I like to read a wide range of books and authors, but I read more books by women than men. I'm fine with my choices, and plan to read another 1,000 books before I die. As for life goals, my main goal in life from the time I began to read was to travel. And I have. I'm so happy I went to Egypt and Turkey when I did. Europe, the Philippines, Canada, and 48 of the 50 states. I'd still like to complete that list by going to Rhode Island and Delaware. I definitely want to get back to Canada to see my friend there, and also to NYC. I love NYC, and though I never lived there as planned, I've visited many, many times, and have good friends there. Even if I never travel again in real life, I can always travel in books and in my imagination.
Happy reading, Sandra! Your travel experience is special - you've banked a lot of experiences you can draw on for years to come as you read. Which doesn't mean you won't travel more.
Even with life expectancy calculators, we can never know the finish line for doing what we love. Here's to books. Here's to seeing whatever part of the world you will visit next, near or far.
First, an answer to last week’s big question: How to take the temperature of a dog with a hairy bottom? I promised to ask my vet surgeon granddaughter, not expecting her dog Cedric to start his own substack post: https://theadventuresofcedric.substack.com
It’s all there in graphic detail. Now, back to this week and Andrew Merton’s prompt about how much reading time do we have left? By chance I am within a few weeks, if not days, of being the same age as Andrew. I will be 80 in the middle of May and, like him, read about 30 books a year, of which half will be ‘comfort reads’ - that is re-reading books we already have. Some I would like to change the ending of, so I read in the hope that this year the book in question will have the ending I want. Others will come to me unexpectedly. Like from Betsy in the past year and no doubt the year ahead. My only ‘must have’ author is Ellie Griffiths. Then there are those I will find via the radio. Rarely newspaper reviews, where I find a lot of ‘self satisfaction’ among writers. For me what I will read is like the future - unpredictable, despite the 10 year estimate. You know the saying I’m sure:
I was wondering who the writer was behind "Cedric" and I'm eagerly anticipating more details!. Good luck with hoping the endings of your re-reads change :).
I guess I'm a "super reader," though there have been a couple of years (but only a couple) when I read less than 50 books. Normally, I'm around the 75 to 100 books per year kind of reader. So, for the sake of easy math, let's call it 100 books per year.
I'm too chicken to look at the life expectancy table. At 60, I'm a conflicted body: my father, my uncle and my grandfather all have had heart attacks at various points in their lives (my grandfather's ended his); but I'm also a relatively healthy eater....so I have no idea what the odds are these days. And then there are the vagaries of accidents, homicide and natural disasters trimming away at our lifelines. So, for the sake of easy math, let's say I've got a "guaranteed" 15 more years. That's a pool of 1,500 books to choose from. My list of "want to reads" extends to about 2,000 titles--proving, as always, my reach might exceed my grasp.
David, I thought of you instantly when I saw the definition of "super reader". Your command of what you have read is also very impressive. I need to ask a question I want to ask soon of other writers: how do the books we read -- both number and type -- affect our ability to write? In other words, writers are readers first in almost every case (or should be) but when confronted with a limited number of daylight hours to write, read, and rescue kittens, and keep relationships going, and work day job -- how is it possible to read so many books and still do all those other things?
Truthfully, it's not so much the CONTENT of what I read that impacts my writing, but the very ACT of reading that does. Too often, I find myself drawn toward the reading chair rather than the writing chair. (And having cats who love to "lap" when I'm reading is no help, either) But, when considering the content factor, I tend to choose books that are heavy on beautiful language and less plot-driven (though I still love a good, page-turning plot!!). I reach for the books whose sentence will serve as a sort of background music of words, stripped of their particulars, when I eventually break away from reading and sit down to write. In this way, my reading seeps, drop by drop, into my writing.
Although the idea that I'll only be able to read another 1,750 books in my lifetime is horrifying (assuming a conservative 35 years to go @50 books/year), my problem is still not being able have a truly great book going at any given time—especially when it comes to fiction!
