I loved this and say yes, go for it if that is what you want to write about! Nobody will take you to task for not sticking exactly, post after post, to your original niche and format. It can be good to change and after all, this is your space!
I checked "I'm a bookworm" because "I'm book-curious" seemed to fit less, but the better answer would be I used to be a bookworm, but I'm no longer one.
Like you, I was brought up by educators in a house filled with books. I was reading by the age of four, reading novels in late grade school, and I overall read voraciously all through my schooling, including university because I was an English major and French minor. So I spent my undergraduate years lovingly reading more and more books.
But as time is finite, and as I am someone who needs to sleep, a lot of other activities cut into my reading time. I never stopped reading, but it became less of a priority. So I think I have fallen into the category of "a reader" rather than "a bookworm", but unlike some, I'm not always saying "I need to read more". I'm still always reading something, but don't get as much reading done. And I'm fine with that.
Thanks a lot for your perspective, Betty! I thought after posting about adding a "reader" button on that poll, which was a slap dash one at best. I've also been thinking a lot about the spectrum of readers, which this post didn't adequately cover because I was focused on my own experience. I'm glad that you've found a rhythm that works for you at this stage and feel good about it! I also don't think "bookworm" status needs to depend on volume of reading as much as attention to reading. If you're always reading something as a matter of course, even slowly, I think that's what I'm getting at with this label. But it's just a label and doesn't matter.
Oh, and -- if you're interested in meeting other real-life readers in your area, I recommend Silent Book Club. Unlike most book clubs, you bring your own book and read whatever you want, then talk about it briefly with the other folks gathered there. I checked for BYU on the Silent Book Club site and it looks like the Springville Public LIbrary hosts one.
This post makes me so happy! I always read your substack but rarely comment because the (usually beautiful) world you present would not benefit from my blah blah blah droning away in the background. But on *this* topic -- I am totally with you on the bookworm lifestyle, neurological rewards etc etc. And though I already read your comments on GR, I'd be happy to find more of them here.
I'm so glad to hear from you, Justin! Seriously, you shouldn't worry about being boring when commenting, any friendly comment warms my heart. I'm looking forward to chatting more books with you--and also thanks so much for becoming a paid subscriber, what an honor!
Anne, I just knew you were a kindred spirit. I’ve always been a bookworm myself and I think you have done a beautiful job of describing what it is to be a lover of books and reading. I’m delighted to hear that you will be writing about books in this substack. Your teaser includes several books on my TBR list and I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on them.
I, too, was a bookworm up until my undergraduate workload ate up my reading time, and I've been trying to make time for it again since finishing grad school. My wife, like you, zips through audiobooks at a much higher rate than I work through physical books. We'd both be happy to hear more about what you're reading and what you think about it all!
If you're open to using a book tracking app that isn't directly connected to Amazon and the many, many problems it's contributing to in the world, we've liked StoryGraph so far! It was pretty easy to transfer all our goodreads data over and I personally like that it's ad-free. If you or other readers/bookworms know of other good book tracking apps, I'm all ears :)
Thanks for chiming in, J! It sounds like the school-induced reading hiatus is a common experience, a shame really.
As for Amazon/goodreads, it’s definitely a dilemma for me. I tried StoryGraph and it seems like a decent tracking app but it couldn’t compete in terms of community and access to so many other reviewers. I also use Audible and kindle and have struggled to wean myself off. But I’m still thinking about it.
As you know, I am a bookworm and I also mostly gave up reading during university because my brain was on word overload - I watched films instead. I say mostly because I did read some lighter works, but I couldn't manage most classic literature or any non-fiction outside of school work.
I like your concept of collecting books not through owning, but reading them. Yes, I'm that kind of book collector - space necessitates that I be very choosy about the books on my shelf, but I want to read everything that is good.
It’s painful to think about not having bandwidth for reading now, but we got through it I guess! I so appreciate your book thoughts Holly, I’m glad you’re sharing them here.
I loved this and say yes, go for it if that is what you want to write about! Nobody will take you to task for not sticking exactly, post after post, to your original niche and format. It can be good to change and after all, this is your space!
