This is so spot on! It takes works to figure out what moves you, but the work is so worth it. I have come to realize that I love deep psychological studies which typically translates into super introspective, character driven novels... I am still unpacking why but it had a lot to do with how I grew up and generally being discouraged to express anything but positive emotions. So I like my books raw and my characters going THROUGH it.
I am also keeping a point of resisting the pressure of the publishing PR machine and remind myself that reading is such a life force for me and I have to do everything I can to protect that for my own sake.
It is such hard work! For me a lot of this has been figuring out why I read outside of academia and teaching, and it took me a long time to discern why I read for myself and what I even like in books! I love your personal reflections here. There’s so much self discovery and healing that can come from reading. And yes to tuning out the PR machine! It is so so loud!!
I read mostly to connect and build community. To be in conversation with the author (more abstract), other readers (directly) and the ideas themselves and their connection to the larger world.
I was originally a “comparative Literature in college. In my opinion reading books from certain times of history and genres provided me a clearer understanding of what was “really happening in those times in history” . Banning books is crazy, it warps the ability to see different perspectives and ultimately strangles the ability to understand everything about a topic.
Sara, excellent article. I discovered you when someone else shared your work and I am glad I did. Your "Why" aligns closely to my own, which informs my writing on life and literature. Thanks for sharing this insightful look into your reading life.
This was oddly illuminating for me. I have been wondering why I bother reading for years and never understood it. But now it's like a light has come on!
I read for pragmatic, not emotional reasons. My reading is consistent when I'm working becuse I can read during a commute or at work. When I'm unemployed, I don't read. (Maybe this is a nervous system thing...).
Once I have a routine I read exclusively based on content/themes, and am a mood reader as today I want to read about cults but after a few books I want to transition to memoirs about unusual topics. Reddit is instrumental in helping me find books.
I literally read to gather more information or satisfy a specific intellectual curiosity.
I love this! I'm so glad this helped something click for you. Reading to gather information and satisfy curiosity--those are such amazing reasons to read!! I also don't read for particularly emotional reasons and it took me a long time to figure that it because so many people do, which is also wonderful of course!
This was perfect! I love yoga and I do it for personal 'expansion'...that is not isolated to the body but includes the mind and the heart. This is also why I read.
This is so thought provoking Sara- and also, I feel like I now know you better as a reader! I just got back from a walk where I spent the entire time thinking about why I read:) I have to say, my first automatic response is and has always been to be entertained, but I also know I read because I'm hoping to become incredibly invested in characters. You've inspired me to dive deeper into my reasons and write more about why I read, thanks my friend!!
this is such a great way to approach reading, and i love esp how u emphasize finding what makes reading important for YOU and that that can vary w other ppl, bc i think the current state of book discourse might be losing track of this a little. tysm for sharing this!!
Clarifying the 'why' helps in so many aspects of life, and I love how you've applied it to your reading! I appreciate your specific examples here, as well as what you've discovered about your reading and yourself along the way. Pondering the 'why' before picking up a book, along with the 'what' after reading it (as in, perhaps, 'What did I gain from reading this?' or 'What am I taking away from this?'), is a powerful combo. Thank you for the thoughtful and thought-provoking post!
Loved this! I liked the part where you use the "buzz words" from reviews people write to help you shape what the book may include. So you can read a negative review that says a book is "dense" and "weird" and see it as a possible contender for your next read. It's such a great way to figure out if a book is for you vs. a book that everyone dislikes.
This is such an interesting perspective. Many of my whys overlap with yours. I too love unlikable characters, and you perfectly described their appeal.
This is so spot on! It takes works to figure out what moves you, but the work is so worth it. I have come to realize that I love deep psychological studies which typically translates into super introspective, character driven novels... I am still unpacking why but it had a lot to do with how I grew up and generally being discouraged to express anything but positive emotions. So I like my books raw and my characters going THROUGH it.
I am also keeping a point of resisting the pressure of the publishing PR machine and remind myself that reading is such a life force for me and I have to do everything I can to protect that for my own sake.