HI Anne! Let's look at your problem! What kind of fiction are you drawn to? What disappoints you about the books you've not found "really great?" I'd love to marshal the troops and help you find a few reads that you love if you are open to it.
Thanks for all you do over at @Cafe Anne which underscores the magic that can be made by actually going out and talking with real people. It takes a city the size of New York and turns it into a community of humans I love to read about.
I actually posted on Notes a while back looking for fiction recommendations, Elizabeth. Specifically, novels that are "fun but not dumb." I got some really great reccos but have since plowed through the list. So yes I'd love a fresh supply of ideas.
And thanks for your kind words too. You made my day!!!
Okay, @Anne Kadet here are a few to think about for your TBR list. You may get more from some others over the next week or so. These are all from me after taking a quick look at the earlier suggestions and the kinds of books you like.
- Fat and unexpectedly fun: "The Hawakati" by Rabih Alameddine ( I love every one of his books) but this is a kind of Arabian nights full of wit, feeling, history. Elizabeth Gilbert's "Signature of All Things" -- I was surprised by how much I liked this. I am not a fan of Gilbert's writing ordinarily.
- Page turners that go deep: Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being"
- Brits who have kept me up at night: Zadie Smith (Teeth) Kate Atkinson (particularly Life After Life, Behind the Scenes at the Museum and all the Jackson Brodie books ), John LeCarre (forget the Smiley's people and the cold and start with "A Tailor in Panama" and/or "A Perfect Spy" - these are even more character-driven and the wit and writing kept me glued to them)
- Unforgettable characters: I just finished "The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat" and cannot forget the narrator. I really enjoyed reading this book.
- New York stories (although I'm sure you know all of them): Behold the Dreamers -- if you've not read it -- by Imbolo Mbue; The Friend by Sigrid Nunez -- she's one of my "I will read anything she writes" authors.
-- If you like collections of short stories: "The Secret Life of Church Ladies" by Deesha Philyaw
I've read two of these: "Secret Lives of Church Ladies" and "Signature of All Things" and I LOVED them both, so I have a feeling I will enjoy your other recommendations. Adding them to my library holds list and will let you know how it goes!
BTW are you on Goodreads? We should be book buddies!
I am intermittent on Goodreads but I just went there and sent you a friend request. I think I’ll find some good reads for me from your lists. Thanks for the motivation!
I don’t care how many books I read--a good thing, since I’ve become a terribly slow and distractible reader. My focus is paying attention to the books I do read. I used to skim; I don’t anymore. It was on my second or third read of Shirley Hazzard’s TRANSIT OF VENUS that I finally understood what happened in the end. If you’re skimming, you can miss the whole point.
The longing to read deeply and to revisit reads I've loved have strengthened in me as well. I am not easily distracted once I begin to read but when I look up and see all the books I'll never get to I tend to rush my reading a bit. It keeps me from saving those things from a book that I want to reflect on later. I'm returning this year to a commitment to write a few lines from each book I read along with a few notes about in my common book. I'm noticing that writing down a passage helps me to read it more deeply. I see things I missed the first time around.
I’m an underliner. In the fly leaf I note sections of particular interest. I’ve been known to buy my own copy of a book I borrowed from the library, because I need to mark it up.
I read what appeals to me at the time-so no real method to selecting the books I read. Some books I've thought would really resonate with me don't and others that I don't have any expectations for shatter me in all the best ways. I took a peek at the life expectancy calculator and hope I don't live that long if I develop dementia. We went through it with both my parents and my mother-in-law so that future is grim!
I totally get it. The life expectancy calculator doesn't address living well, just living at all. I think your method of finding books and enjoying them without respect to the number or any kind of strict criteria except what hits you is a very good strategy. That way, time really doesn't matter.
