I’m a new member of your pod! There are so many interesting Substacks out there, but your story and your plans for this group drew me in like a moth to a flame!
This is wonderful Haley, thank you for sharing it. I’m also a recent subscriber. You drew me in with 6 lessons I learned I grad school, as Im there now for the first time in a while. I’m proud to say I’ve paused and reconsidered every time I’ve had the impulse to write interesting and dig for what is underneath. Almost all the substacks I follow are not just posts or reactionary responses but invitations to community and conversation. They make me consider new ideas and ways of thinking about things. I’m so glad to be in community here with you.
I love to read this, KJ. And I hope you're having a fantastic semester!! I love that you're pausing before you use the word "interesting." It's a good word, but it's not always the right word for what we really want to say. I'm so glad to be in community with you, too!
I am another recent-ish subsciber. I was drawn in by your detailed reading guide/ book club posts (currently working through House of Mirth!). I went to grad school for physics but my other love has always been literature. I feel like I missed out on something by not getting to study books at a deeper level in school. This substack is providing the framwork and guidance than I need to develop a greater understanding of what I read, so thank you!!
I love that you're enjoying The House of Mirth guides!! And I'm so happy this space is giving you a place to explore your love for literature. I'm excited to read together this year!
This is such a beautiful reflection! It never ceases to amaze me when our writing saves us. As a long-ish time subscriber, I can say that your words DO mean something to others and I'm so glad that you can see the power in that for yourself AND for those of us who get to read your words!
Thank you so much Jade! You are an OG subscriber and I appreciate you so much. Writing is such an amazing powerful thing. Thank you for being here and reading!!
Oh, 🥹 I love to read this!! I’ve found Substack such a beautiful place to explore voice and ideas and just to try something new with my brain. I highly recommend starting sooner rather than later—you can figure it out as you go!
Haley, I can't quite remember how I came across your stack, but I think it was something about "The House of Mirth," one of my favorite Wharton novels. When you began "The Age of Innocence," I decided to come along for the ride because I'd also been experimenting with other online read-alongs with @jvhalbrooks (especially "The Lord of the Rings," which I loved).
I'm not a book-group person, but I have discovered that these group read-alongs are really inspiring to me, as a teacher, in this age of dumbed-down reading. Reading closely, with attention, and in debate with others strikes me as a noble effort against all the forces that want to chuck a humanist approach out the window because it's not efficient enough. Reading longform fiction and nonfiction is a discipline. It's something I need to counteract all these tendencies in digital media.
We find ourselves in the writers we read — and we find ourselves in the discussions we have about great works like "Middlemarch" (including pointing to narrative flaws or other things we don't like). Thanks for doing this, Haley — truly.
Thank you. It does feel so very natural here, doesn’t it? I’m so glad I found you as your words are so pure and heartfelt.
Thank you so much for your sweet words! It does indeed feel so natural and easy around here.
I’m a new member of your pod! There are so many interesting Substacks out there, but your story and your plans for this group drew me in like a moth to a flame!
Thank you so much Debra! So glad you’re here!
Thank you for writing this ❤️
Thank you for reading it!!
🌟 💕 📚
This is wonderful Haley, thank you for sharing it. I’m also a recent subscriber. You drew me in with 6 lessons I learned I grad school, as Im there now for the first time in a while. I’m proud to say I’ve paused and reconsidered every time I’ve had the impulse to write interesting and dig for what is underneath. Almost all the substacks I follow are not just posts or reactionary responses but invitations to community and conversation. They make me consider new ideas and ways of thinking about things. I’m so glad to be in community here with you.
I love to read this, KJ. And I hope you're having a fantastic semester!! I love that you're pausing before you use the word "interesting." It's a good word, but it's not always the right word for what we really want to say. I'm so glad to be in community with you, too!
What are you studying, by the way??
Library Science which requires lots of reflective writing and reading responses.
I am another recent-ish subsciber. I was drawn in by your detailed reading guide/ book club posts (currently working through House of Mirth!). I went to grad school for physics but my other love has always been literature. I feel like I missed out on something by not getting to study books at a deeper level in school. This substack is providing the framwork and guidance than I need to develop a greater understanding of what I read, so thank you!!
I love that you're enjoying The House of Mirth guides!! And I'm so happy this space is giving you a place to explore your love for literature. I'm excited to read together this year!
Thank you so much for being here!
Thank you Amy!!
This is such a beautiful reflection! It never ceases to amaze me when our writing saves us. As a long-ish time subscriber, I can say that your words DO mean something to others and I'm so glad that you can see the power in that for yourself AND for those of us who get to read your words!
Thank you so much Jade! You are an OG subscriber and I appreciate you so much. Writing is such an amazing powerful thing. Thank you for being here and reading!!
This is so inspiring. I’m thinking about starting a Substack or a blog, and your words inspire me to do so ♥️
Oh, 🥹 I love to read this!! I’ve found Substack such a beautiful place to explore voice and ideas and just to try something new with my brain. I highly recommend starting sooner rather than later—you can figure it out as you go!
Your impulses have impressive results! 👏❤️🙏
This is lovely. I am thoroughly enjoying your work and the way you write. Thank you.
Thank you Dawn 🥹❤️
Haley, I can't quite remember how I came across your stack, but I think it was something about "The House of Mirth," one of my favorite Wharton novels. When you began "The Age of Innocence," I decided to come along for the ride because I'd also been experimenting with other online read-alongs with @jvhalbrooks (especially "The Lord of the Rings," which I loved).
I'm not a book-group person, but I have discovered that these group read-alongs are really inspiring to me, as a teacher, in this age of dumbed-down reading. Reading closely, with attention, and in debate with others strikes me as a noble effort against all the forces that want to chuck a humanist approach out the window because it's not efficient enough. Reading longform fiction and nonfiction is a discipline. It's something I need to counteract all these tendencies in digital media.
We find ourselves in the writers we read — and we find ourselves in the discussions we have about great works like "Middlemarch" (including pointing to narrative flaws or other things we don't like). Thanks for doing this, Haley — truly.