On Reading

Fiction I Would Re-Read

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close up of books on shelf

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I wrote yesterday about having a hoard of books to read during stay at home orders or whatever they are called in your part of the world I suggested that at least part of our hoard might be those that you would want to re-read. Here are some of the fiction titles I have loved that I want to come back to and give another read.

Wendell Berry, Hannah Coulter. Really I could have included any of the Port William stories, but this one of tracing a love, the scars of warfare, and generations was quite wonderful.

Anthony Doerr, All The Light We Cannot See. This story of a German boy and a blind French girl whose paths cross as the Germans occupy Saint Malo is one of the most stunningly beautiful books published in the last ten years in my opinion.

Charles Dickens, David Copperfield. A big book. Memorable characters. The mirror image of Dickens (Dickens initials reversed).

Fyodor Doestoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov. For the depths of psychological insights into family and the philosophical explorations of the book.

C.S. Lewis. Till We Have Faces. The book Lewis thought his best, that readers thought his most difficult, and that has grown with each reading.

Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Paton’s novel, set in apartheid Africa, focuses on love of country and land and the possibility of reconciliation despite grievous loss.

Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose. The writing of a history of family becomes the summing up of one’s life. I love all of his writing about the American West.

John Steinbeck, East of Eden. Steinbeck considered it his magnum opus. I would agree.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. People hate Tolkien or love him. I’m in the latter camp, and find each reading richer than the last. My first was in college. My last was around the time of the movies. It might be time again

Homer, The Odyssey. One of the oldest works of fiction and one of the longest journeys home.

These ten books could carry me a long way through this quarantine (which for me really means until there is a vaccine). What books would be on your list?

We Knew This Day Would Come…

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“Library,” by Stewart Butterfield, licensed under CC BY 2.0

For years our friends and family have looked askance at those stuffed bookshelves and piles of books in various rooms of our abodes. People asked us why we were buying books when we already had plenty of books to read. People came up with a Japanese term to describe what we were doing–tsundoku, the piling up of unread reading materials. Some tried to invoke Marie Kondo on us to purge our books and only keep what gave us joy. One problem. Nearly all of them give us joy!

Somewhere, deep in our psyche, we knew this day would come. Bookstores and libraries would close. Even Amazon wasn’t a reliable source of books. We would have to rely on the books we have on hand. Forget the toilet paper! Would we have enough books on hand when the apocalypse came?

I’ve got that covered. Some time ago, I calculated that I probably won’t be able to read all the books in our home during my remaining life. It does mean I’ve begun to be more selective in buying new books, and occasionally, I realize that there is an unread book that at this point I’m no longer interested in reading.

I find many of my book-loving friends feel the same way. There is a bit of a sense of vindication, a bit of smugness as they look around at bored friends, and think to themselves, “all I need to do is pick up the next book on my “to read pile.” All along, we’ve lived with the dread that we would run out of books, perhaps a worse fate than running out of that Charmin. No worries, we have our hoard, carefully built up over the years.

A Psychology Today article, published back in 2017 raises the question of what books we would want in our “Doomsday” library. English professor Gina Barrecca writes, “I want books and light enough to read them by; I want stories, and history, and poetry, and science and collections on art, music, architecture, religion.” She goes on to list the classic and contemporary authors and titles.

An interesting question is whether we have any books we want to re-read. If we did run out of unread books, would the books we have read and kept be ones we’d be eager to read again. Perhaps that question might also suggest the books that it is time to discard. If it isn’t a reference, and we’d never re-read it, why are we keeping it?

The best books are the ones that growth with us, that are new to us each time we read them because we are different than the last time we read them. It might be an interesting to look at our libraries to see how many of those books bring back fond memories of previous readings and beckon us to come visit again. Those books are a good investment, that keep paying us back reading after reading. When we have a library of those books, we truly are set, if not for the apocalypse, but at least for a long stay at home.

