"Stories are not commodities" – such an important point that gets lost in so much discussion about books online. I did not take a Literature degree, but I have always been so alienated by the reviewing and rating of books as though they were meals or a night out. I felt there must be a better way to write about stories.
Yes! Isn’t that such an incredible feeling? When you just know in your gut that these things are not the same and there must be a better—more patience, more precise—way to talk about those feelings? I think it’s beautiful how those feelings tend to lead to amazing spaces like your reading club!
Co-signing on all of these and I think your suggested questions in No.2 would be very helpful in pushing through in No1. Just this weekend, I met a Baldwin scholar and asked her for a recommendation on what to read after absolutely loving Giovanni's Room earlier this summer. Her first question was, 'What did you love about it?'... I felt so taken aback and took a minute before I could actually answer the question. And that's actually after I had reviewed the book on my Substack... so it's not like I didn't know. But the whole interaction made me realize how much book-talk actually stops at liked it/hated it.
loved reading this. I've been challenging myself this year to stop using the word "interesting" in my own book reviews (which, to the point about reviews being BS, I post mine on Substack solely as a way to hold myself accountable to actually writing down my reflections on a book, and which essentially only my family/family read) because yes, it is empty, that's the perfect way to describe it.
thank you for sharing your learnings -- super appreciate them, having not been to grad school myself!
I’ve also been challenging myself to stop using the word interesting. I’ve noticed in online discussion groups how often I want to use it. Likely I notice less in live discussions. So diving deeper into what I actually think about a topic, argument or point of view will likely make me more insightful.
Ohhh—what a tight observation! I wonder what it is about online versus live convos that might make certain words more relevant.
I know that in my experience, I started realizing what I really thought about books or characters or stories when I pushed on “interesting” moments and looked deeper. It helped me find deeper layers of meaning, which over time, helped me become a more attuned reader.
You’re welcome! It’s so fun to write our reflections after reading and I always find that my own journal or reading notes are more valuable to me and more packed with insights the more I try to avoid empty words. The specificity is like a gift to my future self!
I love and simultaneously feel exposed by No 2 because I KNOW I love the word interesting and often use it as a filler when my mind feels a bit blank. I am going to see if I can write my whole October reads this/next week without using that word. Thanks for the challenge Haley - you'll be able to know whether I manage it or not 😆
"Stories are not commodities" – such an important point that gets lost in so much discussion about books online. I did not take a Literature degree, but I have always been so alienated by the reviewing and rating of books as though they were meals or a night out. I felt there must be a better way to write about stories.
Yes! Isn’t that such an incredible feeling? When you just know in your gut that these things are not the same and there must be a better—more patience, more precise—way to talk about those feelings? I think it’s beautiful how those feelings tend to lead to amazing spaces like your reading club!
Co-signing on all of these and I think your suggested questions in No.2 would be very helpful in pushing through in No1. Just this weekend, I met a Baldwin scholar and asked her for a recommendation on what to read after absolutely loving Giovanni's Room earlier this summer. Her first question was, 'What did you love about it?'... I felt so taken aback and took a minute before I could actually answer the question. And that's actually after I had reviewed the book on my Substack... so it's not like I didn't know. But the whole interaction made me realize how much book-talk actually stops at liked it/hated it.
This makes me think of the my most recent reading--which I did not like *at all* but whose prose and voice I very much appreciated and admired!
😏 I have an essay on Olive Moore coming out soon that is precisely about this. So excited to share with you!!
I can't wait!
Ha! That is such a good example!! And such a great question from that scholar. I hope you found some amazing answers 😍
loved reading this. I've been challenging myself this year to stop using the word "interesting" in my own book reviews (which, to the point about reviews being BS, I post mine on Substack solely as a way to hold myself accountable to actually writing down my reflections on a book, and which essentially only my family/family read) because yes, it is empty, that's the perfect way to describe it.
thank you for sharing your learnings -- super appreciate them, having not been to grad school myself!
I’ve also been challenging myself to stop using the word interesting. I’ve noticed in online discussion groups how often I want to use it. Likely I notice less in live discussions. So diving deeper into what I actually think about a topic, argument or point of view will likely make me more insightful.
Ohhh—what a tight observation! I wonder what it is about online versus live convos that might make certain words more relevant.
I know that in my experience, I started realizing what I really thought about books or characters or stories when I pushed on “interesting” moments and looked deeper. It helped me find deeper layers of meaning, which over time, helped me become a more attuned reader.
You’re welcome! It’s so fun to write our reflections after reading and I always find that my own journal or reading notes are more valuable to me and more packed with insights the more I try to avoid empty words. The specificity is like a gift to my future self!
I love and simultaneously feel exposed by No 2 because I KNOW I love the word interesting and often use it as a filler when my mind feels a bit blank. I am going to see if I can write my whole October reads this/next week without using that word. Thanks for the challenge Haley - you'll be able to know whether I manage it or not 😆
Oh that’s a fun challenge!! Excited to see how it goes!!