Are you reading more or less these days?

For me, I'm reading differently.

Hi friends,

In troubling times I turn to books, do you? I mean, I always turn to books, but somehow, it’s different.

Is it fiction or non-fiction you turn to? Short passages, a novella, an essay, poetry, an epic novel?

For myself, the shorter the better. I find I just don’t have the bandwidth to absorb much more. I’ve been reading short stories these days (The Best American Short Stories 2024), Substacks from writers I admire, and poetry.

Yesterday, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I found his words to be especially soothing:

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

• From his April 1960 address at Spelman College.

And Mary Oliver seems to be another great source of solace, from her poem I Worried:

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.

And I laughed out loud at Rebecca Makkai’s Substack yesterday in which she declared: It’s Zillow Toilet Day. YES, yes it is.

It's Zillow Toilet Day

Do you know there’s a term called Healing Fiction? There is. Books that are balm for the soul. These are the books I find I’m constantly stocking, and selling, these days at the pink shop.

Books like:

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI.

The Midnight Library by MATT HAIG.

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by CARSTEN HENN.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by SHELBY VAN PELT.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by MIYE LEE.

The New York Times wrote an article on why healing fiction, long popular in Japan and Korea, and referred to as K-healers, provide comfort in chaotic times. And often, there are magical cats involved.

And more often than not, and not surprising, these stories take place in libraries and bookstores, all safe places that provide solace. Like this one, right now in Pasadena.

Another reminder that books can help.

As this writer found when he was feeling despondent recently. He wrote about it for the The Washington Post.

Before I sign off, I’ll leave you with this list of books to inspire you and lift you up in 2025 from the CBC.

“Keep your eye on the doughnut, not on the hole.”

• David Lynch

And as we’re always looking for our next great read, please leave a comment with a book that has impacted you in some way. I just finished Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (a novel-in-stories), and looking for something new, and fresh.

What should I read?

And please, as I am truly curious, do let me know, are you reading more or less these days?

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And if you’re still with me, thank you for reading friends. I appreciate you being here. And reach out, I’m always happy to hear from you. And maybe I’ll see you for our first online book club happening early March?

Books also bring people together.