 

Reading Ideas When You Must Stay at Home

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woman sitting while reading a book

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In this time of staying at home, our approach to reading may be simply to work through our “to be read” pile. When we can’t go out to buy books, maybe the best approach may be to read the books we already have. After all, at some point, there was something about that book that was of interest! Beyond this, here are a few ideas;

  1. This might be a good time to binge-read your favorite author, or a series.
  2. You could pick a part of the world that you might like to visit, and read up on it so that when you visit, you can go as a savvy traveler.
  3. You might read one book that gets you out of your reading rut. Maybe a graphic novel. Or a play. Or book of poetry. Something you don’t usually read.
  4. Read books by authors from another country to see the world from another perspective.
  5. Read a book of local history. Sometimes, we don’t know very much about the place where we live. Like from where the streets get their names.
  6. When was the last time you read a children’s book? The best ones speak to children of all ages. So where did I leave that copy of The House at Pooh Corner?
  7. Discover a great science writer. The great ones from Isaac Asimov to Neil deGrasse Tyson can make science fascinating for everyone.
  8. Read one book that explores some of life’s big questions. A religious text. A philosophy book. Maybe some Marcus Aurelius.
  9. Maybe there are some do-it-yourself projects you’ve decided to take on since you’ve been looking at your house or garden more. Cooking, carpentry, landscaping, and other do-it-yourself books might be a welcome addition to your reading.
  10. This might not be the time to read about pandemics or dystopian futures–unless you are into that sort of thing. A cozy mystery or some escapist fiction might be a better choice.

We may not be able to venture out in all the ways we would like. But a simpler life might offer chances for different kinds of ventures, ones that might enrich our lives in ways we remember, long after all this is in the rear view mirror.

Supporting Authors While Staying Home

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Many people are hurting during the lockdowns and stay at home mandates most of us are living under. While I focus on things related to books (because that what this blog is about), I realize there are many others who are hurting, especially those who were living from paycheck to paycheck before this all started, and others on the edge.

I’ve written about the challenges facing bookstores. Another group struggling are authors. Imagine in particular that you had a book launching any time after about March 15 or in the next few months. No book tours. Amazon has de-emphasized books. Most bookstores are closed. When things open up again (which may not be for months) a new raft of books will be coming out. Authors with books launching now may face real losses.

How can the reading public help?

  1. Read reviews for books in the genres you like to find out about newly published works. Three review sites open without subscriptions that you might check are Publishers Weekly, NPR Book Reviews, and Kirkus. There are many others and you might have your favorites.
  2. Of course, if you have a favorite author, they may have a mailing list and you can learn about new books they have coming out. Often, they post personal updates that you will never see otherwise.
  3. Your favorite bookstore’s website also is a good source of news about new books. The advantage here is that if you find something you like, you can order them in a one stop shopping experience.
  4. Have you launched an online book group? You could host an author event! I’ve done this in another setting and even was able to arrange book discounts with the publisher.
  5. Once you get into the book, talk it up with your friends on social media so people not only hear about the book, but the reasons why you like it. I often buy books recommended by others. Word of mouth works.
  6. Are you on GoodReads? Add a short review to your rating. Or if you are like me, blog on books. Some creative people even do video blogs or video posts on social media.

Making efforts to support the authors we like is another way of preserving cultural goods during this crisis. I have loved Hilary Mandel’s historical fiction on Thomas Cromwell. So I ordered The Mirror and the Light from my favorite indie store. And the image above gives the book one more well deserved shoutout. Look for a review as well! Perhaps one of the ways of we live with hope is to look beyond this crisis, whether in our support of our favorite bookstores or favorite authors.

Looking for a Long Read?

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close up of books on shelf

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Some say we may need to be ready to practice “social distancing” for up to three months. All the things outside the home are off the schedule for now. This might be the time for a long read, one of those big fat books you have thought you’d never have the time to read. Maybe you have it already on your TBR pile, but if not, my good friends at Bob on Books on Facebook gave a great list of recommendations from 82 different authors.

