I find that I depend more and more on people like you to recommend books that are outside my comfort zone. I never thought of the comparison to algorithms in the series after series of books that seem like the same book with a different title. Thank you and keep up the good work.
I love surprise in my reading and I've tried to take steps this year to add more surprise to my reading life.
I do have a thought about this: "we need to let go of the idea that a good reading life is one in which we like every book we read." I love this statement, but would like to tweak it a bit for myself. For me, I'd like it to be "we need to let go of the idea that a good reading life is one in which we like every book we TRY." I love the idea of being open to trying books that may not, on the surface, check all your reading boxes, but having the freedom to quit them if they aren't working. Two personal examples of books I tried even though I didn't think they'd work for me are Tomorrow x3 and Demon Copperhead...and I LOVED both.
On the flip side, I tried Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle this year despite it having ghosts and magical realism (2 things that don't generally work for me) and didn't like it once I got into it, so I was thrilled to have the freedom to put it down.
I meant to add that I thought about this very thing when you talked about the new Annie Hartnett book! Good thing we don't let algorithms dictate our reading, because it probably wouldn't have served up that road trip book for you!
Absolutely! I mean, I would've picked up the Annie Hartnett no matter what b/c I've loved her previous books, BUT I may not have if I hadn't had previous experience with her!
This is such a good addendum! I think one of the reasons some readers shy away from trying things they're uncertain about is a feeling that it's necessary to finish every book we start. Having the freedom to put something aside can definitely increase our willingness to get out of our comfort zones and make more room for surprise!
I love when a book surprises me. I think switching up genres, trying new authors and ignoring the hype can often lead to great experiences. I also think book clubs can provide opportunities to pick up a book you may not have otherwise.
So true, Katie! I especially love you're point about book clubs. I know some readers don't like them because they don't like being told what to read, but I love the opportunity to try something I might never have gravitated towards otherwise!
To be fair, I read a lot! If I read a lot less than I do, I might feel more pressure to like everything I read. I also know that for people getting back into reading, it's easy to get stuck on a book they're not liking. So it's all relative, but I do think a willingness to try new things makes for the very best reading lives!
I know this is not the point but you are SO MUCH MORE than a "professional book recommender". You are a true book critic/analyst in the real sense of the words. I read books just to read them with you and learn!! (That said, I don't struggle so much with reading ruts and a lot of that relates to the last statement - I like to read with people and I read with so many different individuals/groups with different tastes that it naturally mixes up what comes my way and I love that even when the book is difficult or not for me.)
Great piece as always. I’m guilty of suffering nostalgia, by which I mean if a certain type of book read at a certain time made me feel a certain way, I find myself wanting to replicate that feeling. So I’ll try to force it rather than letting it come naturally. For example, a bunch of readers I know have been discovering Sarah Waters for the first time and it had me nostalgic for all the times I read a Sarah Waters historical fiction novel cosied up in London on a rainy day. So then I madly went looking for historical fiction novels that felt like Sarah Waters, except that I’m not in the older feeling streets of London, I’m in modern Sydney by the beach, and none of the books worked because they WEREN’T Sarah Waters. I find “comp” titles hard for that reason, and would rather try to be better at opening myself up to new memories and reading experiences than chasing old ones. If that makes sense 🤣
This makes total sense!! I am the same way. And I've found that comp titles almost never do it for me. They might be fine, but they're rarely delightful. I'm trying to remind myself that the times I actually re-experience those feelings are the times I don't try to control it. But it's hard!! I want my next POSSESSION already!
Right or wrong, i do not like Books set prior to 1900. I do not understand why but I just don’t. So my big surprise were Isola and many years ago when I discovered John Jakes and the Kent Family Chronicles and North and South. And I think it’s hilarious that if asked, I will tell anyone I do not like historical fiction. Yet, I read so many back list books published in years between 1970 and 2000 and they’re considered historical fiction now. even the books set in present day. I am not sure if this book series qualifies for your interest in mysteries that are solved through research but my suggestion would be the Lincoln rhyme series.
