I'm glad to be one of your more than 100 subscribers! And your post with plans for 2024 sounds fantastic. It takes commitment to do what you've laid out so I am happy to support; I know I will get great value in return in the form of camaraderie, thoughtful discussion, and insightful sharing.
A little intro: I'm a mid life (50.is approaching) mother of three school-age boys with a full time job in community development finance in Boston. I've been through various ringers of life and am exploring my creative side to make sense of the aftermath. I mostly draw and write. I run when I dont have an injury. I read a ton. I am a Ford Mustang enthusiast, have played ice, roller and field hockey most of my life, play piano, speak Russian, was an anthropology major in college which formed my world view, and love metaphors, philosophy and prose that stirs the heart. I write in Substack when I can... thought pieces, book shares, and short short stories.
Emily - first of all, thank you for your support. It is sincerely appreciated and encourages me to put in the hard work to provide quality content. Secondly, thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself! I enjoy your writing as well. I think that most of us in that mid-life stage have had a few ringers. Life would be kind of boring without them! I honestly think they help to form who we are. It sounds like you have a lot of things going on in your life to keep you busy. This has been on my mind a lot lately as I get ready to retire from the military - what work and/or activities do I commit myself to in order to keep busy. I think staying engaged in something that we find value in is so important to mental and physical health. I want to be around for my grandkids someday so keeping my mind and body in good health is important. Thanks again!
You're so welcome! I just peeked at your 2024 reading plan (which is quite cool, I have about 7 going at a time as well). Wowza! I'm almost done with My Antonia (audiobook) and The New Grub Street by George Gissing with APS Together read along on Substack (really enjoying it, also on audiobook). Glad to see Cather on your list... And Atomic Habits! I think you'll really like it. It's a super quick read.l and incredibly powerful. I recognized some of your other reads and not others so a nice mix for me to see. I'll be wolf crawling, War-and-Peacing and Steinbecking as best I can alongside you.
Thank you for the shout-out, Matthew! I'm so glad you enjoyed the Joan Didion essay and I hope you get a chance to read some of her words this coming year :) Also, I love the Mortimer J Adler quotation; thank you for sharing :)
Kate - of course. I am a big fan of your work. I am definitely going to find some space for her in my reading plan. All the best and have a great weekend.
Brand new subscriber here, thanks to John Halbrooks’ recommendation.
Me: retired professor (fashion/textile history, random American Studies courses), 74, Indian film fan, knitter, Unitarian Universalist, rhubarb lover. I have written too many scholarly articles and read too many “monographs” and other things with footnotes. Now trying to read and write things with no footnotes. My daily writing practice is transcribing my old journals, adding comments, and posting the whole mess on Substack. I am supposed to be working on a collection of essays about my work on dress and gender, but I am not. (Don’t tell my publisher.)
Welcome Jo and thanks for tagging along on my little adventure on Substack! It sounds to me like you have lived a fascinating life and probably have a lot to contribute to the conversation. I am glad to have you here. And your lack of progress on your essay collection stays between us! All the best and thanks again.
I had a feeling I could trust you. As for what I read: historical fiction, history of everyday things (Loved “A history of the world in six glasses”), Louise Penny, Dorothy Sayers. Also the first chapter of self-improvement books.
In response to your "introduce yourself" request, I'm a mostly retired guy (ex-software engineer, bookstore manager, bike mechanic, and a few other things). Currently I work a little bit as a church custodian and I mostly read books, wander around by foot & bicycle, and type one page a day on an old manual typewriter.
Thanks Kent! Appreciate you being here. Big fan of your work. Also a big fan of your ability to walk and bike everywhere! I live in the middle of nowhere right now so walking and biking are out of the question other than just general exercise.
