As always love how intentional you are about things. I also have that impulse to try to get my hands on too many books at once, including ones that are current and will make me feel a part of things/in the know. At the same time I'm always trying to catch up on classics I missed (Middlemarch at the moment, War & Peace halfway through on hold). I just slogged my way through The Covenant of Water very much because I felt I *should* read it based on what others said. The timing of such a dark book wasn't right with the election and the drought/wildfires and overall strange fall but I pressed on and shouldn't have. Not when there are so many books that are so life-giving! A few years ago I did manage to block out the noise of a lot of recommendations from friends who are avid readers. I noticed it tended to be new (and often forgettable) fiction and there was something a bit trendy about reading them that did not appeal to me. Although I still do have that pull, as I wrote at the start, to be part of certain conversations, probably mainly ones that relate to motherhood and writing. When I got Covid I was determined not to check out or buy anything new and finally got through some unread books on my shelves. This is all a bit scattered by way of response to your post - but I thank you for your gentle, thoughtful guidance about our reading practices and will take this to heart.
My therapist often says we don't recognize a threshold until we cross it. With this perspective, it's easier to see your experience with The Covenant of Water as an opportunity because now you'll always trust your gut when a book isn't feeling right for whatever reason.
My reading life right now feels— cluttered. And I don’t think I would have thought about this without your thoughtful words! I love buying children’s picture books for my children and their current language arts curriculum, but then I need to ask myself how often we revisit them. The same goes for books I’ve bought this year in the adult realm— those I haven’t read yet tend to sit on a shelf and make me feel guilty. Perhaps I work at reading those first?
As for libraries, I love them, and appreciate them all the more after living overseas for 3 years in a country that didn’t have easy access to an English one…it made me realize how dear and amazing they are! I love wondering the shelves but am careful on what I bring home, so as not to add more to our pile and more guilt to me.
I'm a lot more excited about the books on my shelf at home now that my library list isn't as cluttered. For something pleasurable (reading!) it sure takes a lot of intention to stay steady amidst life's competing demands.
I recently went on a "Blind Date with a Book" from the Walters State Community College (in East Tennessee) library. I chose categories (gothic, thriller, modern) and the library sent me a book to read that fit the category. The book was all I expected: /The Only One Left/ by Riley Sager.
I've always loved libraries and every place I've moved to or spent months in I've gone to take out a library card. If there is a place where I feel a 'belonging' it is in a library. Goodness knows why I didn't become a librarian! I put a lot of books on hold, not knowing when they will arrive. Inevitably sometimes I get tons arriving at the same time. It is rare though that I don't read them. Having said that today I brought back 2 unread ones but made up for it by picking up two more. I couldn't read all of the ones I have as I am heading out of town for a real holiday. Will I read while away, you bet I will!
Such a timely post (as so often seems to happen!) We’ve just moved twice in 4 months (first into a rental and then, last week, into our forever home) and the urge to purge and simplify is very strong in my mentally and physically exhausted body! I never joined the library in our former town- although I’d been a very keen borrower as a child - and we were there for over 25 years. But it was the first thing I did on moving here in the summer. I quickly found out how quickly the 4 weeks allowed goes though and I found I was constantly renewing or taking them back unread. Ours is a wonderful little library which opens 7 days a week! I need to find my rhythm with it. But then I need to find a whole new rhythm to my life in this new place in general!
As someone who regularly has 20+ physical books checked out from the library (plus digital holds), I've started declaring a seasonal "library bankruptcy day" (a la Reply All's 'email debt forgiveness day') and taking every single book back at least twice a year!
I work at the library so this really resonates! My colleagues and I joke that we take the books for a holiday and return them unread. Life is busy!
I really love looking at the ‘coming soon’ list on Libby and max out my holds there with the same issue. (And without the hassle of bringing the physical books back)
I guess the great thing about the library is you CAN read 3 pages and decide it’s not for you, no harm done. Librarians are often advocates for DNF.
The 'coming soon' lists are so tempting/exciting, and I agree, one great thing about libraries is the ability to return books if they're not for you. Love hearing that librarians support this!
