What would I do without books?

And Substack, and cereal boxes, and ... What do you read?

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

My reading begins every morning when I open my laptop. I subscribe to enough Substack letters that I receive several every day. Then I read a poem or two before I begin writing. After writing and daily chores, I might receive a few more Substack letters and read them. At bedtime, I read a book until I fall asleep. Most recently, the book is Ponyboy by Eliot Duncan. I don't remember who recommended the book. It is long-listed for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction.

Ponyboy is a novel of trans-masculinity, addiction, and the pain of becoming. Some of the text is poetic, some obscure, and most is painful to read. I'm about halfway through the book, and last night I peeked at the ending to reassure myself I will not be disappointed. Looking at a book's end is not a habit of mine, though my father wouldn't even read a book until he knew the end. And he was an avid reader. Usually, I prefer to allow the book to unfold at its own pace, in its own way. But I was finding this one so painful to read, I just had to know it wouldn't always be so.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Had I read the reviews ahead of time, I wouldn't have needed to look at the ending. Just so you know I'm not actually providing spoilers. At least not more than the publisher has.

I very much wanted to write about writing again this week, but after writing on the topic for two weeks in a row, I was afraid of losing my readers. My writing is going well, and I wanted to start posting some of what I've written. Probably not my best idea.

When I was younger, I took every opportunity to read my plays aloud to unsuspecting audiences. Brave? or stupid? Most likely the latter, but I was undeterred. I've managed to continue writing even in the face of rejection, though I did stop writing for eighteen months when my first novel was rejected by the publisher I was sure would want it. She read it and then called me to tell me it was unpublishable. A few years later it was published as one of the first eBooks and won a prize for being the best-selling mystery for that publisher. Still later, I sold 12,000 copies on amazon after the rights reverted to me and I could self-publish it.

But I digress. While I'd love to share my unpublished writing here, I think it makes more sense to wait until it is edited, polished, and ready to print.

I have two books waiting for me at the library: The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie and How do Meerkats Order Pizza by Brooke Barker. (Follow her on Substack.) I returned Fifty Years of Ms because it was too heavy for me to hold. (I have a rotator cuff tear.) I'd love to read it, but will have to wait for paperback. I finished Chasing the Panther by Carolyn Pfeiffer. It was recommended by E. Jean Carroll, and I loved reading about Pfeiffer's long life in fashion and film. So much name dropping!

What did you read this week? What's on your TBR list? I'm always open to recommendations, and I read eclectically.

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