I checked "I'm a bookworm" because "I'm book-curious" seemed to fit less, but the better answer would be I used to be a bookworm, but I'm no longer one.
Like you, I was brought up by educators in a house filled with books. I was reading by the age of four, reading novels in late grade school, and I overall read voraciously all through my schooling, including university because I was an English major and French minor. So I spent my undergraduate years lovingly reading more and more books.
But as time is finite, and as I am someone who needs to sleep, a lot of other activities cut into my reading time. I never stopped reading, but it became less of a priority. So I think I have fallen into the category of "a reader" rather than "a bookworm", but unlike some, I'm not always saying "I need to read more". I'm still always reading something, but don't get as much reading done. And I'm fine with that.
Thanks a lot for your perspective, Betty! I thought after posting about adding a "reader" button on that poll, which was a slap dash one at best. I've also been thinking a lot about the spectrum of readers, which this post didn't adequately cover because I was focused on my own experience. I'm glad that you've found a rhythm that works for you at this stage and feel good about it! I also don't think "bookworm" status needs to depend on volume of reading as much as attention to reading. If you're always reading something as a matter of course, even slowly, I think that's what I'm getting at with this label. But it's just a label and doesn't matter.
Oh, and -- if you're interested in meeting other real-life readers in your area, I recommend Silent Book Club. Unlike most book clubs, you bring your own book and read whatever you want, then talk about it briefly with the other folks gathered there. I checked for BYU on the Silent Book Club site and it looks like the Springville Public LIbrary hosts one.
Oh cool, I hadn't heard of that!
This post makes me so happy! I always read your substack but rarely comment because the (usually beautiful) world you present would not benefit from my blah blah blah droning away in the background. But on *this* topic -- I am totally with you on the bookworm lifestyle, neurological rewards etc etc. And though I already read your comments on GR, I'd be happy to find more of them here.
I'm so glad to hear from you, Justin! Seriously, you shouldn't worry about being boring when commenting, any friendly comment warms my heart. I'm looking forward to chatting more books with you--and also thanks so much for becoming a paid subscriber, what an honor!
Anne, I just knew you were a kindred spirit. I’ve always been a bookworm myself and I think you have done a beautiful job of describing what it is to be a lover of books and reading. I’m delighted to hear that you will be writing about books in this substack. Your teaser includes several books on my TBR list and I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on them.
So lovely to hear that, Alison! I’m looking forward to more book chats!
So much of a bookworm that seconds before I found your post, I was listening to a Radio 4 programme called How Reading Made Us https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002sdyn?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile (probably only available in UK) and pondering whether my next post needed to be about reading.😅
Looks like I can access the radio episode—thanks for sharing!
Fantastic 😊
Love it!
I, too, was a bookworm up until my undergraduate workload ate up my reading time, and I've been trying to make time for it again since finishing grad school. My wife, like you, zips through audiobooks at a much higher rate than I work through physical books. We'd both be happy to hear more about what you're reading and what you think about it all!
If you're open to using a book tracking app that isn't directly connected to Amazon and the many, many problems it's contributing to in the world, we've liked StoryGraph so far! It was pretty easy to transfer all our goodreads data over and I personally like that it's ad-free. If you or other readers/bookworms know of other good book tracking apps, I'm all ears :)
Thanks for chiming in, J! It sounds like the school-induced reading hiatus is a common experience, a shame really.
As for Amazon/goodreads, it’s definitely a dilemma for me. I tried StoryGraph and it seems like a decent tracking app but it couldn’t compete in terms of community and access to so many other reviewers. I also use Audible and kindle and have struggled to wean myself off. But I’m still thinking about it.
Looking forward to talking more books!
As you know, I am a bookworm and I also mostly gave up reading during university because my brain was on word overload - I watched films instead. I say mostly because I did read some lighter works, but I couldn't manage most classic literature or any non-fiction outside of school work.
I like your concept of collecting books not through owning, but reading them. Yes, I'm that kind of book collector - space necessitates that I be very choosy about the books on my shelf, but I want to read everything that is good.
It’s painful to think about not having bandwidth for reading now, but we got through it I guess! I so appreciate your book thoughts Holly, I’m glad you’re sharing them here.