I LOVED how relevant this felt to me. I have towers of books on my nightstand and tables in my bedroom. Baskets of poetry books in the bathroom, yes, the bathroom. And of course, stacks and stacks in my studio, kitchen, and living room.
Your writing reminded me to slow down. savor, and Share (Little Free Libraries).
Yes! I was just reflecting on the challenge of too many books this week. My TBR pile is massive because my interests are broad and my reading appetite is huge. I also love to honour folks' recommendations by checking them out. But there are only so many hours in a day, so many days in a week, and the pressure to finish things ends up adding one more pressure to a very full life (even if it's a pressure to do something good and pleasurable). Thanks for articulating so much of the shared struggle here!
I like your idea of moving the library holds to the wishlist instead. I've done that. I also have a period practice of just clearing out: doing a brief audit of what books I have and what capacity I have, and returning all those library books I know I'm not going to read. It helps to know there's a record electronically of the past check-outs, if I ever want to return to them.
I'm also thinking about a book-buying hiatus for a while. I read for my work (I'm an English prof) and for my writing (I'm working on a book with different themes for each chapter, and I also have been working on several essays for other publications this year) and for pleasure. I'm trying to think about how to streamline some of that: can I make my teaching, writing, and pleasure line up a bit more, so the reading is generative for all these categories?
There's definitely a comfort in having a wish list or electronic record so you can return to things. Sounds like a complex—but maybe doable?—challenge to align your reading life. Do you have any flexibility with your syllabus where you could incorporate some of the books you're using for book research?
Yes, sometimes! Next term, I'm teaching a seminar that lets me assign some of the books (and talk about others) I'm reading for a chapter about raising kids in climate collapse (woven through with the idea of the pathetic fallacy--that old critique of the Romantic poets :). When the overlap happens, it's a real gift.
Book route: I find my way to our public library by meandering through my neighborhood and through the park. I do wish it had a little more character (it’s quite suburban California). However, that doesn’t stop me from exploring the stacks like I did as an adolescent. Also, this: “In my eagerness to stay relevant in my reading life, I often found myself setting aside something I actually wanted to read for something I thought I should be reading.” Ugh. Yes. I struggled with this nonsense for too long. I decided to read only books by women when I graduated college to make up for the deficit. I realize now that even though I still prefer books written by women, what I love the most is when books break free from narrow patriarchal thought (however that looks). I love your exploration of this.
I love this! I struggle so much to leave something partially read but then fall into the trap of reading what I should be reading instead of what I actually want to be reading. Thanks for the reminder to take advantage of libraries :)
It's so hard to make that shift! Letting myself not finish was one step that made the whole process so much easier though. It's pretty freeing once you start doing it!
I recently decluttered my personal book stash, stopped putting tons of books on hold, and just focusing on my monthly book club read, a fiction book, and reading a few books I’ve purchased over the last year.
My personal library has grown a bit out of control, even as I’ve embraced reading e-books from the library (no late fees ever again!). A few months ago, realizing I had years of reading at my fingertips, I decided that in 2025 I wouldn’t buy any books (unless I could fund them with selling books back to Powell’s). Unfortunately, this has given me a carte blanche excuse to buy books manically as this year winds down, “because next year, I’ll do it right”. So it goes… :)
If I made that goal for 2025, I think I'd do exactly the same and buy a bunch of books now to stock up, ha! Definitely let us know how it goes next year.
I’m right there with you, Nicole. All the books I think I’m supposed to read and like, especially those pertaining to my profession (mental health), usually end up sitting on the shelf until I donate them, unread. Most times, all I want to read is a rockin’ murder mystery or police procedural. At 62, my time gets spent on the things that I enjoy and not on the “shoulds".