I sometimes think our longer lifespan isn't necessarily a good thing (I'm glad I didn't die in my 40s though!). Choosing a book by the seat of my pants generally works our for me. Luckily I have a HUGE library on my Kindle to search through!
I love the picture of you with that very cool book tee shirt! You look lovely ❤️
As for reading books, I collect a lot and I read a lot, but mostly I love picking up books at book stores, thrift shops, library sales and the occasional free library. I also like to place books into those. So I always have books in my car. I guess I consider myself a book collector more so than a reader if that makes sense. I always have a book with me that I’m reading, but my ratio is 1 book reading vs 10 I just picked up. To be read of course. One day..... and I’m guilty of re-reading books I have already read so there’s that.
I am also an intrepid reader of articles about books and authors. This is my downfall. For example, I was reading about Beatrix Potter in The NY Times the other day and now, poof, I am reading a book about Beatrix Potter and put my other books down. I am a fickle reader at best. Prone to whims that come and go. Being able to download books instantaneously or have them delivered next day has made this next to impossible to resist.
As for books and end of life, I could fill pages with stories of my hospice patients and their love of books right to their final day. I have had hospice patients back in Boston who were writers, who owned book stores, who had libraries in their homes with stacks of books everywhere. I have asked libraries to send their bookmobiles to the homes of shut-ins with no place to get beloved books. I have brought audio books to patients who could no longer read but loved listening to their favorites. I have sat and read books to patients as well and encouraged family members to do the same. Books provide great comfort. You should know, Elizabeth, that there are folks out there who are, right now, reading your book Casualties and finding great comfort in your words. Books are so powerful right to the end.
Will Schwalbe wrote a book about how he connected to his mom with shared books as she was going through her terminal illness. The book is called The End of your Life Book Club. It’s very good.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only once.” ~ George R.R. Martin
I like to read a wide range of books and authors, but I read more books by women than men. I'm fine with my choices, and plan to read another 1,000 books before I die. As for life goals, my main goal in life from the time I began to read was to travel. And I have. I'm so happy I went to Egypt and Turkey when I did. Europe, the Philippines, Canada, and 48 of the 50 states. I'd still like to complete that list by going to Rhode Island and Delaware. I definitely want to get back to Canada to see my friend there, and also to NYC. I love NYC, and though I never lived there as planned, I've visited many, many times, and have good friends there. Even if I never travel again in real life, I can always travel in books and in my imagination.
Happy reading, Sandra! Your travel experience is special - you've banked a lot of experiences you can draw on for years to come as you read. Which doesn't mean you won't travel more.
Even with life expectancy calculators, we can never know the finish line for doing what we love. Here's to books. Here's to seeing whatever part of the world you will visit next, near or far.
First, an answer to last week’s big question: How to take the temperature of a dog with a hairy bottom? I promised to ask my vet surgeon granddaughter, not expecting her dog Cedric to start his own substack post: https://theadventuresofcedric.substack.com
It’s all there in graphic detail. Now, back to this week and Andrew Merton’s prompt about how much reading time do we have left? By chance I am within a few weeks, if not days, of being the same age as Andrew. I will be 80 in the middle of May and, like him, read about 30 books a year, of which half will be ‘comfort reads’ - that is re-reading books we already have. Some I would like to change the ending of, so I read in the hope that this year the book in question will have the ending I want. Others will come to me unexpectedly. Like from Betsy in the past year and no doubt the year ahead. My only ‘must have’ author is Ellie Griffiths. Then there are those I will find via the radio. Rarely newspaper reviews, where I find a lot of ‘self satisfaction’ among writers. For me what I will read is like the future - unpredictable, despite the 10 year estimate. You know the saying I’m sure:
‘There are lies, damn lies and statistics’🐰
I was wondering who the writer was behind "Cedric" and I'm eagerly anticipating more details!. Good luck with hoping the endings of your re-reads change :).
I guess I'm a "super reader," though there have been a couple of years (but only a couple) when I read less than 50 books. Normally, I'm around the 75 to 100 books per year kind of reader. So, for the sake of easy math, let's call it 100 books per year.
