I thought I’d do something different this week and create a thread for us to swap ideas about books!
One of the things keeping me tethered and calm (debatable) has been easy access to lots of reading. And though I prefer real, old-fashioned books for the obvious reasons—their smell, the unplugged solitude they engender, their existence as tangible pieces of art, the ability to buy them from independent book stores—e-books have been saving my ass.
I don’t know what I’d do without my Overdrive App, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is a wonderful, free app that connects your library’s e-catalog to your phone. You can browse, rent, and place holds on the spot. And mine is still connected to my Bloomington account, thank goodness, so I can sync titles to my e-reader in our apartment across the ocean. And there are also no late fees. The books simply vanish when they’re due, which is truly excellent for someone who once owed something like $30 to the Los Angeles Central Library for a months-long-overdue volume of Anaïs Nin’s diaries. In the end, I barely skimmed it. Yes, I am a cliché.
Our pre-move downsizing, The Great Book Culling of 2019, was emotional and overwhelming, not only because I knew I’d miss the books, but because I’d left so many unread, virtually untouched despite being expensive and heavy and bought with the best intentions. But it’s okay. The books that weren’t donated are sleeping in their giant plastic tubs (shout out to our parents for letting us store our crap in their basements). And I’m almost exclusively a library person again. Having a deadline is good for my reading. It gives me the incentive to finish.
So, Friday people:
How do you carve out time for reading? Do you have a system or a favorite reading spot? And have your reading habits changed since social media began vying for all of our attention, trapping us in our own digital Hotel Californias? — “You can check out any book you like, but you won’t ever read…”
I just started A Gentleman in Moscow, which is full of beautiful prose but might be a bit too meditative for me right now?
I LOVE to read! I enjoy a good adventure or mystery story and love it when I “bond” with the characters in the book! Sometimes I am enjoying the book, so much, that I slow down reading it because I don’t want the book to end!! 😂 Over the last several months I have read many books! Here are my Favorites:
1.Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
2. We Were The Lucky Ones by George Hunter
3. The Great Alone by Kristan Hannah
4. All The Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doeir
5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. Also Enjoyed:
6. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
A lot of these books are Best Sellers. I use my local Library App to put, On Hold, the books I want to read!! Works out Great!! Being in an “actual” Library and looking around always feels like an “adventure” to me!! 😂
Currently reading: The Perfect Mother by Aimee Malloy 😁📕❤️
Jemma, you read more than anybody I know! These are all great. I have Educated on hold at the library, but I've been in the queue for over a month! It must be excellent.
I started All the Light You Cannot See and felt terrible that it didn't immediately hold my interest? But the language is gorgeous. I should probably go back and finish it.
Adding a bunch of these to the list! The book you're currently reading sounds pretty apt to me. <3
Meg, I think you will find Educated really interesting! I do like books about the “trials” of people in WWII. It’s so inspiring, to me, to read about the courage and fortitude they had. Unbelievable what SO many people had to endure! All The Light You Cannot See is one of “inspirational” books! I agree it does start out slow but SO worth the read!! ❤️ Love ya Sweet Daughter-in-law! ❤️🥰
I'm a sci fi junkie and All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai is the best time travel book I've read yet. Puts the others to shame. I had never read and was quite blown away by Brave New World. Astonishingly bold then and honestly now. However, now I'm also reading without shame something I never got around too because they seemed for kids - Harry Potter. Currently on Goblet of Fire.
Thanks for the suggestions! Putting All Our Wrong Todays on my list. If you're looking for a non-cheesy (at least I thought so) time travel romance, The Time Traveler's Wife is lovely and bittersweet and still makes me cry - and Harry Potter is forever the best comfy read.
Making time to read can be difficult when you need to rewatch The Office or 30 Rock for the 40th time. Nevertheless, I'm currently making time to read Normal People by Sally Rooney. I also have required reads for my mandatory work book club. 😐 I refuse to read them, but do listen during my commute on CDs borrowed from the library. We just wrapped up City of Girls (v scandalous for a work book).