Thank you for coming to Substack! I’m now a subscriber because I can tell your posts will inspire my own writing and reading. This in particular resonates with me: “Reading requires slowing down - to pause, catch our breath. It is a conscious act of engagement - dialog between author and reader.” – a relationship and trust and opening doors, yes yes! This is true in a different way for me – in my life, reading has become a way to engage not only with the text but with my son, who is an autistic young man who can read on very basic level but not beyond that – and coming from a family of readers who talked books over the dinner table, it’s something I’ve missed passing on. But in recent years, my son has returned to allowing me to read aloud to him as we did when he was little, and it’s a wonderful chance for me to slow down and connect with him through many different kinds of books and poetry. It is not always clear how much he comprehends, I can’t have in-depth discussions with him, but he is listening and I know it is enriching for him. As it is for me. Looking forward to following along with you!
Hi Robin! Thank you for taking the time to read, comment, and subscribe. It truly means so much. I am glad to hear that reading is a connection between you and your son. Regardless of how much comprehension takes place, the investment of time and connection is priceless. Early on we thought our son had autism as well as he did not speak for several years and had many of the indications of being on the spectrum. Even though I wasn't sure what type of connection was taking place I read to him frequently as a child. It turned out he had a form of Asperger's and most of our work with him had to be on the social spectrum. Today he is very high functioning and is enrolled in college and loves to read so I am very grateful. I have a lot of respect for parents such as yourself continuing to be caregivers as your children become adults. I look forward to having you here for the conversation and I subscribed to yours as well. All the best!
I'm sure it's no secret that I adore what you're doing here. I only made the move to Substack two months ago, but already it has helped me focus much more on writing long-form, quality newsletters. I've always loved talking about the books I read, and this is turning out to be a great place to continue doing that and finding other kindred readers. I'm glad to have met you here, Matthew!
The feeling is mutual Tiffany! Kindred spirits in the place. I have been searching for a space like this for some time and it is exciting to see the great things happening here. I was initially hesitant to start writing in such a public forum but the community has been so amazing and encouraging. Thanks for your support and I always look forward to your next newsletter as well.
Hi, I found you via John Halbrooks as well. I am an avid reader - an inveterate binge reader - and for money I’m an academic librarian. (I do not get to drink tea and read all day, and very little of the library is quiet these days.) I’m currently on intermittent medical leave and 2500 miles from my home providing caregiving for my parents, which sometimes affords me more time for reading and sometimes less. I look forward to reading your newsletter!
Ellen - thanks so much for swinging by. I am going to have to buy John a cup of coffee for sending folks my way! Really glad to have you here and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to comment. I have these romantic ideas of working in a library or a used book store but I am sure the reality is much more mundane than my wishful thinking. I hope that you and your parents health improves. All the best!
Hi Matthew. Your Substack is really taking shape! 👏 I am a former teacher, mother of three school-age boys, and an aspiring novelist. I lean towards book club/women’s fiction because that’s what I write. While our reading lists might differ, I think we all share the need for stories and writing that help us make sense of our lives, learn, and connect.
I bet you could start your own book club right here on Substack! 📖
Hey Maria! Great to see your comment here and thanks for the kind words. My mom, sister, and wife are all teachers! I have a ton of respect for the profession so thanks for giving of yourself in that way. Being a mom is a full-time endeavor in itself, where do you find the time to write a novel! I completely agree regarding the reading lists. We don't have to read the same things to have a common ground as readers. In fact, I love talking to people who read different things because it broadens the scope of what I am exposed to. There are so many common themes that cross genres and similarities among stories. We will have plenty to discuss! Thanks for all your support.
I’m fascinated by the intersection between the books we read and the lives we lead. So looking forward to conversations with fellow readers. Coincidentally, I just launched my own newsletter, focusing on Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch: https://maryjaneeyre.substack.com/p/the-weekly-weil-1
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Glad to have you here joining the conversation. I have never encountered either of those writers in my readings. Thanks for the link, I will be sure to check them out. All the best!
Thanks for the mention, and I love that Mortimer J. Adler quote. I'm so glad we've both found this space. It definitely feels much better for the things we want to do.
"This platform offered an opportunity to explore a love for both reading and writing that wasn’t found elsewhere"
I feel the same, Matthew! Excited to read your 2024 musings. I see you've written an article on the relationship between trauma and reading. Would you be interested in exploring the relationship between courage and reading as well? I've noticed that sometimes when I'm nervous about something, thinking about some of my favorite characters and the trials they have overcome inspires me to be braver.
