I once read Sophie’s Choice and wrote down all the words I didn’t know. It filled like four journal pages and I bet I could have done better on the GRE if I’d read it first.
Aidan and I were JUST talking about Brave New World. Dying to read. Also - best way I learned how to talk about books…taking English classes in college. The people in those classes were the smartest people in the entire world and had the most ingenious observations I’ve ever heard.
omg you both must read it your jaws will be on the FLOOR. i only had one college english class my senior year which made me realize that i had fucked up majorly by not being an english major 😭😅
I feel so unbelievably seen and understood by this post! I have fallen back in love with reading over the last several months due to my proximity to “book brain” people and it’s been a wonderful journey! I find myself shying away from conversation about anything I’ve read with them, to the point of not sharing my Goodreads account for the very reasons you’ve stated. I want to grow and delight in this beautiful art form! Incredibly appreciative of all that you stated!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Jasmine! I know what you mean about not wanting to share, but if they’re the right book brain people, they’ll want to hear what you have to say, rather than condescend to you. it’s got to be a reciprocal relationship! Thanks for reading 📚💗
EJ - What a wonderful article. Thank you for sharing!
I am participating in several read-alongs and book clubs this year and your suggestions will definitely help me get more out of my reading.
I especially love your recommendation to find something in the book’s world to relate to in mine.
Also, I agree, Quizlet is a very helpful tool (and kinda fun too!). My hubby and I use it to help us with our Spanish.
We are American Expats living in a Spanish speaking country, so I do most of my reading on my tablet. One of the advantages of that is the “look up” feature for vocabulary. I often compile a written list of my new words and it is interesting to see how often an author uses them throughout the book. It does amaze me how many words I don’t know.
Omg VERY jealous of your expat life, first and foremost, especially in this hideous US climate. Love Spain so much, I hope you are enjoying it.
I agree that the tablet function is so helpful! I have to do it the analog way, which can be charming, filling up a journal with words and sentences using them — sort of makes me feel like I'm back in school, which I don't hate!
Thank you kindly for reading and for your thoughtful comment, it means so much to have readers engage with my writing. I appreciate it! 📚💗
This is such a great topic! One thing I've been doing this year is writing the Merriam-Webster word on the day in my journal. I star the words that I've maybe heard but don't feel like I use in normal conversation or could come up with my own definition out of the context of a sentence.
This is wonderful, helpful, and SO relatable! Literally relate to all of it, minus the part of sharing book recommendations with my brother. We don't exactly have the same taste lol.
You are the FIRST PERSON I have found who's read Clear by Carys Davies, and I'm dying to know what you think about it. I got it as a prize for a milestone in the public library reading challenge. 😍📚
As for recs, I recently read and loved The Art of Fiction by David Lodge, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (an oldie but a goodie, with some surprisingly progressive things to say about race and gender; published in 1946), and, if you like seafaring books as much as I do, run, don't walk, to get The Wager by David Grann. Outstanding. Happy reading. 📖📑
I once read Sophie’s Choice and wrote down all the words I didn’t know. It filled like four journal pages and I bet I could have done better on the GRE if I’d read it first.
hahahahah Natalie do NOT come around here bringing up the GRE, the test that almost BROKE ME!!!!!
Aidan and I were JUST talking about Brave New World. Dying to read. Also - best way I learned how to talk about books…taking English classes in college. The people in those classes were the smartest people in the entire world and had the most ingenious observations I’ve ever heard.
omg you both must read it your jaws will be on the FLOOR. i only had one college english class my senior year which made me realize that i had fucked up majorly by not being an english major 😭😅
I feel so unbelievably seen and understood by this post! I have fallen back in love with reading over the last several months due to my proximity to “book brain” people and it’s been a wonderful journey! I find myself shying away from conversation about anything I’ve read with them, to the point of not sharing my Goodreads account for the very reasons you’ve stated. I want to grow and delight in this beautiful art form! Incredibly appreciative of all that you stated!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, Jasmine! I know what you mean about not wanting to share, but if they’re the right book brain people, they’ll want to hear what you have to say, rather than condescend to you. it’s got to be a reciprocal relationship! Thanks for reading 📚💗
EJ - What a wonderful article. Thank you for sharing!
I am participating in several read-alongs and book clubs this year and your suggestions will definitely help me get more out of my reading.
I especially love your recommendation to find something in the book’s world to relate to in mine.
Also, I agree, Quizlet is a very helpful tool (and kinda fun too!). My hubby and I use it to help us with our Spanish.
We are American Expats living in a Spanish speaking country, so I do most of my reading on my tablet. One of the advantages of that is the “look up” feature for vocabulary. I often compile a written list of my new words and it is interesting to see how often an author uses them throughout the book. It does amaze me how many words I don’t know.
Thank you!
Omg VERY jealous of your expat life, first and foremost, especially in this hideous US climate. Love Spain so much, I hope you are enjoying it.
I agree that the tablet function is so helpful! I have to do it the analog way, which can be charming, filling up a journal with words and sentences using them — sort of makes me feel like I'm back in school, which I don't hate!
Thank you kindly for reading and for your thoughtful comment, it means so much to have readers engage with my writing. I appreciate it! 📚💗
Actually we are in Ecuador 😎.
Oh, I like your idea of writing sentences using the new vocabulary words. Thanks for another great suggestion!
This is such a great topic! One thing I've been doing this year is writing the Merriam-Webster word on the day in my journal. I star the words that I've maybe heard but don't feel like I use in normal conversation or could come up with my own definition out of the context of a sentence.
SO smart! I love this idea, great way to engage and switch it up a bit— I'll def try this!
This is wonderful, helpful, and SO relatable! Literally relate to all of it, minus the part of sharing book recommendations with my brother. We don't exactly have the same taste lol.
Thank you for the tips!
hahahha Well book brain people don’t always have to be relatives 😉 thank you for reading, Kolina! so glad to have you as a fellow book-brain 📚🧠
I'm so glad to have YOU as a fellow book-brain! We're the luckiest!
This is so helpful! I will try to implement some suggestions in my reading habits.
Something I do during reading is writing down some insights, main themes, characters... This also helps me to better formulate my thoughts afterwards.
You are the FIRST PERSON I have found who's read Clear by Carys Davies, and I'm dying to know what you think about it. I got it as a prize for a milestone in the public library reading challenge. 😍📚
As for recs, I recently read and loved The Art of Fiction by David Lodge, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers (an oldie but a goodie, with some surprisingly progressive things to say about race and gender; published in 1946), and, if you like seafaring books as much as I do, run, don't walk, to get The Wager by David Grann. Outstanding. Happy reading. 📖📑