I'm too chicken to look at the life expectancy table. At 60, I'm a conflicted body: my father, my uncle and my grandfather all have had heart attacks at various points in their lives (my grandfather's ended his); but I'm also a relatively healthy eater....so I have no idea what the odds are these days. And then there are the vagaries of accidents, homicide and natural disasters trimming away at our lifelines. So, for the sake of easy math, let's say I've got a "guaranteed" 15 more years. That's a pool of 1,500 books to choose from. My list of "want to reads" extends to about 2,000 titles--proving, as always, my reach might exceed my grasp.
David, I thought of you instantly when I saw the definition of "super reader". Your command of what you have read is also very impressive. I need to ask a question I want to ask soon of other writers: how do the books we read -- both number and type -- affect our ability to write? In other words, writers are readers first in almost every case (or should be) but when confronted with a limited number of daylight hours to write, read, and rescue kittens, and keep relationships going, and work day job -- how is it possible to read so many books and still do all those other things?
Truthfully, it's not so much the CONTENT of what I read that impacts my writing, but the very ACT of reading that does. Too often, I find myself drawn toward the reading chair rather than the writing chair. (And having cats who love to "lap" when I'm reading is no help, either) But, when considering the content factor, I tend to choose books that are heavy on beautiful language and less plot-driven (though I still love a good, page-turning plot!!). I reach for the books whose sentence will serve as a sort of background music of words, stripped of their particulars, when I eventually break away from reading and sit down to write. In this way, my reading seeps, drop by drop, into my writing.
Yay public radio model!
Although the idea that I'll only be able to read another 1,750 books in my lifetime is horrifying (assuming a conservative 35 years to go @50 books/year), my problem is still not being able have a truly great book going at any given time—especially when it comes to fiction!
HI Anne! Let's look at your problem! What kind of fiction are you drawn to? What disappoints you about the books you've not found "really great?" I'd love to marshal the troops and help you find a few reads that you love if you are open to it.
Thanks for all you do over at @Cafe Anne which underscores the magic that can be made by actually going out and talking with real people. It takes a city the size of New York and turns it into a community of humans I love to read about.
I actually posted on Notes a while back looking for fiction recommendations, Elizabeth. Specifically, novels that are "fun but not dumb." I got some really great reccos but have since plowed through the list. So yes I'd love a fresh supply of ideas.
And thanks for your kind words too. You made my day!!!
Okay, @Anne Kadet here are a few to think about for your TBR list. You may get more from some others over the next week or so. These are all from me after taking a quick look at the earlier suggestions and the kinds of books you like.
- Fat and unexpectedly fun: "The Hawakati" by Rabih Alameddine ( I love every one of his books) but this is a kind of Arabian nights full of wit, feeling, history. Elizabeth Gilbert's "Signature of All Things" -- I was surprised by how much I liked this. I am not a fan of Gilbert's writing ordinarily.
- Page turners that go deep: Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being"
- Brits who have kept me up at night: Zadie Smith (Teeth) Kate Atkinson (particularly Life After Life, Behind the Scenes at the Museum and all the Jackson Brodie books ), John LeCarre (forget the Smiley's people and the cold and start with "A Tailor in Panama" and/or "A Perfect Spy" - these are even more character-driven and the wit and writing kept me glued to them)
- Unforgettable characters: I just finished "The History of a Difficult Child by Mihret Sibhat" and cannot forget the narrator. I really enjoyed reading this book.
- New York stories (although I'm sure you know all of them): Behold the Dreamers -- if you've not read it -- by Imbolo Mbue; The Friend by Sigrid Nunez -- she's one of my "I will read anything she writes" authors.
-- If you like collections of short stories: "The Secret Life of Church Ladies" by Deesha Philyaw
Wow Elizabeth I can't thank you enough!