It is such hard work! For me a lot of this has been figuring out why I read outside of academia and teaching, and it took me a long time to discern why I read for myself and what I even like in books! I love your personal reflections here. There’s so much self discovery and healing that can come from reading. And yes to tuning out the PR machine! It is so so loud!!
I read mostly to connect and build community. To be in conversation with the author (more abstract), other readers (directly) and the ideas themselves and their connection to the larger world.
I love those reasons!! And I totally agree about being in conversation with the author—it’s abstract but it’s one of my favorite aspects of reading.
I was originally a “comparative Literature in college. In my opinion reading books from certain times of history and genres provided me a clearer understanding of what was “really happening in those times in history” . Banning books is crazy, it warps the ability to see different perspectives and ultimately strangles the ability to understand everything about a topic.
Sara, excellent article. I discovered you when someone else shared your work and I am glad I did. Your "Why" aligns closely to my own, which informs my writing on life and literature. Thanks for sharing this insightful look into your reading life.
Thank you so much! I'm glad it resonated with you!
This was oddly illuminating for me. I have been wondering why I bother reading for years and never understood it. But now it's like a light has come on!
I read for pragmatic, not emotional reasons. My reading is consistent when I'm working becuse I can read during a commute or at work. When I'm unemployed, I don't read. (Maybe this is a nervous system thing...).
Once I have a routine I read exclusively based on content/themes, and am a mood reader as today I want to read about cults but after a few books I want to transition to memoirs about unusual topics. Reddit is instrumental in helping me find books.
I literally read to gather more information or satisfy a specific intellectual curiosity.
I love this! I'm so glad this helped something click for you. Reading to gather information and satisfy curiosity--those are such amazing reasons to read!! I also don't read for particularly emotional reasons and it took me a long time to figure that it because so many people do, which is also wonderful of course!
This was perfect! I love yoga and I do it for personal 'expansion'...that is not isolated to the body but includes the mind and the heart. This is also why I read.
This is so thought provoking Sara- and also, I feel like I now know you better as a reader! I just got back from a walk where I spent the entire time thinking about why I read:) I have to say, my first automatic response is and has always been to be entertained, but I also know I read because I'm hoping to become incredibly invested in characters. You've inspired me to dive deeper into my reasons and write more about why I read, thanks my friend!!
I'm so glad this was thought-provoking for you!! I can't wait to learn more about why YOU read!
this is such a great way to approach reading, and i love esp how u emphasize finding what makes reading important for YOU and that that can vary w other ppl, bc i think the current state of book discourse might be losing track of this a little. tysm for sharing this!!
Yes I agree!! And it's very important to acknowledge that our reasons may be different from other people's. I'm glad you connected with this one!
Clarifying the 'why' helps in so many aspects of life, and I love how you've applied it to your reading! I appreciate your specific examples here, as well as what you've discovered about your reading and yourself along the way. Pondering the 'why' before picking up a book, along with the 'what' after reading it (as in, perhaps, 'What did I gain from reading this?' or 'What am I taking away from this?'), is a powerful combo. Thank you for the thoughtful and thought-provoking post!
So true! This can apply to so many things!
Loved this! I liked the part where you use the "buzz words" from reviews people write to help you shape what the book may include. So you can read a negative review that says a book is "dense" and "weird" and see it as a possible contender for your next read. It's such a great way to figure out if a book is for you vs. a book that everyone dislikes.
Yes! And I tend to like books that others dislike so this has been huge for me!
This is such an interesting perspective. Many of my whys overlap with yours. I too love unlikable characters, and you perfectly described their appeal.
I'm glad I'm not alone! I really love them!
Thanks for sharing this! I feel similarly about taking new popular books.
New goal: become the one who introduces you to SFF books that accomplish these things!!
Yes please!
Always here to help you find nonfiction to read…how’s that going btw 🤪
I’m reading MAGICAL/REALISM!! The audio was too confusing though but I just got a physical copy so now I can continue 😂