Reading Life #12: How talking about books has changed the way I read
It's vastly improved my reading life
This is Reading Life, a monthly series featuring a short essay on reading reflections, tips, and the bookish life. Start finding book recommendations you love by upgrading to paid today!
A few weeks ago, my local book club met. It was a windy and rainy evening, and the seven of us gathered around a table at a local brewery to chat about a buzzy new release. As usual, reviews were mixed, and we chatted about what we liked and didn't like in the book.
I was on the team that didn't love it, but I enjoyed hearing from other folks about their takeaways and impressions. We wrapped up our conversation, said our goodbyes, and I got in my car to drive home.Â
On the way home, I thought about how I wouldn't have sat through that discussion five years ago. I would have thought, "That was a bad book, and I didn't like it," not seeking out any other opinions or bothering to think about why I didn't like it. Talk about signs of progress as a reader!
When I started talking about books on the internet six years ago, I was not a social reader. I viewed it as a solitary activity, and the idea of book clubs did not appeal to me. But then I started sharing about my reading life online,