  • Hervey Allen, Anthony Adverse
  • Isaac Asimov, The Foundation Trilogy
  • Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
  • Paul Auster, 4321
  • Robert Bolano, 2666
  • Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Mists of Avalon
  • Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre
  • John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
  • Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy
  • Ron Chernow, Grant
  • Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End
  • Stephen Clarke, 1000 Years of Annoying the France
  • James Clavell, Sho Gun
  • Thomas B. Costain, The Tontine
  • Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves
  • Daniel DeFoe, Robinson Crusoe
  • Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See
  • Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment, Brothers Karamazov
  • Stephanie Dray, My Dear Hamilton
  • Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
  • Nicholas Evans, The Horse Whisperer
  • Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White
  • James T. Farrell, Studs Lonigan
  • Ken Follett, The Pillars of the Earth
  • Diana Gabaldon, Outlander series.
  • Neil Gaiman, American Gods
  • Benito Pérez Galdós, Los Episodios Nacionales
  • Alex Haley, Roots
  • Pete Hamill, Forever
  • Jan de Hartog, The Peaceable Kingdom
  • Frank Herbert, The Dune Saga
  • Joe Hill, The Fireman
  • L. Ron Hubbard, Battlefield Earth
  • Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
  • Greg Iles, Natchez Burning
  • John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany
  • Walter Isaacson, Leonard da Vinci
  • Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees
  • Stephen King, 11-22-63, IT, The Stand, Under The Dome
  • Karleen Koen, Through a Glass Darkly (and subsequent novels)
  • Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas
  • Wally Lamb, I Know This Much is True
  • Erik Larson, The Splendid and the Vile
  • Min Jin Lee, Pachinko
  • Robert Ludlum, Prometheus Deception
  • Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings, The Executioner’s Song
  • George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones
  • Greg Matthews, Power in the Blood
  • Anne McCaffrey, Pern series
  • Robert McCammon, Boy’s Life
  • Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds
  • Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove
  • Herman Melville, Typee
  • James Michener, Hawaii, Texas, The Covenant, The Source
  • Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind
  • Robert Musil, The Man Without Qualities
  • Felix Palma, The Map of Time, The Map of the Sky, The Map of Chaos
  • Christopher Paolini, Eragon
  • Samantha Power, The Education of an Idealist
  • Marcel Proust, In Search Of Lost Time
  • Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
  • Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
  • Marcus Rediker, Outlaws of the Atlantic
  • Andrew Roberts, Churchill: Walking With Destiny
  • Nora Roberts, Year One Trilogy
  • Kim Stanley Robinson, The Years of Rice & Salt
  • J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter series.
  • Salman Rushdie, Quichotte
  • Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji
  • Paullina Simons, The Bronze Horseman
  • Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago
  • John Steinbeck, East of Eden
  • Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy
  • Kathryn Stockett, The Help
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
  • Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch
  • J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, The Unfinished Tales
  • Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina,War and Peace
  • Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone
  • David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest
  • Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns
  • Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life

This is an uncurated list. I only left out a couple of religious books, The Bible and The Lost Books of the Bible. I can’t guarantee you will like all the books on the list. But there is probably something you will like. But there is probably something here for most tastes. I didn’t specify what “long” means, so the recommendations are of various lengths. Whatever you choose, when you finish, there will be plenty left to read. And one thing you don’t have to worry too much about with this list in this anxious time is what you will read next.

Trying to Read in a Crisis

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Image by FotoRieth from Pixabay

When the thought was raised of “physical distancing,” that sounded like heaven for a reader. And maybe it has been for some.

Not so far for me, and it may be you see less reviews from me. Typically, I’ll end up reading about 120 pages a day most days. This past week, if I can read 30, I’m doing good.

Some of it is work-related. I work in a collegiate ministry where we are making a rapid shift from face-to-face to digital. I happen to lead one of the digital areas of our ministry, and lots of time has been spent in Zoom calls figuring out how to do that. I just finished a nationwide call with university faculty trying to figure out how to convert their courses from face-to-face to online. We were using the some of the same software they will be using–and learning from each other in the process.

