3 Comments

1. I tend to read much more on mood-outside of book club reads. There’s that lovely quote about how a book collection is like a wine cellar, wines are meant to fit specific occasions/meals and that’s how it is with my books. I also, like Hannah, tend to balance types/lengths against each other

2. As an adult my biggest change in reading habits has been reading multiple books at once, and I’ve found it so helpful as a Mom being able to bounce around between different books (ex. Focusing on my reread at the end of a tough day vs my new one). I tend to have 2-4 books at a time-reread, new book, religious book, and other (usually a book club book if I need to get it done and I’m already reading something in my other categories).

3. As a Mom I’ve learned to carry books everywhere I go and tell myself I’m teaching reading as an example to my kids. I definitely miss being able to read for hours at a time/miss the skill of doing that, but gotta love the season you’re in.

4. I totally get the struggle of wanting to read all the things/be very literary and able to quote books. I swear I get book anxiety about all the classics I haven’t read yet/need to read.

5. Please can reading revisited do the Oedipus Cycle??? I’ve adored them ever since high school, wrote a conference paper on them in college, and absolutely adored teaching them to freshman English students. They are so important and very readable too.

6. The Elegance of the Hedgehog!! Haven’t read in ages-looking forward to hearing thoughts about it.

7. I also am oddly not bothered by detective mysteries and wrote a whole post on why that is. Just read Murder Must Advertise and I agree all literary women do have a bit of a crush on Lord Peter

Expand full comment

1. Ever since I read that I’ve kept it in my back pocket for when anyone questions the size of our home library

2/3. All good ideas. And being a Mom has taught me to appreciate the importance of little bits of progress over a long time period, though I do miss my blitzing through a fantasy epic in a few hrs of uninterrupted reading days.

4. I think anyone who loves books has to feel this way. And aw thanks :)

5. Read all three, or at least Antigone and Oedipus Rex. They are short plays and form a slim volume when put together as one, and reading them together is so rewarding/interesting.

6. Ultimately worth it-but if it’s not the right time, it’s not the right time

7. Amen

Expand full comment

1. I love the wine cellar/book comparison. What a lovely way to think of my ever growing library!

2. I have just started to have an end of the day book that is separate from my naptime/earlier evening fiction. This has been awesome. Even bring this book along to doc appts and other places that it is nice to have an easy read!

3. Yes! I always bring a book but it is almost comedic how little I end up reading my carry along books!

4. I am glad that this is a common feeling, even from people (like you) who I see as VERY well read!

5. OOOOO another member of my in person group wants to do those too! Would you do the whole cycle? I think I've only read the first?

6. I had to set aside The Elegance of the Hedgehog but your review is making me want to pick it back up when I have time!

7. Lord Peter.....literary crush!

Expand full comment