I've read two of these: "Secret Lives of Church Ladies" and "Signature of All Things" and I LOVED them both, so I have a feeling I will enjoy your other recommendations. Adding them to my library holds list and will let you know how it goes!
BTW are you on Goodreads? We should be book buddies!
I am intermittent on Goodreads but I just went there and sent you a friend request. I think I’ll find some good reads for me from your lists. Thanks for the motivation!
Oh and also read TEETH but loved that too!
Oh and Life After Life but loved THAT too!
I don’t care how many books I read--a good thing, since I’ve become a terribly slow and distractible reader. My focus is paying attention to the books I do read. I used to skim; I don’t anymore. It was on my second or third read of Shirley Hazzard’s TRANSIT OF VENUS that I finally understood what happened in the end. If you’re skimming, you can miss the whole point.
P.S. I love your newsletter, Rona. I'm looking forward to sharing some of the essays I've particularly loved here in Spark.
Thank you! I’d be delighted.
The longing to read deeply and to revisit reads I've loved have strengthened in me as well. I am not easily distracted once I begin to read but when I look up and see all the books I'll never get to I tend to rush my reading a bit. It keeps me from saving those things from a book that I want to reflect on later. I'm returning this year to a commitment to write a few lines from each book I read along with a few notes about in my common book. I'm noticing that writing down a passage helps me to read it more deeply. I see things I missed the first time around.
I’m an underliner. In the fly leaf I note sections of particular interest. I’ve been known to buy my own copy of a book I borrowed from the library, because I need to mark it up.
I read what appeals to me at the time-so no real method to selecting the books I read. Some books I've thought would really resonate with me don't and others that I don't have any expectations for shatter me in all the best ways. I took a peek at the life expectancy calculator and hope I don't live that long if I develop dementia. We went through it with both my parents and my mother-in-law so that future is grim!
I totally get it. The life expectancy calculator doesn't address living well, just living at all. I think your method of finding books and enjoying them without respect to the number or any kind of strict criteria except what hits you is a very good strategy. That way, time really doesn't matter.
I sometimes think our longer lifespan isn't necessarily a good thing (I'm glad I didn't die in my 40s though!). Choosing a book by the seat of my pants generally works our for me. Luckily I have a HUGE library on my Kindle to search through!
I love the picture of you with that very cool book tee shirt! You look lovely ❤️
As for reading books, I collect a lot and I read a lot, but mostly I love picking up books at book stores, thrift shops, library sales and the occasional free library. I also like to place books into those. So I always have books in my car. I guess I consider myself a book collector more so than a reader if that makes sense. I always have a book with me that I’m reading, but my ratio is 1 book reading vs 10 I just picked up. To be read of course. One day..... and I’m guilty of re-reading books I have already read so there’s that.
I am also an intrepid reader of articles about books and authors. This is my downfall. For example, I was reading about Beatrix Potter in The NY Times the other day and now, poof, I am reading a book about Beatrix Potter and put my other books down. I am a fickle reader at best. Prone to whims that come and go. Being able to download books instantaneously or have them delivered next day has made this next to impossible to resist.
As for books and end of life, I could fill pages with stories of my hospice patients and their love of books right to their final day. I have had hospice patients back in Boston who were writers, who owned book stores, who had libraries in their homes with stacks of books everywhere. I have asked libraries to send their bookmobiles to the homes of shut-ins with no place to get beloved books. I have brought audio books to patients who could no longer read but loved listening to their favorites. I have sat and read books to patients as well and encouraged family members to do the same. Books provide great comfort. You should know, Elizabeth, that there are folks out there who are, right now, reading your book Casualties and finding great comfort in your words. Books are so powerful right to the end.
Will Schwalbe wrote a book about how he connected to his mom with shared books as she was going through her terminal illness. The book is called The End of your Life Book Club. It’s very good.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only once.” ~ George R.R. Martin
{A Dance With Dragons}
This was a great post, I loved it.