I read 8 books, but half of them were novellas or short stories, so it felt like cheating. My favorite was probably Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. It's a love/hate relationship. I wanted to shake the main character Mildred, a single woman in her 30's, because she had no ambition. But I loved the writing style, Mildred's sarcastic inner monologue, and her flirtation with her smooth-talking neighbor Rocky. I'd read it all over again.

Don't think of it as hoarding. You adopted them. At least that's how I justify my choices. ;)

So much this! As a fast reader, if I slow down, I'm more likely to lose the plot. It's better to stick to my natural reading speed, then reread a specific sentence or paragraph if I need clarification.

Early on in The Moon, the Stars, and Madame Burova, Billie, a woman who's looking for her biological parents, makes friends with a piano player. In the last couple of chapters, she learns that >!he's her father!<.

It's been a while since I read The Glass Castle, but I think Walls' writing style was appropriate for the story she was trying to tell. It started from a child's perspective with a sense of immediacy.

>When I read through Goodreads reviews, there was a lot of criticism towards the author regarding how she framed the story and the innocent nostalgia and love for her parents that was present even after everything they put them through.

Maybe they were young. I read it when I was college-aged, and I couldn't believe she still loved her parents after all that. "Why not just cut them off?" I wondered. But young people sometimes see things in black and white or absolute terms. I'm going to reread this, because my opinion has probably evolved.

I love the idea of decluttering, because it leaves room for books you'll love, but I'm not sure I could limit myself to 20. 😲

That is sad. Ironically, Kanye recorded a guided meditation for Audible. But I guess it doesn't count as a book because it's spoken word and short?

Edit: Nevermind, it was Puff Daddy, not Kanye. I'm old and can't keep my celebs straight, but I'm working on that.

I think it's sad that these young men (well, maybe Kanye's no longer young) are missing out on the creativity, inspiration, exploration, and diverse perspectives that come from reading. Kanye says he'd rather have a conversation with a person, but books can be a conversation with people we can no longer reach due to death, imprisonment, or a reclusive lifestyle. If you agree or disagree with the author, you're in dialogue with their work. Kanye might also say these perspectives aren't worth considering, but we can learn a great deal from the past or from those who are walking a different path.

Finally, I wonder how strictly the three men adhered to the book-free lifestyle. Are newspapers and magazines out because they contain multiple articles? What about short stories? They talk about books and reading as a punishment, which I simply can't relate to. Did high school English turn them off? Did they read books about their professions and get bored, or have they tried fiction? So many questions.

I quite agree, which is why he shouldn't be given a second chance in the future. "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

My hardcover copy of The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. The cover design is gold and silver against a black background.

They really are. This makes me want the journal edition of Peter Pan.

Convenience Store Woman. I was happy for Keiko because she >!ditched her abusive boyfriend and embraced the life she wanted, even if it wasn't what society told her to want!<.

I used to love Gothic fiction, so I reread My Cousin Rachel and Rebecca (both by Daphne du Maurier) at least 3 times between my teens and early 30s. At first, I was drawn to the thriller/mystery aspect, as well as the moral ambiguity of the characters. Later on, I became more aware of feminist readings of the text, namely how the heroines were limited by women's gender roles at that time. Each reading opened up new layers of meaning.

Lately, I've been gravitating more towards comfort reads. I probably read The Storied Life of AJ Fikry 3 times in the last 5 years. It's a good reminder that "it takes all kinds to make a world". The main character starts out as a curmudgeon, but he still has people who love him and who soften his rough edges.

That's a solid strategy, and usually what I do, except replace step two with "search Prime reading or Kindle ebook sales".

That's a good point. Depreciation is real. Also, buying secondhand is eco-friendly.

It's been a long time since I read it, but I'd definitely agree that this was true at the end of her life. He said when he >!died that he'd see her again in her 80's, but he also told her, "Don't wait for me." And yet, she did. She stayed in the same house, never remarried, and I got the impression she'd lived for this meeting. You could argue that it was her choice, but my heart broke for her. I wanted more for her than to mourn the rest of her life!<.

No, usually it leaves me more motivated because I'm curious to see how the film differs from the book. If anything, reading afterwards enriches the film. Movies always leave something out, after all.

The sad part was that in her favorite alternate life she did >!have a great career as a philosophy professor and writer, but it was largely ignored due to the focus on motherhood!<.

No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym got me out of a slump. I had a stressful life event and didn't feel like I could process a new book, so rereading a familiar favorite was just what I needed. I finished it in 3-4 days.

I love how you described it like a romantic relationship. Lol.

I use the library most of the time, unless they don't carry the book or I find it on sale for a really good price. There's no way I could afford to buy all the books I read.