Macy - thanks so much for the support and encouragement. It has been amazing to encounter so many like minded individuals. I think what I love most is how many different backgrounds and experiences people have and yet can find commonality in books. We don't even have to necessarily read the same things but the love of the word is there. I think that exploring courage and reading would be a great topic for a future newsletter. I agree with your sentiment that a character's experiences can help us find our way in varying situations.
To say Hello Matthew! I am Bea from West London, and can usually be found stitching Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell Trilogy, a pastime which has been my favourite for years. I am fascinated by the act of stitching in the Trilogy. And I post a bit about my work each weekend.
Welcome Bea! Glad to have you here. I have not read Mantel's trilogy yet but will be doing so this next year with Simon and his Wolf Crawl. I look forward to seeing your work as we make our way through those books. All the best!
I’m happy I found you here Matthew (through Simon)! And I’m really looking forward to following you on this journey
I’m an avid reader, mostly fantasy and sci-fi, but in reality I read anything that peaks my interest. It will be nice to find other readers in here and join in on discussions about our latest reads.
Welcome and thanks for being here. Fantasy and sci-fi were my go to genres for years. I still enjoy them but have branched out some now. Looking forward to some great bookish discussions.
Dad - I'm proud of the work you're doing with this newsletter and I am excited to see what is to come soon. I'm hoping the weekly posts inspire me to pick reading back up as a consistent hobby, and I'll most definitely add to the conversation in the comments section. Love you, Dad.
David - somehow I missed this comment back when this post was published. Sorry about that. Thanks for your love and support son. Very proud of you. Love, Dad
I concur with absolutely all of this. I look forward to following along!
Thanks John. Sincerely appreciate the support and looking forward to some great literary adventures in 2024.
Thanks for the shoutout Matthew! Love what you're doing here.
Thanks Anne for the support and you are very welcome.
I'm glad to be one of your more than 100 subscribers! And your post with plans for 2024 sounds fantastic. It takes commitment to do what you've laid out so I am happy to support; I know I will get great value in return in the form of camaraderie, thoughtful discussion, and insightful sharing.
A little intro: I'm a mid life (50.is approaching) mother of three school-age boys with a full time job in community development finance in Boston. I've been through various ringers of life and am exploring my creative side to make sense of the aftermath. I mostly draw and write. I run when I dont have an injury. I read a ton. I am a Ford Mustang enthusiast, have played ice, roller and field hockey most of my life, play piano, speak Russian, was an anthropology major in college which formed my world view, and love metaphors, philosophy and prose that stirs the heart. I write in Substack when I can... thought pieces, book shares, and short short stories.
Emily - first of all, thank you for your support. It is sincerely appreciated and encourages me to put in the hard work to provide quality content. Secondly, thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself! I enjoy your writing as well. I think that most of us in that mid-life stage have had a few ringers. Life would be kind of boring without them! I honestly think they help to form who we are. It sounds like you have a lot of things going on in your life to keep you busy. This has been on my mind a lot lately as I get ready to retire from the military - what work and/or activities do I commit myself to in order to keep busy. I think staying engaged in something that we find value in is so important to mental and physical health. I want to be around for my grandkids someday so keeping my mind and body in good health is important. Thanks again!
You're so welcome! I just peeked at your 2024 reading plan (which is quite cool, I have about 7 going at a time as well). Wowza! I'm almost done with My Antonia (audiobook) and The New Grub Street by George Gissing with APS Together read along on Substack (really enjoying it, also on audiobook). Glad to see Cather on your list... And Atomic Habits! I think you'll really like it. It's a super quick read.l and incredibly powerful. I recognized some of your other reads and not others so a nice mix for me to see. I'll be wolf crawling, War-and-Peacing and Steinbecking as best I can alongside you.