Dude! I started Normal People, was loving it, but then it auto-returned to the library, so now it's on hold again. We should compare notes soon. (Also, I re-watch The Windsors every night before bed, so I feel you on the TV thing.) Also also: I cannot believe your work book club is MANDATORY. Somehow I missed that in our last chat? That's awful and hilarious, like a compulsory nightmare Finer Things Club.
Despite being retired for many years, I am still cursed with an early morning wake up time of 4 a.m. Both a blessing and a curse, it allows me the solitude and opportunity for quiet reading until critters, noseeums, and human beings begin to stir. Personally, I think everyone should read at least one Malcolm Gladwell book. From “Outliers” to “Blink”, his perspectives are spot on and reflective. Highly recommend “Mary Coin” by Marisa Silver which caused me to binge read until finished. Older readers will remember the haunting picture of the Migrant Mother taken by Dorothea Lange, upon which the book is inspired. Currently reading “The Idiot” by Dostoevsky, his fifth novel.
Thanks for the recommendations, Mandy! You're right, 4 a.m. is a mixed bag. It's peaceful, and I love working when nobody is awake, but if I'm up, it means I haven't gone to bed yet.
Outliers was eye-opening, especially Gladwell's 10,000 hours rule. I think about that a lot with writing: "Just sit in the chair and tick off the hour," etc.
I'll add Mary Coin to my list! Sadly, it sounds like it's still quite timely.
I've wanted to read The Idiot for a long time. Maybe this is the push I needed!
Oh and Valerie Solanas: The Defiant Life of the Woman Who Wrote SCUM (and Shot Andy Warhol) - an engrossing read about a relatively unknown woman (atleast to me) before the feminist movement who advocated for the wipeout of the entire male population...highly recommend this read for both the feminist & mental health aspects!
Love this! 8 months pregnant and feeling my super woman goddess full moon vibes in full force, here are some books Ive read recently that are sure to generate some good ol' fashion rage against the patriarchy inspo: Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, Jo Piazza. The Vagabond, Colette (1910 french novel, touted as one of the original "feminist" manifestos of the 20th century and hilarious in it's own french existential way, a novel but inspired by the author's own experience) and The Power, Naomi Alderman :)
Kristen! Oh my gosh, congratulations!! How wonderful and exciting and beautiful for you and your family! I hope the final month of your pregnancy goes super smoothly. It's amazing that you're ushering your baby into the world on a wave of feminist power -- badass lunar goddess vibes, indeed!
I haven't read any of these, but they're such great suggestions, and I can't wait to check them out, starting with The Vagabond. I'm awash in French existential angst -- might as well lean in.
I LOVE to read! I enjoy a good adventure or mystery story and love it when I “bond” with the characters in the book! Sometimes I am enjoying the book, so much, that I slow down reading it because I don’t want the book to end!! 😂 Over the last several months I have read many books! Here are my Favorites:
1.Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
2. We Were The Lucky Ones by George Hunter
3. The Great Alone by Kristan Hannah
4. All The Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doeir
5. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. Also Enjoyed:
6. Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
A lot of these books are Best Sellers. I use my local Library App to put, On Hold, the books I want to read!! Works out Great!! Being in an “actual” Library and looking around always feels like an “adventure” to me!! 😂
Currently reading: The Perfect Mother by Aimee Malloy 😁📕❤️
Jemma, you read more than anybody I know! These are all great. I have Educated on hold at the library, but I've been in the queue for over a month! It must be excellent.
I started All the Light You Cannot See and felt terrible that it didn't immediately hold my interest? But the language is gorgeous. I should probably go back and finish it.
