
-  double value() { return _value; }
+  static Result<Float> create(Arena& arena, PodFloat* obj) {
+    return Float(TRY(MkGcRoot(obj, arena)));
+  }
+
+  static Result<Float> create(Arena& arena, double val) {
+    auto pod = TRY(arena.alloc<PodFloat>());
+    pod->value = val;
+
+    return Float(TRY(MkGcRoot(pod, arena)));
+  }
+
+  double value() { return _value->value; }
 
   virtual Result<Value> copy(Arena& arena) final;
 
  private:
-  double _value;
+  GcRoot<PodFloat> _value;
 };
 
 // note: this class doesn't perform proper destruction of objects in some cases
@@ -235,6 +221,12 @@ class Value {
     new (buf) T(std::move(obj));
   }
 
+  Value& operator=(Value&& val) {
+    memcpy(buf, val.buf, 24);
+    new (val.buf) Nil();
+    return *this;
+  }
+
   static Result<Value> create(Arena& arena, PodObject* obj);
 
   template <class T>
@@ -247,6 +239,8 @@ class Value {
     return dynamic_cast<T*>((Object*)buf);
   }
 
+  PodObject* pod() { return ((Object*)buf)->pod(); }
+
   Object& operator*() { return *(Object*)(buf); }
   Object* operator->() { return (Object*)(buf); }
 
@@ -257,3 +251,5 @@ class Value {
 };
 
