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Reading through the Night
Reading through the Night | Jane Tompkins
12 posts | 1 read | 6 to read
Jane Tompkins, a renowned literature professor and award-winning author, thought she knew what reading was until, struck by a debilitating illness, she finds herself reading day and night because it is all she can do. A lifelong lover of books, she realizes for the first time that if you pay close attention to your reactions as you read, literature can become a path of self-discovery. Tompkinss inner journey begins when she becomes captivated unexpectedly by an account of friendship between two writers to whom shed given little thought, Paul Theroux and V. S. Naipaul. Therouxs memoir launches her on a path of introspection that stretches back to the first weeks of her life in a Bronx hospital, and forward to her relationship with her mother and the structure of her present marriage. Her reading experience, intensified by the feelings of powerlessness and loss of self that come with chronic illness, expands to include writers such as Henning Mankell and Ann Patchett, Alain de Botton, Elena Ferrante, and Anthony Trollope. As she makes her way through their books, she recognizes herself in them, stumbling across patterns of feeling and behavior that have ruled her without her knowing itenvy, a desire for fame, fear of confronting the people she loves, a longing for communion. The reader, along with Tompkins, comes to the realization that literature can be not only a source of information and entertainment, not only a balm and a refuge, but also a key to unlocking long-forgotten memories that lead to a new understanding of ones life.
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Kimberlone
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I‘m definitely a night reader. How about you?

KristenDuck I‘ll read at night but I‘m more of a morning reader. I love waking up before my fiancé and just reading in bed before starting my day! 4y
BarbaraBB I‘m both I think. Seriously 😳 4y
suvata Both - But I prefer nighttime reading 4y
See All 12 Comments
Branwen Both! 😁 4y
AkashaVampie Mostly night becuz that's when I have the time and no one is bugging me to get them food or something... #MomLife 4y
DAB Both 😜 4y
wildwoodreads In theory, I like to think I‘m both, but I‘m not always a morning person lol. (edited) 4y
CaffeineAndCandy ʙᴏᴛʜ 🙌 4y
Tanisha_A Weekends, both. Weekdays, night. 😁 4y
kspenmoll Like @Tanisha_A weekends, both, weekdays after work or bedtime. (edited) 4y
Gissy Night reader but with coffee 4y
Copwithabook Night reader for sure 4y
45 likes12 comments
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EadieB
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Eggs Agreed! This is awesome! 5y
48 likes1 comment
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DeweysReadathon
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How is everyone doing out there? I think I discovered the secret to staying up all night to read books is to spend the day reading about scary stuff that makes you afraid to go to sleep, lol. Here‘s to another 8ish hours of #readathon!🌖💫📚- @Liberty

Toughangelbooks That is my face when I read too long in one position. Talk about being stiff and tired but happy to read! 5y
CogsOfEncouragement 😄😄😄 5y
phatsallylee Still going. Decided to do some more cooking to keep me active! 5y
48 likes3 comments
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Caterina
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Time to wind down with some reading after watching the first half of tonight's Democratic Debate (we recorded it so we can finish tomorrow). Tonight's was more intense than last night's, so I really need to read for a while before I can go to sleep! I get to sleep in a little bit tomorrow, but I'll be leaving the house by 8 to try out a new class at the YMCA. Hoping I enjoy TRX! 🤞 #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC #BFCr2 #BookNerdHerd @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Great job! 🙌🏻 5y
Clwojick Way to go! ❤️🧡💛 5y
jb72 I hope you enjoy your new class! Go team! 5y
39 likes3 comments
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Caterina
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Reading spot. 🥰 I'm halfway through this #ARC from #Netgalley and it's not what I expected based on the beginning. 🤔

Feels good to sit and read after a run/walk, 3 hours of driving around, a long doctor's appointment, and prayer group. 😊 #BookFitnessChallenge #BFC #BFCr2 #BookNerdHerd @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Great job! 🙌🏻 5y
IndoorDame Beautiful reading spot! 5y
Cathythoughts Perfect spot ✨✨✨ 5y
Megabooks Cute cushion! 5y
52 likes4 comments
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Caterina
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#bookandlunch I'm loving this book! A memoir by an English professor who retired due to ME and was saved by books. She just wrote "I read it in Italy - I had plenty of time since I had to take every other day off from the rigors of the tour we were on." ? I've never seen this aspect of my life with chronic illness in a book! That every other day life tho.

jb72 Interesting. I‘ll have to give it a look. Being born disabled has been a difficult road. 6y
45 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Caterina
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The dog insists that I continue to hold his head, so I must try to read with only my left hand. 😂 #dogsoflitsy #bostonterriersoflitsy #Pippin

kimba7 Adorable! ♥️ 6y
OriginalCyn620 So cute! 🐶❤️ 6y
britt_brooke Aw, what a sweetie! 💚🐾 6y
TheSpineView That's sweet! 💜💜 6y
48 likes5 comments
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Michellekidwell
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Pickpick

In this book we realize that reading is more than s form of information and entertainment that in fact a book can help unlock memories!

Reading Through the Night is one of those books that you are left thinking about long after you finish the final sentence. I find it worthy of five out of five stars!

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SassyBookworm
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LauraJ Same 🖤 6y
Eggs Agreed 🌔 6y
RedLeaves 😍 6y
Gissy Lovely description!❤️ 6y
MemoirsForMe 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 6y
91 likes5 comments
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Caterina
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The author of this #ARC from #Netgalley (available under #readnow) has ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So far this memoir of a literature professor who finds solace in books when her life with chronic illness begins is getting me right in the feels. I have fibromyalgia and migraine, and books have saved my life. It's such a wonderful feeling to finally see this part of myself reflected in a book.

Suet624 Ooh, great advice. And I hear you. Reading and libraries saved me during my first four years of treatment for Lyme Disease. I wish you the best. 6y
32 likes1 comment
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Purrfectpages
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#night #quotsydec19 No reading tonight because I have a migraine, but on a better night.

BeansPage 😂😂😂 6y
Eyelit Truth! I hope you feel better soon. Migraines suck. 6y
GripLitGrl 😂🤣😃 6y
Purrfectpages @Eyelit thank you! I appreciate that! 6y
67 likes4 comments
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kstadt929
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Love this ❤️

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
26 likes1 comment