Some of it is just getting our household in order. We had the chance to move up a bathroom remodel. Now I wonder if a week later it would have even gotten done. In recent weeks we had been stocking up at the grocery–before the long lines. We had a sense this was coming, but there has been some extra time just getting our ducks in a row.

But a good part has just been distraction. I find myself checking the news reports more than is good for me and commenting with others online. Apart from finding out what the latest mandates are from our state, I don’t need to do too much more. I know it is going to keep getting worse for a while. I know I have to stay home and stay clean and not touch my face. It’s like it was in 9/11, except this won’t be done for awhile. The news coverage can draw you in, and agitate your thoughts and depress your heart. And it can distract from enjoying a good read.

Probably the best thing is to check in with my nightly news once a day, and stay away from news coverage the rest of the time. Sometimes I leave the phone in a different room so I’m less tempted to check it. Someone mentioned getting out for a walk. Haven’t done much of that recently, and I find that always clears my head. I sleep better and focus better. Replace screen time with walk time!

And maybe I just need to accept that my page count will drop for awhile. Maybe as things settle in that will change. I suspect in all sorts of way, this is a time where we need to be gentle with ourselves as well as with each other. It might even be a way where to get liberated from some compulsions. Some people waiting for me to review a book may have to wait longer. Right now, in the big scheme of things that doesn’t seem important.

These days, I find myself giving thanks that I’ve been preserved through another night, and at night through another day. I’m thankful to take a breath of air outside my door and scent the coming spring, which gives me hope. I give thanks for meals enjoyed at home. I give thanks for the quiet around me as I write. And when I can, I give thanks for the minutes I can spend with a book and a cup of coffee. The present crisis reminds me that all these things are gifts, gifts with which I may have become far too familiar.

Bibliophiles in an Age of Social Distancing

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woman wearing face mask

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com.

The rise and rapid spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus) has brought a new phrase into common usage–“social distancing.” This is the practice of literally keeping your distance from other people. It means avoiding large crowds or close contact with people, especially anyone manifesting symptoms of being ill. If one has been exposed to someone with the illness, it can mean self-quarantines, usually of 14 days, and longer, of course if you contract the illness. In some parts of the world (e.g. China, S. Korea, Italy), “lockdowns” have occurred enforcing social distancing on everyone. This is possible in any municipality, something most of us have never seen but probably ought prepare for. One piece of advice has been to stock up not only on essentials and non-perishables, but also on entertainment, including books.

I suspect for most bibliophiles, this is not a problem with our burgeoning TBR piles, although we are glad for the excuse to stock up (even though this is one “essential” we already have enough of). We might even whittle that pile down.

For most of us, “social distancing” is not a problem either. We have been using books for social distancing (particularly if we’re introverts) for most of our lives. Having our nose in a book usually is tantamount to hanging a “do not disturb” sign around your neck, except for the oblivious few who ask, “what are you reading.” Even then, all you have to do is hold up the cover or spine and show them (making an impromptu bioshield as well!).

I don’t want to make a self-quarantine or a lockdown sound like a “snow day.” But staying healthy includes emotional health, which is probably not enhanced by listening to constant news coverage about the virus. This can even prevent you from sleeping well or getting out and getting fresh air and exercise in the open air. If your state health department is on the ball, their daily bulletins are probably all you need (and we all probably can recite the basic guidelines in our sleep). You can take the rest of that time spent and instead of feeding the 24/7 news cycle to do all the other things I mentioned, plus work from home–and read!

This can be a time to find friends online, whether on Facebook or via video calls to talk about books we like. Pull up your computer, and a glass of wine, or other favorite beverage and chat with friends about books you like.

It may also be a time to explore new books you want to read. Look up your favorite review sites (hopefully including Bob on Books!), and make your list to reserve at the library, or order from your favorite indie (which may be struggling during this time). Put that “want list” together.

Some of us like film adaptations of books, especially those we have read. Perhaps you can make a plan to read or re-read the book, then watch the film and see how it measures up. Netflix subscriptions make this easy.

