Dear Reader,
I’m here to introduce my new project.
But first, an ode to books. Non-fiction, fiction, children’s, cooking… I love them all. Of course I have my own genre preferences, and still an underlying awe for the written word in its many forms remains. I admire the authors who write books and the people who make them available to the public. I grew up frequenting my local libraries, which are cornerstones in our communities by holding various, complicated responsibilities.
Few things bring me more joy than browsing a local bookstore. My partner and I even had our first date at a bookstore, and we share a dream of owning one together. Participating in the Harvest Roots book club last year was one of my favorite social experiences ever. I love the company that books keep and the relationships that they foster. Their history, their smell, I could really go on… books are the best.
As I’ve aged into a babbling bibliophile, my love for reading has grown almost as substantial. At a collective level, I recognize that literacy empowers and liberates people. The vital role that reading holds in society cannot be entirely described (although this genius does a pretty good job!) Over the winter holidays, I gave my younger brother a novel that helped cultivate my love for reading when I was his age. With the gift, I wrote a note that I think reading is one of the most important acts that a person can do for themselves and for others. (With that said, please know that I really appreciate you and your time in reading my own writings!)
Here’s the thing - as essential and joyful I find reading to be, I’ve been struggling with it and see a few opportunities for change:
I’m not retaining information and reflections from reading to my fullest extent. When prompted to talk about a book, I jabber incessantly and rarely even articulate the main insights I care about the most.
I’d like to share more and integrate more of what I read out into the living world. Sharing more means connecting with others through what we’re reading. Integrating more means going beyond consumption of ideas and making an active effort to incorporate them into tangible contributions for others.
I am too distracted and preoccupied to read as often and thoroughly as I’d like to. I’m curious if some sort of creative expression and/or accountability could help in deepening my reading practice.
So, to these challenges above, and to you, I present the Reading Log. The Reading Log is a curated, structured collection of writings on what I read. At least until new ideas or feedback influence change, each log will have these components:
Book info: Details like genre, # of pages, publication date, and a link to find the book online.
Back cover: an abbreviation of the book’s description.
Discovery: how this book found me.
Impression: a few words on the book and my current interpretation of it.
Surprise: something that was unexpected.
Quote: a notable citation, without added commentary.
Standout Section: my favorite chapter or excerpt, and why.
Inspiration: a moving takeaway.
I don’t expect to track every book or for each log to be all encompassing perfection. They will be simple reflections that hopefully feel valuable for you and for me. My goal is to invite intentional reading, shared learning, and connection. If this sounds fun to you, good news - reading logs are on the way.
Either way, I hope that this note sees you well and that you find the space for your own logging.
P.S. It was a ton of fun to draw the Reading Log. I felt like an elementary school kid playing with Microsoft Paint during computer lab time.