It sounds like you know what you like but have taken a few risks that lead to positive surprises. I think that's great! And I will definitely look into the series you recommended. Maybe it will be my next great surprise!
Yes to all of this. Reminds me of how Liz enjoyed When The Moon Hits Your Eye last month!
As a TBR super-planner, I think this manifests for me as having no room in the schedule for mood reading. That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m focusing on undigging from netgalley this month so I can hopefully make some changes next month!
1 I actually have been frustrated lately with music because I can't find new things that I like. It all feels the same and I'm bored with it. I want to find some way of going back to listening to random radio stations until something catches my ear and then searching out an album that I may love or it may be that the song I heard is the only one I even tolerate. 😂 But the process of discovery is one I miss.
2 I am glad we don't have any such reading/book algorithm yet. Last year, I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. I would never have finished it without the book club. I don't think I'd ever have even picked it up. Yet I can still think of things that the book elucidated for me in new ways, things I felt I learned from it, and the way it made me have complex feelings that are much like how complex life feelings can be, but I'm a way that is easier to examine and dissect because of the relative distance I can place between myself and the feelings, since they are "just" about the book. Only accessing books that pander to my enjoyment would deprive me of such experiences.
I think it depends on what you want from your reading life. Comfort and escapism into the familiar are perfectly fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with reading only what you know you’ll enjoy. If you have a lot of stress in your life or a lot of problems, the familiarity in your reading choices might be all that’s giving you a few hours of peace.
Having said that, I also think that there is beauty to be found in variety. I will never say that there is a genre I won’t try or that I don’t like. There are tropes I don’t like. I don’t have any desire to read anything with body horror and gore or where cheating is a major plot point. But that’s about it. I read fairly widely. Mysteries are my home base and comfort area. However, I also love to read classics and lit fic. I have enjoyed quite a lot of romance, and I love fantasy AND Romantasy. I don’t believe in writing off any genre as being “beneath me” to read, and I’ve found some of my favorite books that way. Different genres for different moods. I can have Wuthering Height, Persuasion, Jane Eyre and Bleak House in my favorites list alongside ACOTAR and the From Blood and Ash series. They all mean a lot to me for very different reasons. I can love The Essex Serpent alongside The Thirteenth Tale and LOTR. Half the fun of reading is wandering into a bookstore, picking up something that sounds interesting, regardless of what section you’re in, and going into it with an open mind - just being along for the ride. I enjoy my reading life immensely that way.
I don’t think every book needs to be a five star read. I just read a Romantasy where I have both books currently out 2 stars. I learned a lot about what I don’t like from reading it. Reading books that end up not being to our taste can help us learn our taste. Refine our taste. And to me, that’s the real “hacking” of the reading life. Continually expanding and relearning your taste - because it can and does change. And reading across the genre scale can be a great way to track the changes in who you are as a person, what matters to you in a specific moment in time. I find that I depend less and less on social media for recommendations now. I do go to it to see what books are coming out that I may not be familiar with, and if they sound interesting, I’ll try them regardless of whether or not the other person likes it. And almost every weekend, I’m wandering a bookstore, just exploring. I’ve had a lot more success that way! I’m sorry for the rambling comment. I just love talking about books and reading. Lol
You're reading life sounds idyllic, Tina! So much variety and so much room for surprise. And I loved learning about some of your favorites! Your comment helped me distinguish between what I think of as self-reflection on taste vs. "hacking" our reading lives. It seems to me like you have a really good handle on what you like and don't like, but you know that can evolve and you give yourself a lot of opportunity for discovery because you find books organically. When I think of "hacking" the reading life I think of gathering as much data as possible before starting a book...looking up tropes, imprint, how many stars on Goodreads, who likes it on social media, etc. before committing to reading it. For me, this sort of data-driven decision making is what leads to trying to hack our reading lives and remove any surprise from the equation.