Adding a bunch of these to the list! The book you're currently reading sounds pretty apt to me. <3
Meg, I think you will find Educated really interesting! I do like books about the “trials” of people in WWII. It’s so inspiring, to me, to read about the courage and fortitude they had. Unbelievable what SO many people had to endure! All The Light You Cannot See is one of “inspirational” books! I agree it does start out slow but SO worth the read!! ❤️ Love ya Sweet Daughter-in-law! ❤️🥰
I'm a sci fi junkie and All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai is the best time travel book I've read yet. Puts the others to shame. I had never read and was quite blown away by Brave New World. Astonishingly bold then and honestly now. However, now I'm also reading without shame something I never got around too because they seemed for kids - Harry Potter. Currently on Goblet of Fire.
Thanks for the suggestions! Putting All Our Wrong Todays on my list. If you're looking for a non-cheesy (at least I thought so) time travel romance, The Time Traveler's Wife is lovely and bittersweet and still makes me cry - and Harry Potter is forever the best comfy read.
Marie did turn me one to Time Traveler's Wife and yes, it was a excellent.
Making time to read can be difficult when you need to rewatch The Office or 30 Rock for the 40th time. Nevertheless, I'm currently making time to read Normal People by Sally Rooney. I also have required reads for my mandatory work book club. 😐 I refuse to read them, but do listen during my commute on CDs borrowed from the library. We just wrapped up City of Girls (v scandalous for a work book).
Dude! I started Normal People, was loving it, but then it auto-returned to the library, so now it's on hold again. We should compare notes soon. (Also, I re-watch The Windsors every night before bed, so I feel you on the TV thing.) Also also: I cannot believe your work book club is MANDATORY. Somehow I missed that in our last chat? That's awful and hilarious, like a compulsory nightmare Finer Things Club.
Despite being retired for many years, I am still cursed with an early morning wake up time of 4 a.m. Both a blessing and a curse, it allows me the solitude and opportunity for quiet reading until critters, noseeums, and human beings begin to stir. Personally, I think everyone should read at least one Malcolm Gladwell book. From “Outliers” to “Blink”, his perspectives are spot on and reflective. Highly recommend “Mary Coin” by Marisa Silver which caused me to binge read until finished. Older readers will remember the haunting picture of the Migrant Mother taken by Dorothea Lange, upon which the book is inspired. Currently reading “The Idiot” by Dostoevsky, his fifth novel.
Thanks for the recommendations, Mandy! You're right, 4 a.m. is a mixed bag. It's peaceful, and I love working when nobody is awake, but if I'm up, it means I haven't gone to bed yet.
Outliers was eye-opening, especially Gladwell's 10,000 hours rule. I think about that a lot with writing: "Just sit in the chair and tick off the hour," etc.
I'll add Mary Coin to my list! Sadly, it sounds like it's still quite timely.
I've wanted to read The Idiot for a long time. Maybe this is the push I needed!
Oh and Valerie Solanas: The Defiant Life of the Woman Who Wrote SCUM (and Shot Andy Warhol) - an engrossing read about a relatively unknown woman (atleast to me) before the feminist movement who advocated for the wipeout of the entire male population...highly recommend this read for both the feminist & mental health aspects!
I have never heard of Valerie but now I need to know everything about her!
Love this! 8 months pregnant and feeling my super woman goddess full moon vibes in full force, here are some books Ive read recently that are sure to generate some good ol' fashion rage against the patriarchy inspo: Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, Jo Piazza. The Vagabond, Colette (1910 french novel, touted as one of the original "feminist" manifestos of the 20th century and hilarious in it's own french existential way, a novel but inspired by the author's own experience) and The Power, Naomi Alderman :)
Kristen! Oh my gosh, congratulations!! How wonderful and exciting and beautiful for you and your family! I hope the final month of your pregnancy goes super smoothly. It's amazing that you're ushering your baby into the world on a wave of feminist power -- badass lunar goddess vibes, indeed!
I haven't read any of these, but they're such great suggestions, and I can't wait to check them out, starting with The Vagabond. I'm awash in French existential angst -- might as well lean in.
Gah, so thrilled for you!