Writing and Bookish Habits
Thank you for all your emails! I thought it might be easier—and more fun—to respond to everyone here, sharing a little about my writing and reading habits and how they have changed.
The written word feels permanent, but in reality, it is often fleeting. Books, letters, manuscripts, and even digital texts exist in time, yet they are subject to decay, loss, and obsolescence. Paper yellows, ink fades, and servers crash; even the most carefully preserved works can disappear. We cling to writing because it lets us communicate across space and time, but we only retain its essence for as long as memory, attention, and care allow.
Even more quietly, a text’s meaning transforms as cultures, languages, and readers evolve. A story that once felt immediate to people centuries ago can now seem remote, even unfamiliar. What endures, then, is not merely the ink and paper, but the imprint a work leaves on the human mind and heart. Through oral retelling, memory, and private reflection, writing continues to breathe beyond its original moment. Perhaps that is why, as I grow older, I find myself drawn more deeply toward memoirs—they feel like living conversations, preserved not just in words, but in consciousness. Without readers, the words themselves are inert; they exist, but they do not endure in the way stories endure in the mind.
There’s also this digital side to things now that feels especially fragile. Emails, tweets, blogs—they can all disappear in a heartbeat. Just today, I clicked back to places that used to be there, only to find them gone. A post you once saved or returned to can be deleted, or quietly buried by an algorithm that keeps moving on. It’s a strange feeling, and a gentle reminder that even writing—something we like to think of as lasting—is only ever semi-permanent in a world where almost everything slips away.
In a sense, writing is always a conversation with time—we record, preserve, and hope, but the words themselves are only as enduring as the care we give them and the memory of those who read them.
1. Book Storage – How do you store and organize your books and ebooks?
As I have mentioned many times before, I have great difficulty parting with hardcover books. My book collection is spread across multiple spaces in my home. Some are neatly arranged in bookcases in my loft and on the first floor, while others find a cozy home tucked away in old trunks.
My vintage and antique books usually occupy accessible shelves, because I love being able to admire them on a whim. As for my digital library, I keep my ebooks in dedicated folders on my laptop, so they’re always at my fingertips.
2. Tracking – How do you keep track of what you’ve read and what books you own?
For me, organization finds its home in my blog, which serves not only as a space to share my thoughts with readers but also as a deeply personal journal of the books I’ve recently explored and reviewed. My laptop has become a sanctuary for my ever-growing TBR (To Be Read) list, a digital repository that holds the promise of future adventures. In many ways, it’s more than just a list—it’s a living archive of my literary journey, a place where I can pause, reflect, and celebrate each story I’ve encountered while planning the next chapter that awaits. I also post many of my reviews on Goodreads and use it for more specific formats or to monitor my progress.
3. Borrowing – Do you lend your books out?
My love for books was nurtured at home, a gift from my mother that has shaped my life in ways I could never have imagined. Amid her busy schedule, she always carved out time to take me to the library, a simple gesture that, in hindsight, laid the foundation for my journey in the literary world. At the time, I couldn’t have foreseen that I would one day work in a public library or freelance for a publisher, yet each experience only deepened my lifelong passion for reading and writing about what I read.
Even now, my mother and I share a profound connection through our love of books. For many years, I maintained a dedicated page just for her reading discoveries. She has always had a fondness for mysteries and occasionally delved into Amish fiction, savoring the stories in her own quiet way. Now in her eighties, reading has become more challenging, yet she continues to delight in the literary world through the books I discuss with her. Sharing these stories with her is a treasured ritual—a continuation of the love for reading she instilled in me so many years ago. Mom tells me she currently has two books by Terri Blackstock in her bag to read - The Shadow of Doubt and Private Justice.
4. How do you acquire your books?
Blogging about books has allowed me to honor that early gift from my mother while sharing my discoveries with a wider audience. Each book that lands on my desk—whether from a publisher, an agent, or a thoughtful author—is more than just a story; it is a bridge connecting me to readers, writers, and, most importantly, to the love of reading that my mother first inspired.
