I went to my reliable books-about-reading shelf for today’s book – well, it’s not so much a shelf as the worktop in my kitchen, because readers in small flats have to use every spare inch of space for books. I love Anne Bogel’s podcast ‘What Should I Read Next?’ and have twice (unsuccessfully) applied to appear on it. But I hadn’t yet read this little book about reading, which my dad got for my Christmas present a few years ago.
In it, Bogel does what she does on the podcast – shares an infectious love of reading. It’s not the most personal-memoir-esque book in this genre, though there are moments which reveal how books have been there for her in crises and in joyful circumstances, and a little about what reading means to all the members of her family.
Bogel casts her net a bit wider – writing in a way that is deeply true to her own life as a reader, but likely to be very similar for many readers (perhaps only some titles changed, and some ages shifted up or down a few years, and a slightly different progression of career, family, education). She writes about how books have meant different things to her at different times, how she deals with buying vs borrowing books, the first time she sobbed at a book – and the books she sobs at now, and how rewarding a reading twin can be – notably not the same as a twin who reads, but rather someone with very similar tastes to you. As I can attest, this is unlikely to be your actual twin.
I loved a couple chapters of humorous lists – one on how to organise your bookshelves, which is certainly not as straightforward as that sounds, and another on bookworm problems. Here are a couple of quotes from that chapter:
You’re at a killer used book sale and can’t remember if you already own a certain title You decide you do and come home. You were wrong and regret your lost chance. You decide you don’t and come home and shelve your newly purchased third copy. You accidentally buy two of the same book at the book sale.
And
You accept that it’s time to cull your personal library. You lovingly handle each book, determining if it brings you joy. It does. They all do. You are full of bookish joy, but still woefully short on shelf space.
I’d Rather Be Reading is a lovely little book – full of bookish joy. It isn’t as idiosyncratic or personal as some books about reading, and perhaps for that reason won’t be quite as memorable in its details – but it’s the perfect book to reassure any devoted reader that they are not an anomaly in the world, and that plenty of other people feel exactly the same.
Nice post! I just weeded some of my books. It’s always hard, but some of these I was really ready to give on.
Well done! I have a small but steady flow going out, and a much less small flow coming in!
I too live in a small flat but I’d never put anything other than utensils on my (tiny) kitchen worktop! I do understand the issues about loving every book owned, but frankly these days I don’t and with some exceptions that I’d never part with (not too small a number) I could probably remove 10% of my collection with little or no heartache. Probably I am not now a “devoted reader” in your sense. I’d be interested in reading her discussion on buying versus borrowing.
Interesting, why is the worktop so sacrosanct?
All work surfaces should be clear so that work can take place upon them. That’s my perspective anyway. My office desk is entirely free of anything other than the monitor, keyboard and mouse at the end of each day, so calming to come in to lack of clutter each morning. I am not against reading/writing etc on any appropriate surface (including a kitchen worktop) but I wouldn’t use mine as a storage area for anything other than kettle, coffee machine and coffee grinder (my kitchen is 1.6×1.6 metres in dimension).
Simon, I really enjoy your blog and am always amazed by the sheer amount that you read, especially since I believe you also have a job. When and where do you find the time to read so much?
Also, you must necessarily read rather quickly so I am wondering whether this doesn’t sometimes spoil the pleasure somewhat, prevents you from savouring the prose?
Best wishes,
Thanks very much, Lizzie! It helps that I live on my own – that adds a lot of time for reading to the day. I’ve found that I can’t really speed up or slow down my reading, which has made poetry not really work for me – but somehow it’s ok for prose. If I’m reading something really beautiful I might pause and savour!
That sounds like a lovely one. Ali is my reading twin! Although my best friend Em and I have been reading the same books together since the start of the first lockdown, so we are now, too, I suppose.
I have so many reading siblings, but not sure I’ve quite found my twin… yet!
Those two quotes most definitely hit home!
Yes, this does sound lovely.
Love those quotes! And any book about books is good for me! :D
I love this post and what it reveals about you as a reader. My two favorite podcasts are yours and Rachel’s “Tea or Books” and Anne Bogel’s “What Should I Read Next” so it was nice to see the intersection of the two in this post! How great it would be if you became a guest on Anne’s podcast. Tell her I said so!
This sounds good Simon.
I do listen to What Should I Read Next, but I have to admit to mixed feelings about it, and I have others that I prefer. I think it might be the adverts – the way Bogel sort of segues into one so that you think she’s still talking about the book, then it turns out to be shoes or suitcases.
I’m probably being unfair, as I appreciate it’s an American podcast, but sometimes it all seems just a little bit too smooth for me. On the other hand, I still download most episodes and I do enjoy hearing about her guests and their lives. The lady from Bermuda was especially fascinating, as I had never thought about the problems of getting books on an island.
And at least it’s *quiet* – I have had to turn off a few American book podcasts because the presenter(s) just seem to SHOUT all the time.
I enjoy yours & Rachel’s – which was the very first podcast (about anything) I ever found. – and after she joined you on one of your episodes, I am still hoping Kagsy/Karen will do her own podcast one day, she was excellent.
Are there any other book podcasts you can recommend?
And I do hope you’ll give us all plenty of notice if you do appear on WSIRN!