As always love how intentional you are about things. I also have that impulse to try to get my hands on too many books at once, including ones that are current and will make me feel a part of things/in the know. At the same time I'm always trying to catch up on classics I missed (Middlemarch at the moment, War & Peace halfway through on hold). I just slogged my way through The Covenant of Water very much because I felt I *should* read it based on what others said. The timing of such a dark book wasn't right with the election and the drought/wildfires and overall strange fall but I pressed on and shouldn't have. Not when there are so many books that are so life-giving! A few years ago I did manage to block out the noise of a lot of recommendations from friends who are avid readers. I noticed it tended to be new (and often forgettable) fiction and there was something a bit trendy about reading them that did not appeal to me. Although I still do have that pull, as I wrote at the start, to be part of certain conversations, probably mainly ones that relate to motherhood and writing. When I got Covid I was determined not to check out or buy anything new and finally got through some unread books on my shelves. This is all a bit scattered by way of response to your post - but I thank you for your gentle, thoughtful guidance about our reading practices and will take this to heart.
My therapist often says we don't recognize a threshold until we cross it. With this perspective, it's easier to see your experience with The Covenant of Water as an opportunity because now you'll always trust your gut when a book isn't feeling right for whatever reason.
I really like that - thank you!
My reading life right now feels— cluttered. And I don’t think I would have thought about this without your thoughtful words! I love buying children’s picture books for my children and their current language arts curriculum, but then I need to ask myself how often we revisit them. The same goes for books I’ve bought this year in the adult realm— those I haven’t read yet tend to sit on a shelf and make me feel guilty. Perhaps I work at reading those first?
As for libraries, I love them, and appreciate them all the more after living overseas for 3 years in a country that didn’t have easy access to an English one…it made me realize how dear and amazing they are! I love wondering the shelves but am careful on what I bring home, so as not to add more to our pile and more guilt to me.
I'm a lot more excited about the books on my shelf at home now that my library list isn't as cluttered. For something pleasurable (reading!) it sure takes a lot of intention to stay steady amidst life's competing demands.
I recently went on a "Blind Date with a Book" from the Walters State Community College (in East Tennessee) library. I chose categories (gothic, thriller, modern) and the library sent me a book to read that fit the category. The book was all I expected: /The Only One Left/ by Riley Sager.
Oh how fun!
I've always loved libraries and every place I've moved to or spent months in I've gone to take out a library card. If there is a place where I feel a 'belonging' it is in a library. Goodness knows why I didn't become a librarian! I put a lot of books on hold, not knowing when they will arrive. Inevitably sometimes I get tons arriving at the same time. It is rare though that I don't read them. Having said that today I brought back 2 unread ones but made up for it by picking up two more. I couldn't read all of the ones I have as I am heading out of town for a real holiday. Will I read while away, you bet I will!
There is something fun about not knowing when a book will come in, and then it's a delightful surprise!
Such a timely post (as so often seems to happen!) We’ve just moved twice in 4 months (first into a rental and then, last week, into our forever home) and the urge to purge and simplify is very strong in my mentally and physically exhausted body! I never joined the library in our former town- although I’d been a very keen borrower as a child - and we were there for over 25 years. But it was the first thing I did on moving here in the summer. I quickly found out how quickly the 4 weeks allowed goes though and I found I was constantly renewing or taking them back unread. Ours is a wonderful little library which opens 7 days a week! I need to find my rhythm with it. But then I need to find a whole new rhythm to my life in this new place in general!
It must be so nice to be settled into your forever home! Enjoy settling in and figuring out your new rhythms.
As someone who regularly has 20+ physical books checked out from the library (plus digital holds), I've started declaring a seasonal "library bankruptcy day" (a la Reply All's 'email debt forgiveness day') and taking every single book back at least twice a year!
oooh I like that!
I work at the library so this really resonates! My colleagues and I joke that we take the books for a holiday and return them unread. Life is busy!
I really love looking at the ‘coming soon’ list on Libby and max out my holds there with the same issue. (And without the hassle of bringing the physical books back)
I guess the great thing about the library is you CAN read 3 pages and decide it’s not for you, no harm done. Librarians are often advocates for DNF.
The 'coming soon' lists are so tempting/exciting, and I agree, one great thing about libraries is the ability to return books if they're not for you. Love hearing that librarians support this!
I LOVED how relevant this felt to me. I have towers of books on my nightstand and tables in my bedroom. Baskets of poetry books in the bathroom, yes, the bathroom. And of course, stacks and stacks in my studio, kitchen, and living room.