I like this distinction between cultivating taste and hacking. Cultivating taste can also help expand/broaden your reading life when you are able to identify something as “not to my taste” and be open minded enough to try it anyway precisely because it may surprise you. I am not always in the mood to do this, but I sometimes like to try things I usually don’t like just to see if I’m wrong, if my tastes changed, or if this one can surprise me. For instance, I am fairly confident in my distaste for fantasy. But last weekend after discussing with someone who loves fantasy about why they love it, I found myself browsing the bookstore’s fantasy section looking for something that could prove me wrong or challenge my preconceived opinions.
That's a great point, some of my most enjoyable reading experiences have been when I read something in a genre that was totally new to me, and yet I'm always trying to replicate experiences I've had before.
Love this essay! I find for me I'm super eclectic/scattered about my reading and don't really do TBRs. I think that's because as a lawyer I bill by the hour and in my marathon training and other running, I feel like i have to hold myself accountable to my training plans. So with all the kind of built in routine in my life, I like having a hobby that's much more random where I'm bouncing between genres and not planning far ahead what I'm going to read. I still try to be rigorous about seeking out books that will challenge and expand my worldview and especially making sure I read diversely, it's just much more ad hoc in terms of selection.
YES! My favorite reading experiences are always the ones that are somewhat unexpected or surprising and really the only way to have those experiences are to take chances.
The intersection of social media/algorithms and capitalism and the impact to our culture and consumption is something I think about frequently. I find it both horrifying and fascinating. I actually just listened to the Plain English episode and really appreciated the convo.
There is just SO MUCH media out there to be consumed. I'm lousy with book recommendations and my TBR is forever overflowing, which is not a terrible problem to have, but the way we discover books (or any other media) is so different now, it's like an algorithm is required to sort through the overwhelming options. The art of random/intentional discovery is definitely being lost in many ways and I don't think we collectively think much about that trade off.
Yes I completely agree. I'm trying to pay more attention to how technology is impacting all aspects of my life and self. It's scary and overwhelming, but being conscious of it makes me feel more human!
I'm reading a year-long list (and actually podcasting about it), and one of the reasons I started it is because I felt like my reading life had gotten so stagnant. Also, that stupid phone has interfered with my attention span and I'm trying to reclaim it. I have definitely not liked all the books on the list but I think I only think one so far has been a real waste of my time. And sometimes you have to discover what you don't like, too.
These dumb algorithms are definitely killing the possibility of delight. That MIGHT be their biggest shortcoming.
I love all of this - everyone’s thoughts are so relatable. I’m a librarian, and it is always fascinating that when people request a recommendation they say they don’t like a specific genre, but their listed favorite books are within that genre. This is also something that affects me! I love having an online community that exposes me to books I’d never otherwise pick up; it’s probably the best thing about being online. And, I think I’m a more thoughtful chooser of books as a result.
I try to read with the seasons and the histories we try to commemorate to vary it up and keep me reading a wide breadth of subjects. (ex: Every February I read a book by a black author. Every March I read a book by a female comedian. Every July I go for a light-hearted travel book. Every October I go for something scary.) They aren't all winners, but it keeps it fresh for me.
As for the last book that surprised me, I'm finishing a book a friend recommended, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James W Loewen, and was thoroughly surprised and awakened by it!
I find that I depend more and more on people like you to recommend books that are outside my comfort zone. I never thought of the comparison to algorithms in the series after series of books that seem like the same book with a different title. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thanks, Ellen! I'm grateful for this space because I get so many recommendations from real humans here too. Glad we can all help each other!
I love surprise in my reading and I've tried to take steps this year to add more surprise to my reading life.