Thank you for the shout-out, Matthew! I'm so glad you enjoyed the Joan Didion essay and I hope you get a chance to read some of her words this coming year :) Also, I love the Mortimer J Adler quotation; thank you for sharing :)
Kate - of course. I am a big fan of your work. I am definitely going to find some space for her in my reading plan. All the best and have a great weekend.
Brand new subscriber here, thanks to John Halbrooks’ recommendation.
Me: retired professor (fashion/textile history, random American Studies courses), 74, Indian film fan, knitter, Unitarian Universalist, rhubarb lover. I have written too many scholarly articles and read too many “monographs” and other things with footnotes. Now trying to read and write things with no footnotes. My daily writing practice is transcribing my old journals, adding comments, and posting the whole mess on Substack. I am supposed to be working on a collection of essays about my work on dress and gender, but I am not. (Don’t tell my publisher.)
Welcome Jo and thanks for tagging along on my little adventure on Substack! It sounds to me like you have lived a fascinating life and probably have a lot to contribute to the conversation. I am glad to have you here. And your lack of progress on your essay collection stays between us! All the best and thanks again.
I had a feeling I could trust you. As for what I read: historical fiction, history of everyday things (Loved “A history of the world in six glasses”), Louise Penny, Dorothy Sayers. Also the first chapter of self-improvement books.
This is a wonderful thing you are doing here.
In response to your "introduce yourself" request, I'm a mostly retired guy (ex-software engineer, bookstore manager, bike mechanic, and a few other things). Currently I work a little bit as a church custodian and I mostly read books, wander around by foot & bicycle, and type one page a day on an old manual typewriter.
Thanks Kent! Appreciate you being here. Big fan of your work. Also a big fan of your ability to walk and bike everywhere! I live in the middle of nowhere right now so walking and biking are out of the question other than just general exercise.
Thank you for coming to Substack! I’m now a subscriber because I can tell your posts will inspire my own writing and reading. This in particular resonates with me: “Reading requires slowing down - to pause, catch our breath. It is a conscious act of engagement - dialog between author and reader.” – a relationship and trust and opening doors, yes yes! This is true in a different way for me – in my life, reading has become a way to engage not only with the text but with my son, who is an autistic young man who can read on very basic level but not beyond that – and coming from a family of readers who talked books over the dinner table, it’s something I’ve missed passing on. But in recent years, my son has returned to allowing me to read aloud to him as we did when he was little, and it’s a wonderful chance for me to slow down and connect with him through many different kinds of books and poetry. It is not always clear how much he comprehends, I can’t have in-depth discussions with him, but he is listening and I know it is enriching for him. As it is for me. Looking forward to following along with you!
Hi Robin! Thank you for taking the time to read, comment, and subscribe. It truly means so much. I am glad to hear that reading is a connection between you and your son. Regardless of how much comprehension takes place, the investment of time and connection is priceless. Early on we thought our son had autism as well as he did not speak for several years and had many of the indications of being on the spectrum. Even though I wasn't sure what type of connection was taking place I read to him frequently as a child. It turned out he had a form of Asperger's and most of our work with him had to be on the social spectrum. Today he is very high functioning and is enrolled in college and loves to read so I am very grateful. I have a lot of respect for parents such as yourself continuing to be caregivers as your children become adults. I look forward to having you here for the conversation and I subscribed to yours as well. All the best!
Thank you so much - I'm happy to make this connection, looking forward to it!
That's so lovely that you read to your son like that. Im sure he loves every minute of that bonding experience ❤️
I think we both loved it. Now that he is older we talk about that time often. It made a good foundation for our relationship.
I'm sure it's no secret that I adore what you're doing here. I only made the move to Substack two months ago, but already it has helped me focus much more on writing long-form, quality newsletters. I've always loved talking about the books I read, and this is turning out to be a great place to continue doing that and finding other kindred readers. I'm glad to have met you here, Matthew!
The feeling is mutual Tiffany! Kindred spirits in the place. I have been searching for a space like this for some time and it is exciting to see the great things happening here. I was initially hesitant to start writing in such a public forum but the community has been so amazing and encouraging. Thanks for your support and I always look forward to your next newsletter as well.
