What Should I Read Next? Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves
Jun 10, 2025
Join Evan Carlson, a Chicago-based actor and poet, as he dives into the search for fiction that resonates like the nonfiction he adores. He shares his unique relationship with reading and challenges he's faced to find engaging narratives. From poetry's transformative power to the intersection of storytelling and performance, Evan reflects on his artistic journey and the impacts of modern distractions on reading habits. The conversation also spotlights thought-provoking titles like 'Poetry, a Survivor's Guide' and 'Bluettes,' bridging emotions and reflections.
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Reading Life Comes in Waves
- Evan experiences his reading life in waves with bursts of intense reading followed by periods of little to no reading.
- These waves also mirror his writing habits with bursts of productivity and stretches of inactivity.
Distraction Challenges Reading Consistency
- Evan struggles to keep his reading consistent because of distractions like social media and his phone.
- He needs a book that immediately grips him to fully engage and sustain reading.
Three Books, Three Categories
- Evan usually reads three books at once: poetry, nonfiction, and fiction.
- Poetry and nonfiction bring him fresh discoveries, but fiction remains a difficult and less engaging category.