I do have a thought about this: "we need to let go of the idea that a good reading life is one in which we like every book we read." I love this statement, but would like to tweak it a bit for myself. For me, I'd like it to be "we need to let go of the idea that a good reading life is one in which we like every book we TRY." I love the idea of being open to trying books that may not, on the surface, check all your reading boxes, but having the freedom to quit them if they aren't working. Two personal examples of books I tried even though I didn't think they'd work for me are Tomorrow x3 and Demon Copperhead...and I LOVED both.
On the flip side, I tried Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle this year despite it having ghosts and magical realism (2 things that don't generally work for me) and didn't like it once I got into it, so I was thrilled to have the freedom to put it down.
I meant to add that I thought about this very thing when you talked about the new Annie Hartnett book! Good thing we don't let algorithms dictate our reading, because it probably wouldn't have served up that road trip book for you!
Absolutely! I mean, I would've picked up the Annie Hartnett no matter what b/c I've loved her previous books, BUT I may not have if I hadn't had previous experience with her!
This is such a good addendum! I think one of the reasons some readers shy away from trying things they're uncertain about is a feeling that it's necessary to finish every book we start. Having the freedom to put something aside can definitely increase our willingness to get out of our comfort zones and make more room for surprise!
I love when a book surprises me. I think switching up genres, trying new authors and ignoring the hype can often lead to great experiences. I also think book clubs can provide opportunities to pick up a book you may not have otherwise.
So true, Katie! I especially love you're point about book clubs. I know some readers don't like them because they don't like being told what to read, but I love the opportunity to try something I might never have gravitated towards otherwise!
“we need to let go of the idea that a good reading life is one in which we like every book we read” Guilty! Your thoughts here are most helpful!
To be fair, I read a lot! If I read a lot less than I do, I might feel more pressure to like everything I read. I also know that for people getting back into reading, it's easy to get stuck on a book they're not liking. So it's all relative, but I do think a willingness to try new things makes for the very best reading lives!
I know this is not the point but you are SO MUCH MORE than a "professional book recommender". You are a true book critic/analyst in the real sense of the words. I read books just to read them with you and learn!! (That said, I don't struggle so much with reading ruts and a lot of that relates to the last statement - I like to read with people and I read with so many different individuals/groups with different tastes that it naturally mixes up what comes my way and I love that even when the book is difficult or not for me.)
Thank you, Melissa! This really means a lot to me.
Great piece as always. I’m guilty of suffering nostalgia, by which I mean if a certain type of book read at a certain time made me feel a certain way, I find myself wanting to replicate that feeling. So I’ll try to force it rather than letting it come naturally. For example, a bunch of readers I know have been discovering Sarah Waters for the first time and it had me nostalgic for all the times I read a Sarah Waters historical fiction novel cosied up in London on a rainy day. So then I madly went looking for historical fiction novels that felt like Sarah Waters, except that I’m not in the older feeling streets of London, I’m in modern Sydney by the beach, and none of the books worked because they WEREN’T Sarah Waters. I find “comp” titles hard for that reason, and would rather try to be better at opening myself up to new memories and reading experiences than chasing old ones. If that makes sense 🤣
This makes total sense!! I am the same way. And I've found that comp titles almost never do it for me. They might be fine, but they're rarely delightful. I'm trying to remind myself that the times I actually re-experience those feelings are the times I don't try to control it. But it's hard!! I want my next POSSESSION already!
Right or wrong, i do not like Books set prior to 1900. I do not understand why but I just don’t. So my big surprise were Isola and many years ago when I discovered John Jakes and the Kent Family Chronicles and North and South. And I think it’s hilarious that if asked, I will tell anyone I do not like historical fiction. Yet, I read so many back list books published in years between 1970 and 2000 and they’re considered historical fiction now. even the books set in present day. I am not sure if this book series qualifies for your interest in mysteries that are solved through research but my suggestion would be the Lincoln rhyme series.
It sounds like you know what you like but have taken a few risks that lead to positive surprises. I think that's great! And I will definitely look into the series you recommended. Maybe it will be my next great surprise!
