You may know that I spend an inordinate amount of time with books. Reading books, reading ABOUT books, helping people shape their books, writing my own books, and going to the library every week to pick up more books.
I was delighted to be invited to a book club that had read my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. I drove into the mountains on a sunny afternoon for tea and book chat.
The big treat was that this group is an art book group. All the members are artists. So of course the food was artistic, the conversation was about art, and the home filled with art.
It was an honor to be invited and I’m always thrilled that people are reading my novel. I brought my fat binder of notes from my research at the Princeton Library.
But the best part of the day was when the host, Teri, mentioned that she has a huge collection of books on creativity. Can I see your books? I asked. You know how it is – you go into someone’s home and if they have a bookcase around, you can’t help but want to scan the titles. It’s like being able to Google someone’s brain.
She led me upstairs. Immediately I felt like I was in Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. It was a wonderworld of books. Teri has two studios connected by a hallway lined with books. One of the bookcases was actually a hidden door! She reached behind some of the books to open the door into one of her studios. Of course, I was all aflutter with booklust. So many books! So many questions!
Do you read all these? Yes.
When do you read? In the morning for an hour or two.
Do you make notes? Yes, in the margins.
Teri reads so much that she had to start a second art book group. She sent me the lists of the books both groups had read. Scanning the list, I felt the need to stop everything, set up the hammock, and get to reading.
I was so inspired that I adjusted my reading habits. I am often awake at 3 or 4 am, much to my frustration. Now, I take that as my reading time. I haven’t made the leap to write in the margins, but perhaps one day I will.
Are you this bookish? I love that I am still able to feel the excitement I felt as a girl at the library or bookstore. I love that books are such a great social object, connecting us to the author, to the author’s ideas, and to other readers across time and space.
Great book podcast
I was perusing podcasts the other day and discovered The Book Case. What a treat! This is a father/daughter team who interviews authors. They also speak with independent booksellers around the US to hear about their bookstores and what books they are loving. What a great idea – and so well done. I am listening to every episode and particularly loved hearing from Anna Quindlen and Jennifer Egan.
What I’m reading
I am loving Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting by Mary Gauthier. Teri recommended it after I confessed that I long to write a song. This is the songwriting book I have been craving – one that addresses the personal and emotional chops required to write a good song.
I have another songwriting book on the shelf but I will wait until I’ve dived into it to recommend that.
That’s it, book lovers! Share your current book loves in a comment below.
Love, and relate, to this post! I could spend most of my life reading, traveling, painting, writing, and making plant strong cuisine! (To my chagrin, I often wake at 3 am as well, and utilize as reading time.) What a magical day for you! And a hidden door! And the synchronicity of finding a writing songs books! Creative Energy Sparkle at it’s Best!
Thank you, Susan, for taking time to share your book love with me! I totally dig book synchronicity. It’s the best.
I loved this post, Cynthia! Can’t wait to check out the podcast. If you are interested in another book about songwriting, one of my very favorite singer-songwriters, Dar Williams, literally just released her songwriting book yesterday. Check it out! https://www.darwilliams.com And even cooler, this summer she started having retreats for songwriters – adults and kids! Wish I was writing songs because I would be all over it.
Thank you for the referral, Lauren! This is exciting. I ordered Dar’s book from the library and will check out her retreats. I love that she has them for teens.
Glad to hear from you! Thank you for taking the time to comment and share a resource.
Yes! to alll the books! I love the image that scanning someone’s bookshelves is like googling their brain. 🙂 Thank you, Cynthia!
Also, want to second Mary Gauthier’s book, which spoke to me both as an aspiring song-writer and as a fellow adoptee… So moving, particularly on audio, where she both reads her book and plays the songs she’s describing in each chapter.
Excited to hear about Dar Williams’ new book… will definitely check it out, thank you, Lauren!
Hi Carrie,
Yes, I am at the part where she delves into being an adopted child. It reminds me that the big events or wounds in our lives are the things that must feed into our art.
I LOVE the idea of her playing songs and reading the book. Genius!
Thanks for taking time to share your experience and thoughts here, Carrie. Great to hear from you!
I loved reading about the two studios connected by a “wonderland” of books! And I giggled inwardly at the part about Googling someone’s brain…I totally tip my head to read the titles on people’s bookshelves! 🙂 I am totally “this bookish”! 🙂 I always have piles of books to be read, and have no qualms about dislodging one pile because of some new interest…I have released myself from any “guilt” from not finishing this or that book. I can’t possibly get to all the books I want to in my lifetime, so I might as well jump around as I like!
So glad you found this a delight, Rosemary! I love hearing how you live your bookish life. I definitely think we should read what and how we want. Glad you are doing that.