Reading can be a good way to practice both self-care and care for others during this time. We readers have long known that you don’t have to travel on a plane or car to travel the world (as well as other imagined worlds). Nor does physical isolation require social isolation. As long as we are in good health, we can interact with others in various online media, and turn our love of books into a shared love.

Stay safe out there, friends.

Super-readers and the Rest of Us

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I asked a question recently at the Bob on Books Facebook page about how many pages a day people read. Most people were in the 25 to 100 page range. But I was surprised by the numbers who read 200, 300, and in a couple cases 500 pages in a day (Warren Buffett is one reputed to read 500 pages a day). I call them the super-readers. There are also some who listen to up to 8 to 10 hours a day to audiobooks. I’d put them in the same category.

It was interesting that the super-readers generally read novels, some reading one or even two in a day, and where people distinguished between fiction and non-fiction, they always read more pages of fiction.

Some of this probably depends on the number of words on the page. Mass market paperbacks often have lower word counts per page (not always), which might account for the ease of reading so many pages. And some books are page turners while others, you plod through.

My own reading tends to be on the heavier or denser side (with exceptions!) and most days, I read 100 to 120 pages, which was kind of middling for this group of respondents, but still on the high side in the general population. I usually finish three or four books in the week. I have increased the number of books I read since I’ve begun reviewing.

Season of life has a good deal to do with this. One of the super-readers, at least, self-identified as a retiree. Sometimes those who read choose not to do other things, like watch TV or videos or spend significant time online. Young, working parents often don’t have much time to read, other than read alouds! Sometimes, visual impediments slow down reading as well.  I would suggest that this ought to be one of those no guilt, no shame zones. I just don’t think you encourage someone to read more by making them feel bad that they only manage to read ten pages a day, if that.

Nor do I think those who are “super-readers” should be made to feel weird. Now, if they do this to the neglect of good self-care, care for important others, or neglect of obligations, it might be time to re-examine that super-reading lifestyle. Again, no shame here–probably none of us are perfectly “balanced” in our approach to life–and sometimes we need to make adjustments–more sleep, less food, more exercise. Sometimes other adjustments mean adjusting our reading habits as well. My father always said, “life is a series of adjustments.”

As I’ve probably said in other posts, the real issue is whether our reading is forming us into healthier, more flourishing human beings. It means perspective that takes life with just the proper amount of seriousness and not more. It means fostering imagination that broadens the options at hand as we approach the task of living. It means having the information we need to make good decisions. It means better understanding where we’ve come from to have a sense of where we ought go. And sometimes it means diversion that enables us to return to our daily tasks with fresh energy.

Mortimer Adler said, “In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” That, for me puts all this about page counts and reading goals in perspective. However, for those who would like to read more, or more consistently, here are a couple articles, one encouraging reading 20 pages a day, the other 25, something most readers can do in around a half hour. My own suggestion is read as you can, try to take in what you read, and do it each day. Chances are, you will notice yourself reading more over time. I have.

 

My Ideal Bookstore

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The religion and theology alcove at Blue Jacket Books, Xenia, Ohio, now closed. © Bob Trube, 2015.

There is a graphic of a tweet doing the rounds as I write that says:

“Escape room idea:

Just a well-stocked bookstore with clearly marked exits. You have one hour to get out. Good luck.”

For most of us who are bibliophiles, the outcome would be no escape. And we’d be perfectly happy with that.

But it got me thinking. What is my idea of the ideal bookstore? I came to an interesting conclusion, thinking of the various bookstores I’ve visited. There is no single ideal. I’ve visited “hole in the wall” bookstores that I have really loved, bookstores in houses, bookstores in converted storage buildings, indie stores, and chain stores and liked them all. I think of a tiny paperback store in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan that had a stash of great vintage science fiction. I’ve visited great new book stores, used book stores, and some that sell both. Probably my best answer would be: they have books!