 Result<Value> syntax_unwrap(Value& val);
+
+Result<Value> reverse(Arena& arena, Value& val);
diff --git a/src/error.hpp b/src/error.hpp
index 294cf77..c09caa2 100644
--- a/src/error.hpp
+++ b/src/error.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 enum class ErrorCode {
   Success,
   OutOfMemory,
-  IndexOutOfRange
-
+  IndexOutOfRange,
+  TypeMismatch,
+  ReadError
 };
diff --git a/src/pod.hpp b/src/pod.hpp
index a276bf8..a64a05c 100644
--- a/src/pod.hpp
+++ b/src/pod.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
+#include "result.hpp"
+#include "sourcerange.hpp"
+
 enum class Tag : uint8_t {
   Nil,
   Int64,
@@ -43,3 +46,78 @@ static_assert(sizeof(PodHeader) == 8);
 struct PodObject {
   PodHeader header;
 };
+
+class PodNil final : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodNil() : PodObject(Tag::Nil){};
+};
+
+class PodInt64 final : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodInt64() : PodObject(Tag::Int64){};
+
+  int64_t value;
+};
+
+class PodFloat final : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodFloat() : PodObject(Tag::Float){};
+
+  double value;
+};
+
+class PodString final : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodString() : PodObject(Tag::String){};
+
+  uint64_t size;
+  char32_t data[];
+};
+
+class PodSymbol final : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodSymbol() : PodObject(Tag::Symbol){};
+
+  uint64_t size;
+  char32_t data[];
+};
+
+class PodSyntax : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodSyntax() : PodObject(Tag::Syntax){};
+  OffPtr<PodString> filename;
+  OffPtr<PodString> modulename;
+  OffPtr<PodObject> expression;
+  SourceRange sourcerange;
+};
+
+class PodPair : public PodObject {
+ public:
+  PodPair() : PodObject(Tag::Pair){};
+  OffPtr<PodObject> first;
+  OffPtr<PodObject> rest;
+};
+
+template <class T>
+class Ptr {
+ public:
+  Ptr() : _ptr(0) {}
+  Ptr(T* ptr) : _ptr(ptr){};
+
+  T* get() { return _ptr; }
+  T& operator*() { return *_ptr; }
+  T* operator->() { return _ptr; }
+
+  Result<int64_t> get_int() {
+    if (_ptr->tag != Tag::Int64) return ErrorCode::TypeMismatch;
+    return ((PodInt64*)_ptr)->value;
+  }
+
+  Result<double> get_float() {
+    if (_ptr->tag != Tag::Float) return ErrorCode::TypeMismatch;
+    return ((PodFloat*)_ptr)->value;
+  }
+
+ private:
+  T* _ptr;
+};
diff --git a/src/reader.cpp b/src/reader.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83c8ca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/reader.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+#include "reader.hpp"
+
+#include "common.hpp"
+
+static bool is_digit(char32_t c) { return c >= '0' && c <= '9'; }
+static bool is_alpha(char32_t c) {
+  return (c >= 'a' && c <= 'z') || (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z');
+}
+
+static bool is_hex_digit(char32_t c) {
+  return is_digit(c) || (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f') || (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F');
+}
+
+static bool is_symbol_char(char32_t c) {
+  static char valid_char[] = {'!', '$', '%', '&', '*', '+', '-', '.', '/',
+                              ':', '<', '=', '>', '?', '@', '^', '_', '~'};
+
+  if (is_digit(c)) return true;
+  if (is_alpha(c)) return true;
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(valid_char); ++i) {
+    if (char32_t(valid_char[i]) == c) return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
+static bool is_whitespace(char32_t c) {
+  return c == ' ' || c == '\t' || c == '\v' || c == '\f';
+}
+
+static bool is_brace(char32_t c) {
+  return c == '[' || c == ']' || c == '(' || c == ')' || c == '{' || c == '}';
+}
+
+static bool is_newline(char32_t c) { return c == '\r' || c == '\n'; }
+
+static bool is_separator(char32_t c) {
+  return is_whitespace(c) || is_brace(c) || is_newline(c) || c == ';';
+}
+
+#define EOS 0
+
+Result<Value> Reader::read_one() {
+  forward_whitespace();
+
+  auto saved_position = position_;
+  if (is_numeric_start()) {
+    auto res = read_number();
+    if (res.has_value()) return res;
+  } else if (match("true") || match("false")) {
+    auto res = read_bool();
+    if (res.has_value()) return res;
+  } else if (is_string_start()) {
+    return read_string();
+  } else if (match('(')) {
+    return read_list();
+  } else if (match('[')) {
+    return read_array();
+  } else if (match('{')) {
+    return read_dict();
+  }
+
+  position_ = saved_position;
+  if (is_symbol_start()) {
+    return read_symbol();
+  }
+
+  return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+}
+
+Result<Value> Reader::read_multiple() {
+  Value res = TRY(Nil::create(_arena));
+
+  while (1) {
+    forward_whitespace();
+    if (is_eof()) {
+      return reverse(_arena, res);
+    }
+
+    auto val = TRY(read_one());
+    res = Value(TRY(Pair::create(_arena, val, res)));
+  }
+
+  return ErrorCode::ReadError;
+}
diff --git a/src/reader.hpp b/src/reader.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4a2229
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/reader.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#pragma once
+#include "common.hpp"
+#include "result.hpp"
+#include "sourcerange.hpp"
+
+class Reader {
+ public:
+  Reader(Arena& arena, String&& str) : _arena(arena), _str(std::move(str)) {}
+
+  Result<Value> read_one();
+  Result<Value> read_multiple();
+
+ private:
+  void forward();
+  void forward(size_t n);
+  bool forward_exponent();
+  bool forward_decimal_number();
+  bool forward_hex_number();
+  void forward_whitespace();
+
+  bool is_eol();
+  bool is_eof();
+  bool is_whitespace();
+  bool is_comment_start();
+  bool is_numeric_start();
+  bool is_symbol_start();
+  bool is_string_start();
+
+  Result<Value> read_list();
+  Result<Value> read_string();
+  Result<Value> read_array();
+  Result<Value> read_dict();
+  Result<Value> read_number();
+  Result<Value> read_symbol();
+  Result<Value> read_bool();
+
+  char32_t get(size_t offset = 0);
+  bool match(const char* str);
+  bool match(char c);
+
+  Arena& _arena;
+  String _str;
+  SourcePosition position_{1, 1, 0};
+};
diff --git a/src/sourcerange.hpp b/src/sourcerange.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6478e70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sourcerange.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstddef>
+
+struct SourcePosition {
+  size_t line{1};
+  size_t column{1};
+  size_t offset{0};
+};
+
+struct SourceRange {
+  SourcePosition start;
+  SourcePosition end;
+};
diff --git a/src/vli.cpp b/src/vli.cpp
index 0432c38..258fa83 100644
--- a/src/vli.cpp
+++ b/src/vli.cpp
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ int main() {
   {
     auto s = DIEIF(String::create(arena, "foo"));
 
-    std::cout << "roout count: " << arena.root_count() << "\n";
+    std::cout << "root count: " << arena.root_count() << "\n";
     std::cout << "char: " << (char)DIEIF(s[2]) << "\n";
   }
-  std::cout << "roout count: " << arena.root_count() << "\n";
+  std::cout << "root count: " << arena.root_count() << "\n";
 
   return 0;
 }