Your writing reminded me to slow down. savor, and Share (Little Free Libraries).
Thanks for this!
A little free library was built in my neighborhood a couple of years ago and it's always a good reminder to pass books along. :)
Yes! I was just reflecting on the challenge of too many books this week. My TBR pile is massive because my interests are broad and my reading appetite is huge. I also love to honour folks' recommendations by checking them out. But there are only so many hours in a day, so many days in a week, and the pressure to finish things ends up adding one more pressure to a very full life (even if it's a pressure to do something good and pleasurable). Thanks for articulating so much of the shared struggle here!
The struggle is so real! Do you have any experiments in mind to see if you can make it more manageable?
I like your idea of moving the library holds to the wishlist instead. I've done that. I also have a period practice of just clearing out: doing a brief audit of what books I have and what capacity I have, and returning all those library books I know I'm not going to read. It helps to know there's a record electronically of the past check-outs, if I ever want to return to them.
I'm also thinking about a book-buying hiatus for a while. I read for my work (I'm an English prof) and for my writing (I'm working on a book with different themes for each chapter, and I also have been working on several essays for other publications this year) and for pleasure. I'm trying to think about how to streamline some of that: can I make my teaching, writing, and pleasure line up a bit more, so the reading is generative for all these categories?
There's definitely a comfort in having a wish list or electronic record so you can return to things. Sounds like a complex—but maybe doable?—challenge to align your reading life. Do you have any flexibility with your syllabus where you could incorporate some of the books you're using for book research?
Yes, sometimes! Next term, I'm teaching a seminar that lets me assign some of the books (and talk about others) I'm reading for a chapter about raising kids in climate collapse (woven through with the idea of the pathetic fallacy--that old critique of the Romantic poets :). When the overlap happens, it's a real gift.
oh wonderful!
Book route: I find my way to our public library by meandering through my neighborhood and through the park. I do wish it had a little more character (it’s quite suburban California). However, that doesn’t stop me from exploring the stacks like I did as an adolescent. Also, this: “In my eagerness to stay relevant in my reading life, I often found myself setting aside something I actually wanted to read for something I thought I should be reading.” Ugh. Yes. I struggled with this nonsense for too long. I decided to read only books by women when I graduated college to make up for the deficit. I realize now that even though I still prefer books written by women, what I love the most is when books break free from narrow patriarchal thought (however that looks). I love your exploration of this.
So nice that you can walk to the library! And I agree, there's something very nostalgic and comforting about wandering through the stacks.
I love this! I struggle so much to leave something partially read but then fall into the trap of reading what I should be reading instead of what I actually want to be reading. Thanks for the reminder to take advantage of libraries :)
It's so hard to make that shift! Letting myself not finish was one step that made the whole process so much easier though. It's pretty freeing once you start doing it!
I recently decluttered my personal book stash, stopped putting tons of books on hold, and just focusing on my monthly book club read, a fiction book, and reading a few books I’ve purchased over the last year.
Simplify! Love it. It's so tempting to put all the free books on hold, but really difficult to crawl out from under it once they all come in, haha.
My personal library has grown a bit out of control, even as I’ve embraced reading e-books from the library (no late fees ever again!). A few months ago, realizing I had years of reading at my fingertips, I decided that in 2025 I wouldn’t buy any books (unless I could fund them with selling books back to Powell’s). Unfortunately, this has given me a carte blanche excuse to buy books manically as this year winds down, “because next year, I’ll do it right”. So it goes… :)
If I made that goal for 2025, I think I'd do exactly the same and buy a bunch of books now to stock up, ha! Definitely let us know how it goes next year.
I’m right there with you, Nicole. All the books I think I’m supposed to read and like, especially those pertaining to my profession (mental health), usually end up sitting on the shelf until I donate them, unread. Most times, all I want to read is a rockin’ murder mystery or police procedural. At 62, my time gets spent on the things that I enjoy and not on the “shoulds".
I'm so with you on reading things you enjoy! Feels so much better to prioritize that.