But if you pressed me, here are a some things that make a store one to which I want to return:

  • It is distinctive, even if part of a chain.
  • It has engaging booksellers who actually seem interested in helping you find the next great book. I still remember the booksellers at Acorn Books, now closed, as some of the best. By the same token, I’ve interacted with a number of Barnes & Noble booksellers who went to great lengths to track down books their online site says are available but I could not find–in one case locating a book in a stockroom that had not yet been placed on the sales floor.
  • They have a selection that goes beyond the popular books that I either have or don’t want.
  • In my case they have strong sections in science, history and biography, crime fiction, science fiction and literary fiction, and religion and philosophy. I always remember my first visit to a Borders that had all of these. I thought I was in book heaven.
  • Sometimes, it is the unique vibe of the bookstore. I think of one small store in a college town that is incredibly well curated, both in terms of new titles, and “consigned” titles, many from college professors. My kind of place!
  • A bookstore cat adds to the ambiance of any store. This might be something for Barnes and Noble to consider as they try to reinvent themselves!
  • I love used bookstores of any time, but the ones where the books are actually organized in some semblance of order, and where stock has been dusted some time in living memory is a plus.
  • I think of stores that are great family places, where you, your spouse, and your children of different ages can all find interesting books.
  • While cafés are nice, some are pricy and make me choose between that frappuccino and that book. Just give me comfortable seating scattered around the store where I can browse books I’m considering purchasing.
  • I enjoy stores where the booksellers have made recommendations, either in sections or on notecards by the books. I’ve bought books for on the basis of that.
  • Of course, because I read a lot, I always like finding books at a discount. I have found how much they depreciate when I try to sell them. I’ve also come to appreciate that only sales of new books provide royalties to the author.

I could go on but I suspect you have come up with some other qualities of great stores. I hope you will add them to this post in the comments

Remembering the Books That Have Made Me

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Southworth_and_Hawes_-_Ralph_Waldo_Emerson_(Zeno_Fotografie)

Southworth & Hawes, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Public Domain via Wikimedia

I came across a quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson recently that rang partly true. He is reputed to have said, “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so they have made me.”

I think of this ringing partly true in the sense that I read quite a few books, even in a given year, and part of the reason I began to write reviews on Goodreads, and this blog, is that otherwise, I do forget some of the books that I read. It also seems only partly true, because some of the books were not memorable. I don’t think they became a part of me. After all, not all the food I eat becomes part of me, or makes me!

At the same time, there are a number of books that I’ve read that I do remember. William Manchester’s biography  of Churchill helped me understand the extraordinary greatness and courage of this man. The Lord of the Rings captured my imagination with the idea of ordinary people caught up in a great adventure. Francis Schaeffer was the first Christian writer to demonstrate that Christian thought had any relevance to the wider culture. H. Richard Niebuhr shaped my thinking about how we might engage that culture. Wendell Berry helped me think about technology and the land and community and what it means to have a sense of place and to love that place. The writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. helped me understand the urgency of the civil rights movement, particularly his message, “Why We Can’t Wait.” John R.W. Stott showed me the power of careful study that brings forth the message of scripture. Science writers like Lewis Thomas, Brian Greene, and Stephen J. Gould have instilled wonder as I’ve considered the world around me. All these have shaped and made me, at least my mental furniture.

Still, this quote leaves me wondering. Memory is a funny thing. There are memories not at conscious recall that arise–in a dream, with a smell, or a sight, or a random comment. Sometimes the contribution of some books to my mental life may be no more than a piece of a thought. Sometimes, books simply remind me of what I’ve already understood, like a recipe I’ve enjoyed before and enjoy again. Sometimes a fictional character will stand out in a singular way, and at other times remind me of those I’ve known.

Speaking of Emerson, it strikes me that I’ve read little of him or the other American transcendentalist tradition. From what I know, I probably would not be in entire sympathy. But Emerson has helped shape the American mind, even among those who do not remember reading him. Perhaps it is time to read some of him, perhaps to be made, or to see what I make of him.