I never thought to mention that I was also surprised by the book The Madstone as it was a western which I thought I would never read.
Yes to all of this. Reminds me of how Liz enjoyed When The Moon Hits Your Eye last month!
As a TBR super-planner, I think this manifests for me as having no room in the schedule for mood reading. That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’m focusing on undigging from netgalley this month so I can hopefully make some changes next month!
I love that for you! I will never get out of my NetGalley grave so I'm jealous! I can't wait to hear where your mood reading takes you this summer!
2 things:
1 I actually have been frustrated lately with music because I can't find new things that I like. It all feels the same and I'm bored with it. I want to find some way of going back to listening to random radio stations until something catches my ear and then searching out an album that I may love or it may be that the song I heard is the only one I even tolerate. 😂 But the process of discovery is one I miss.
2 I am glad we don't have any such reading/book algorithm yet. Last year, I read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. I would never have finished it without the book club. I don't think I'd ever have even picked it up. Yet I can still think of things that the book elucidated for me in new ways, things I felt I learned from it, and the way it made me have complex feelings that are much like how complex life feelings can be, but I'm a way that is easier to examine and dissect because of the relative distance I can place between myself and the feelings, since they are "just" about the book. Only accessing books that pander to my enjoyment would deprive me of such experiences.
Yes! It is so hard to find new music! I'm thankful we're not all the way there with books yet!
I think it depends on what you want from your reading life. Comfort and escapism into the familiar are perfectly fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with reading only what you know you’ll enjoy. If you have a lot of stress in your life or a lot of problems, the familiarity in your reading choices might be all that’s giving you a few hours of peace.
Having said that, I also think that there is beauty to be found in variety. I will never say that there is a genre I won’t try or that I don’t like. There are tropes I don’t like. I don’t have any desire to read anything with body horror and gore or where cheating is a major plot point. But that’s about it. I read fairly widely. Mysteries are my home base and comfort area. However, I also love to read classics and lit fic. I have enjoyed quite a lot of romance, and I love fantasy AND Romantasy. I don’t believe in writing off any genre as being “beneath me” to read, and I’ve found some of my favorite books that way. Different genres for different moods. I can have Wuthering Height, Persuasion, Jane Eyre and Bleak House in my favorites list alongside ACOTAR and the From Blood and Ash series. They all mean a lot to me for very different reasons. I can love The Essex Serpent alongside The Thirteenth Tale and LOTR. Half the fun of reading is wandering into a bookstore, picking up something that sounds interesting, regardless of what section you’re in, and going into it with an open mind - just being along for the ride. I enjoy my reading life immensely that way.
I don’t think every book needs to be a five star read. I just read a Romantasy where I have both books currently out 2 stars. I learned a lot about what I don’t like from reading it. Reading books that end up not being to our taste can help us learn our taste. Refine our taste. And to me, that’s the real “hacking” of the reading life. Continually expanding and relearning your taste - because it can and does change. And reading across the genre scale can be a great way to track the changes in who you are as a person, what matters to you in a specific moment in time. I find that I depend less and less on social media for recommendations now. I do go to it to see what books are coming out that I may not be familiar with, and if they sound interesting, I’ll try them regardless of whether or not the other person likes it. And almost every weekend, I’m wandering a bookstore, just exploring. I’ve had a lot more success that way! I’m sorry for the rambling comment. I just love talking about books and reading. Lol
You're reading life sounds idyllic, Tina! So much variety and so much room for surprise. And I loved learning about some of your favorites! Your comment helped me distinguish between what I think of as self-reflection on taste vs. "hacking" our reading lives. It seems to me like you have a really good handle on what you like and don't like, but you know that can evolve and you give yourself a lot of opportunity for discovery because you find books organically. When I think of "hacking" the reading life I think of gathering as much data as possible before starting a book...looking up tropes, imprint, how many stars on Goodreads, who likes it on social media, etc. before committing to reading it. For me, this sort of data-driven decision making is what leads to trying to hack our reading lives and remove any surprise from the equation.