I spend time at the library, a place that feels like both a refuge and a playground for my mind. There, I can lose myself in the pages of a book, attend events that spark curiosity, and immerse myself in ideas that broaden my perspective. Books have always held a special place in my life—they top my gift wish list without question and have since I was a teen.
One of my favorite pastimes is wandering through bookstores. I love the slow, deliberate process of moving from shelf to shelf, letting my fingers trace the spines, and discovering titles I’ve never encountered before. Often, I find myself pausing to read a few lines here and there, savoring the way a story or idea can sneak up on you in the quietest moments. There’s a particular joy in the balance between the familiar and the unknown—the comfort of a beloved author’s work and the thrill of a completely new discovery.
I'm also fortunate in that I live in a district that maintains a library consisting of thousands of books available, for free, at the Recycling Center.
5. “How do you read as much as you do?”
I try to dedicate at least ten hours a week to reading—not just books, but also articles, magazines, and other materials. For me, reading is a habit, a daily rhythm that I make space for in my schedule. It’s less about speed and more about carving out intentional time to immerse myself in stories and ideas.
6. Choosing the Next Read
My next read is usually determined by what resonates with me in the moment. It’s often intuition, curiosity, or a spark of inspiration that guides me to my next literary adventure. For instance, in addition to books and literary publications, I've stumbled across many substacks I enjoy.
7. Travel Reads
When I travel, I usually bring my tablet and laptop. Occasionally, I’ll pack a physical book—often poetry or nature-related—but I tend to favor lighter, portable options. The goal is to have a book for whatever relaxing scenic spot I find. I also seek out bookshops when traveling to see their offerings.
8. Annotating
I rarely mark up my own books. I do enjoy buying secondhand books, many of which bear the notes and highlights of previous readers—a kind of shared conversation across time. If I feel the need to jot down thoughts, I keep a journal handy, and when planning a review, I often take notes either in my journal or directly on my laptop.
9. New or Backlist?
I’m drawn to books based on what captures my attention at the moment, so my reading list is a mix of both new releases and backlist treasures. As a reviewer, I often receive ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) of upcoming books, but most of you know how deeply fond I am of antique books. There’s something about the storytelling you find within them that continually draws me in—the weight of their age, the patience of their language, the sense that each story has already lived many lives before reaching my hands. They feel slower, more deliberate, as though inviting the reader not just to consume a story, but to linger inside it. That quiet pull is hard to explain, but once felt, it’s impossible to ignore.
Ultimately, it’s not the age of the book that matters—it’s whether the writing speaks to me.
10. Sequels
I’ve never been particularly drawn to sequels. Once a story has said what it needed to say, I like to let it rest where it ended, complete and intact. However, I do appreciate books that mirror each other thematically but aren’t continuations of the same story or characters. In writing this, I’m specifically thinking of my liking of The Call of the Wild and White Fang where one book is about domestication giving way to the wild, and the other about the wild moving toward civilization.
11. Bookmarks
Yes, I always use bookmarks! I have a collection of them. My favorites are often handcrafted gifts. It’s a simple pleasure, a reminder of the personal connection books bring into our lives.
Of Note
The image at the top of the blog post was taken at St Mary's Ohio Memorial Park. The park offers a quiet, moving glimpse into the past, anchored by a lovingly crafted replica of a canal boat ( Belle of St. Mary's), complete with a mule poised as if ready to guide it along the water once more. This thoughtful tribute brings the history of the canal era vividly to life. Nearby, a charming covered bridge arches gracefully over the St. Marys River, inviting visitors to cross and step onto the towpath, where echoes of earlier journeys seem to linger. Just beyond the park, the local library adds another layer to the story, its walls adorned with striking murals that celebrate and preserve the rich history and heritage of the area.
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