I’m trying something new!
A few weeks ago, I came across a quote from Kelly Corrigan (mentioned yesterday in my September book review post) that got me thinking about how much we bring to the books we read—and how the exact same book can land completely differently depending on who we are and what’s currently happening in our lives.
I originally sat down to write about it, but somewhere along the way I decided this felt like something I should be reading out loud.
Instead of publishing it as a written essay, I’ve turned it into a little audio reflection for my Lighthouse Keepers Patreon community. It’s casual and recorded in a single take, and I had fun trying something different. I’ve also had a few people mention they’d like to hear my voice more often. Ask and ye shall receive.
You can listen to my audio essay—it’s short, less than three minutes—over on Patreon. (No paid subscription necessary.)
Your turn.
- What’s a book you love that other people seem to dislike? And vice versa?
- Have you ever reread a book and had a completely different reaction the second time around?
- Is there a book you suspect you encountered at exactly the “right”—or “wrong”—time in your life?
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Oh, great topic, Elisabeth!
For me, it’s “The Little Prince”.
I read it first when I was about 12, and I thought it was fine.
I reread it in April, and I suddenly found it so annoying! Not the actual theme, but how it’s presented. It feels overly sentimental, even a bit manipulative. It feels like someone was trying to tell me what I’m supposed to feel, instead of letting me decide for myself. The whole “wise child who understands what silly adults have forgotten” thing also got on my nerves. Maybe I need to wait another 40 years to read it again!