Five Little Books I'm Reading Right Now
People say there are two types of readers in the world — those who faithfully commit themselves to one book and only one book until they get to the end of said book and start another one, and the rest of us. The weird ones. The wild ones. The readers who are at all times in the middle of at least five different books, sometimes as many as 10 or 20, because we absolutely could not possibly choose just one book to read at a time.
Both types of readers are 100% my favorite, by the way.
Because as long as we’re reading, no matter how we do it, it counts, it matters, and it’s noteworthy. Because it means we’re doing something important for ourselves. It also means we might be saving the world from a total screen/bot takeover, too.
So I thought it might be nice to share a few of the books I’m reading right now — maybe you’ll do the same?
#1
This week, my friend Anna posted a video on the ‘gram about a book she’s been loving called Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleon. As soon as I saw it, I hopped on Thriftbooks and ordered a copy. While I was there, I picked up used copies of his other titles too in preparation for a rabbit hole I can tell is about to commence.
These are those books ⤵
I don’t know which one I’ll start with (I’ll probably read parts of all four at once if I’m being honest), but I’ve already been perusing Austin Kleon’s web content and substack and I’m hooked, so I suppose the rabbit hole has already started, hey? More on these in the weeks to come.
#2
During my porch yoga shenanigans this morning, I finished the final essays in the audio version of Ann Patchett’s gorgeous collection These Precious Days and immediately started her 2019 novel The Dutch House on audio for three reasons —
First, it’s read by Tom Hanks (yes, that Tom Hanks), so from the very first sentence I felt like I was inside my favorite movie of all time (You’ve Got Mail), and that’s a feeling I can certainly stand to have for at least 9 hours and 53 minutes.
Second, the story is partly set in the WWII era, as a great deal of the best novels are, and I love reading about this time period.
And third, now that I’ve finished two beautiful essay collections from Ann Patchett (These Precious Days and This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage), it feels like leaving behind a best friend to not read something written by her next. I do love her so.
#3
As for physical books, specifically the ones I already have in my possession (or at least they’re in my possession whenever Bacon our rescue kitty isn’t using them as a loaf pillow) . . .
I’m still reading Stephen King’s On Writing most mornings with my coffee, I decided this week it’s about time to revisit Anne Lamott’s gorgeous nonfiction collection Bird by Bird, and I’ve become completely enamored with the 2010 Swedish crime novel The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson.
Enamored? Yes. Completely.
Mostly because I found a used copy for $6 a few weeks ago at the little used book stall down the street from my house and ever since, I’ve been losing myself in its pages on nights and weekends. Now, 500 pages in, I can’t wait to see how it ends.
Also because Fire is the second in a three-part series (each stands alone well from what I hear), and as soon as I finish this one, I get to move on to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (nope, I never watched the movie back in the day so I have no idea what exactly it’s about or what will happen) and then The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. Or vice versa. We’ll see.
Wherever you are this weekend, whatever’s going on in your world, your heart, and your mind, I hope you found something in this message that made you curious, started the flicker of a flame somewhere near your heart, something just for you.
Until next week,
✌🏼️💓 📚
Celeste
did AI write this? nope, this lady did ⤴ always💛
Love these
Friday morning chats?
*No portion of this work may be used for training artificial intelligence without written permission from the author (which she will not be giving). See you next Friday!