Confessions of a Reader

Observations from a year of reading intentionally

The construction paper caterpillar in front of my third-grade desk filled my 8-year-old heart with pride. My teacher had written each of our names on individual ovals, placing them side by side to cover the wall below the chalkboard. A new sticker was added with each book we read.

I was a voracious reader as a child; I loved picture books, sibling stories, and Shel Silverstein poems. Eventually, my stickers overlapped as I read more books than probably any other child in my class.

Years later, I read the books all the other girls read, like Flowers in the Attic (do not recommend). I read the books the boys read, like The Lord of the Rings series (highly recommend).

By junior year of high school, the demands of my homework exceeded my mental bandwidth, so reading for pleasure took a back seat to reading to acquire knowledge.

Work and then motherhood made reading for pleasure seem impossible. Each night I re-read the page from the night before. I could not keep my eyes open long enough to turn the page.

As the children grew up, I found more time to rediscover my first love. Unfortunately, my attention span had greatly diminished during the intervening years.

With more time on my hands, I could do silly things like scroll through Instagram and Pinterest.

In search of a New Year’s Resolution for 2024, I discovered that some people keep track of the books they read in a journal. What a great use for an unused notebook, I thought. And possibly a return to my caterpillar days.

So, on January 1, 2024, I completed my first book of the year, dutifully noting the title (Take What You Need), author (Idra Novey), and rating (4/5). I did not include a summary, so I have no memory of the book’s plot.

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My Discoveries from My Year of Reading Intentionally:

1. Book covers/descriptions are like people, sometimes, what is on the outside does not reflect what is on the inside.

2. I enjoy discovering books other people are not talking about. I borrowed 371 books from the library.

3. I finished 109 books in 2024. I believe that Digital, Audio, and Hard copies are all reading.

4. Life is too short to read a book that does not resonate with the emotional state in which I find myself on that particular day. (Here is your permission slip to quit as many books as it takes to find the right one for you. This should be a bookmark!)

5. There was something satisfying about finishing a book, adding it to the journal, and rating it. I don’t like habit trackers, but I love adding titles to my book journal.

6. I like reading physical books in the morning that inspire me to live contemplatively/thoughtfully. Audiobooks are perfect to listen to while exercising, driving, or cleaning. Digital books are fabulous for reading in bed or on a plane.

7. There are few things better than getting lost in a story, especially if you feel like you would be friends with the characters in real life.

8. I empathize with people whose life experience differs vastly from mine because of reading their stories.

9. Books are a balm for the soul when the world feels like it is on fire.

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After a year of reading intentionally, I’m inspired to experiment with writing fiction. I’m learning about the craft of writing and researching the backgrounds of my characters. For now, the story in my mind will not be shared with an audience.

Creating fictional characters is bringing me peace of mind. Their story has yet to be fully discovered, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know them better.

In the coming months, would you like to hear more about my year of reading intentionally?

Would you like book recommendations? Maybe a how-to guide for finding new books or ideas about starting a book club?

If so, let me know in the comments.

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Epilogue

Life feels topsy-turvy. I spent the morning listening to Martin Luther King deliver a speech entitled, Where do We Go From Here while avoiding the news and emails.

Are you sensing a shift too?

Another aspect of my year of reading that I did not mention above was that reading intentionally allowed me to follow my curiosity on topics that required deeper thinking.

Life is nuanced and a book-length deep dive is required to understand topics that are not as black and white as some might suggest you should believe.

Consequently, I have many thoughts about the emergence of Christian Nationalism, the shift in democratic and cultural norms, the impact of dehumanizing political rhetoric, and the potential demise of the rule of law.

I have not shared these thoughts because I’m not sure any of my readers are as interested in these topics as I am. There are a lot of very smart people and other places to turn for insights in these areas. But, on the off chance you’re interested in entering this conversation, please let me know in the comments.