Welcome to Litsy!

I lament that I started this on audiobook when I should have known I was too busy to focus, I also lament that I went into it with a slight misperception about the focus of the book. Once I switched to a tandem read with the ebook and gave it my full attention I had a much better experience. Based on the title and subtitle, I thought the author would be surveying a range of people on their reasons to read 1/?

Big fan. 🤗

I‘m still working my way through this one, but any avid reader will appreciate this author‘s reading nostalgia and humor. Give it a try!

Appropriate day to make plans for #nationalbookfestival trip with @JenReadsAlot

Enjoyed my bookstore visit today. So excited for all of these! #bookhaul

I loved everything about this book! Reed has the ethos of a Litten and whether she was talking about reading in general or discussing a specific book, I felt so seen! My favorite moment was when she taught one of her students that the public library is free to use and just opened up the world for the girl in the process. Swoon!

Book 83/100 of the year.

"Reading a book is quiet, clear, and organized. It waits until I am ready, pauses when I need a break, and is still happy to repeat. It never makes me feel worse and rarely makes me feel lonely. Reading gives me the world." ???

Some Monday bookish positivity for y'all!

I'm all in on the spirit of this book, as I love to see folks shout from the rooftops about reading for pure enjoyment and pleasure. That said- I'm also a buzzkill pedant and the many mistakes throughout got on my last nerve: the author's name is not Frank L. Baum; the book series about Rose Wilder's childhood was not written by her; there is no book called Ramona and Beezus; and good God, no part of P&P was set in Bath! Where was the editor??

Birthday gift from my dear friend @KLyn1

So, I started this book and I'm really enjoying it so far - for obvious reasons! ? And I came across this quote that really moved me!

"The most important reason I've remained a reader is because the act of reading makes me feel safe. The influx of information. The transport to other lives, other worlds."

I have never really heard that put into words before, but I felt it resonate deep within my heart! ?? Anyone else feel this way too?

What a wonderful collection of essays on reading!

This book is a collection of personal essays on the impact of books and reading on the author‘s life. I found many of them relatable. One of my favorites was “To Break The Rules” (pg. 65) which discusses how there is no right way to be a “Good Reader.” We should read how and what we want. I wholeheartedly agree!

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/02/28/review-why-we-read/

Despite the L. Frank Baum debacle, I liked this book. We have a similar philosophy of reading — never be ashamed of the reading that speaks to you. Also, don‘t take the classics so seriously. Many — Austen, Shakespeare, and Dickens — have humor, but we can‘t see it because we are so invested in these books as “serious literature” and serious can‘t be funny, right? Seeing the humor in Moby Dick was what allowed me to finally finish and enjoy it.

This is my evening reading. Shouldn‘t someone who is a self described bookworm, has an MFA, teaches reading and writing, and read all of the Oz books more than once know that The Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum not Frank L. Baum? If not, shouldn‘t an editor have caught this? The error appears multiple times.

This missed the mark for me. Yes, it was cute and lighthearted and looked at a lot of the fun reasons we all enjoy books, but it felt very disorganized, too. I just didn‘t want to pick it up, and it took me three days to finish this 9 hour audiobook. (Typically that length is a 1-1.5 day read for me.) 🤷🏻‍♀️ eh.