Hi, I found you via John Halbrooks as well. I am an avid reader - an inveterate binge reader - and for money I’m an academic librarian. (I do not get to drink tea and read all day, and very little of the library is quiet these days.) I’m currently on intermittent medical leave and 2500 miles from my home providing caregiving for my parents, which sometimes affords me more time for reading and sometimes less. I look forward to reading your newsletter!
Ellen - thanks so much for swinging by. I am going to have to buy John a cup of coffee for sending folks my way! Really glad to have you here and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to comment. I have these romantic ideas of working in a library or a used book store but I am sure the reality is much more mundane than my wishful thinking. I hope that you and your parents health improves. All the best!
Hi Matthew. Your Substack is really taking shape! 👏 I am a former teacher, mother of three school-age boys, and an aspiring novelist. I lean towards book club/women’s fiction because that’s what I write. While our reading lists might differ, I think we all share the need for stories and writing that help us make sense of our lives, learn, and connect.
I bet you could start your own book club right here on Substack! 📖
Hey Maria! Great to see your comment here and thanks for the kind words. My mom, sister, and wife are all teachers! I have a ton of respect for the profession so thanks for giving of yourself in that way. Being a mom is a full-time endeavor in itself, where do you find the time to write a novel! I completely agree regarding the reading lists. We don't have to read the same things to have a common ground as readers. In fact, I love talking to people who read different things because it broadens the scope of what I am exposed to. There are so many common themes that cross genres and similarities among stories. We will have plenty to discuss! Thanks for all your support.
I’m fascinated by the intersection between the books we read and the lives we lead. So looking forward to conversations with fellow readers. Coincidentally, I just launched my own newsletter, focusing on Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch: https://maryjaneeyre.substack.com/p/the-weekly-weil-1
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Glad to have you here joining the conversation. I have never encountered either of those writers in my readings. Thanks for the link, I will be sure to check them out. All the best!
Thanks for the mention, and I love that Mortimer J. Adler quote. I'm so glad we've both found this space. It definitely feels much better for the things we want to do.
"This platform offered an opportunity to explore a love for both reading and writing that wasn’t found elsewhere"
I feel the same, Matthew! Excited to read your 2024 musings. I see you've written an article on the relationship between trauma and reading. Would you be interested in exploring the relationship between courage and reading as well? I've noticed that sometimes when I'm nervous about something, thinking about some of my favorite characters and the trials they have overcome inspires me to be braver.
Macy - thanks so much for the support and encouragement. It has been amazing to encounter so many like minded individuals. I think what I love most is how many different backgrounds and experiences people have and yet can find commonality in books. We don't even have to necessarily read the same things but the love of the word is there. I think that exploring courage and reading would be a great topic for a future newsletter. I agree with your sentiment that a character's experiences can help us find our way in varying situations.
I'll look forward to reading your thoughts on the topic!
To say Hello Matthew! I am Bea from West London, and can usually be found stitching Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell Trilogy, a pastime which has been my favourite for years. I am fascinated by the act of stitching in the Trilogy. And I post a bit about my work each weekend.
Welcome Bea! Glad to have you here. I have not read Mantel's trilogy yet but will be doing so this next year with Simon and his Wolf Crawl. I look forward to seeing your work as we make our way through those books. All the best!
I’m happy I found you here Matthew (through Simon)! And I’m really looking forward to following you on this journey
I’m an avid reader, mostly fantasy and sci-fi, but in reality I read anything that peaks my interest. It will be nice to find other readers in here and join in on discussions about our latest reads.
Welcome and thanks for being here. Fantasy and sci-fi were my go to genres for years. I still enjoy them but have branched out some now. Looking forward to some great bookish discussions.
Dad - I'm proud of the work you're doing with this newsletter and I am excited to see what is to come soon. I'm hoping the weekly posts inspire me to pick reading back up as a consistent hobby, and I'll most definitely add to the conversation in the comments section. Love you, Dad.
David - somehow I missed this comment back when this post was published. Sorry about that. Thanks for your love and support son. Very proud of you. Love, Dad