I like this distinction between cultivating taste and hacking. Cultivating taste can also help expand/broaden your reading life when you are able to identify something as “not to my taste” and be open minded enough to try it anyway precisely because it may surprise you. I am not always in the mood to do this, but I sometimes like to try things I usually don’t like just to see if I’m wrong, if my tastes changed, or if this one can surprise me. For instance, I am fairly confident in my distaste for fantasy. But last weekend after discussing with someone who loves fantasy about why they love it, I found myself browsing the bookstore’s fantasy section looking for something that could prove me wrong or challenge my preconceived opinions.
That's a great point, some of my most enjoyable reading experiences have been when I read something in a genre that was totally new to me, and yet I'm always trying to replicate experiences I've had before.
Yes! You summed up my experience perfectly!!
Love this essay! I find for me I'm super eclectic/scattered about my reading and don't really do TBRs. I think that's because as a lawyer I bill by the hour and in my marathon training and other running, I feel like i have to hold myself accountable to my training plans. So with all the kind of built in routine in my life, I like having a hobby that's much more random where I'm bouncing between genres and not planning far ahead what I'm going to read. I still try to be rigorous about seeking out books that will challenge and expand my worldview and especially making sure I read diversely, it's just much more ad hoc in terms of selection.
How wonderful that reading is where you can be free and spontaneous!!
YES! My favorite reading experiences are always the ones that are somewhat unexpected or surprising and really the only way to have those experiences are to take chances.
The intersection of social media/algorithms and capitalism and the impact to our culture and consumption is something I think about frequently. I find it both horrifying and fascinating. I actually just listened to the Plain English episode and really appreciated the convo.
There is just SO MUCH media out there to be consumed. I'm lousy with book recommendations and my TBR is forever overflowing, which is not a terrible problem to have, but the way we discover books (or any other media) is so different now, it's like an algorithm is required to sort through the overwhelming options. The art of random/intentional discovery is definitely being lost in many ways and I don't think we collectively think much about that trade off.
Yes I completely agree. I'm trying to pay more attention to how technology is impacting all aspects of my life and self. It's scary and overwhelming, but being conscious of it makes me feel more human!
I'm reading a year-long list (and actually podcasting about it), and one of the reasons I started it is because I felt like my reading life had gotten so stagnant. Also, that stupid phone has interfered with my attention span and I'm trying to reclaim it. I have definitely not liked all the books on the list but I think I only think one so far has been a real waste of my time. And sometimes you have to discover what you don't like, too.
These dumb algorithms are definitely killing the possibility of delight. That MIGHT be their biggest shortcoming.
I love this project, Cheryl! Is your podcast hosted on Substack? I'd love to listen!
I use a different platform to host and it’s on Apple and Spotify (and others that are far less used!). But I post links here every week!
I love all of this - everyone’s thoughts are so relatable. I’m a librarian, and it is always fascinating that when people request a recommendation they say they don’t like a specific genre, but their listed favorite books are within that genre. This is also something that affects me! I love having an online community that exposes me to books I’d never otherwise pick up; it’s probably the best thing about being online. And, I think I’m a more thoughtful chooser of books as a result.
Haha yes! This is me! I'm glad to know I'm not alone, and I'm also very grateful for the recommendations and connections I find here.
I try to read with the seasons and the histories we try to commemorate to vary it up and keep me reading a wide breadth of subjects. (ex: Every February I read a book by a black author. Every March I read a book by a female comedian. Every July I go for a light-hearted travel book. Every October I go for something scary.) They aren't all winners, but it keeps it fresh for me.
As for the last book that surprised me, I'm finishing a book a friend recommended, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James W Loewen, and was thoroughly surprised and awakened by it!
I love this method!