Shannan Malone joins for a lively midyear reading check-in. Both reflect on how their reading habits have evolved and share insights on connecting with literary choices. They discuss the importance of aligning reading intentions with current preferences and embrace the idea of 'quitting' books that don't resonate anymore. They explore how personal life impacts reading, rate upcoming titles, and recommend a mix of emotional reads and lighter escapism. This uplifting conversation invites listeners to reassess their own reading journeys.
Conducting a midyear check-in allows readers to reflect on their progress and realign their goals to ensure reading remains enjoyable.
Adapting reading choices based on evolving preferences and life circumstances is vital for maintaining emotional engagement with literature.
Deep dives
The Value of Mid-Year Reading Check-Ins
Conducting a mid-year check-in on reading habits allows individuals to reflect on their progress and realign their goals. This practice helps readers assess whether they are engaged with the books that genuinely interest them, ensuring that their reading remains purposeful and enjoyable. It serves as a reminder that preferences can evolve over time, and it's important to adapt reading choices accordingly. The conversation emphasizes that it's perfectly acceptable to change one's reading path based on new tastes or life circumstances.
Balancing Intentions with Reality
Readers often enter the year with specific goals but may find that circumstances impact the actual reading they achieve. Personal experiences, such as family tragedies, can significantly alter the time and mental space available for reading. This balance highlights the need for flexibility in reading goals and encourages embracing a variety of genres and formats that can provide comfort or escape during challenging times. Recognizing that it’s okay to prioritize different types of literature underscores the importance of emotional engagement with reading.
Adapting to Change in Reading Tastes
A reader's preferences may shift as they navigate different life stages and emotional landscapes, making it vital to remain open to new genres and topics. The importance of allowing oneself to pivot from established reading choices to explore what resonates in the moment is stressed. Engaging with diverse content, whether mainstream bestsellers or niche works, enriches the reading experience and fosters a deeper connection to literature. This adaptability reflects the idea that reading should be both fulfilling and enjoyable.
Creating a Sustainable Reading Life
Establishing a reading rhythm that accommodates various types of books is essential for maintaining a healthy literary lifestyle. Balancing beloved escapist reads with more challenging texts allows for a dynamic and satisfying reading experience. The discussion highlights the idea of intentionality when selecting what to read and encourages readers to savor their choices instead of rushing through. By fostering a steady approach to selecting books, readers can enhance their overall appreciation and enjoyment of literature.
With the year just over half way through, Anne is stepping back to see how her reading year is going. Today, she and Shannan Malone are doing a little midyear check-in to see how this year has been going so far reading-wise, and what they are most excited about in the coming months.
They consider whether they're actually reading what they want to be reading this year, whether they have any intentions to pivot for fall and winter months, and if or how they reading tastes and desires have evolved since they last checked in on this.
Anne and Shannan share reflective practices or questions to help you conduct your own midyear check in, if you are so inclined. But regardless of how you approach your reading life, this is, above all, a call to ask yourself, what do you want from your books right now? Because reading time is precious, and we want to help you feel good about how you are using yours.