#410: Re-Re-READ
Books and how I love to read them.
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I got hit with the yucky stomach bug this week past. Not bad-bad, but bad enough to knock me out for a few days. After everything calmed down, my energy hasn’t been at its usual how-many-things-can-I-check-off-my-list-for-today pace, so I’ve been staying home, resting, cuddling with Bosco who is the absolute Best. Buddy. Ever., and reading all the books in the pile next to my bed. I’m hoping that by tomorrow I’ll be pretty much back to my usual self. I did venture out today when I got notification in my emails that a book on my library hold list was ready to pick up. Books are part of the get well process, right?
In a recent phone conversation with Annette Laing of Non-Boring History … yes, Substack writers do become friends and enjoy catching up via something other than emails or texts … we talked of how books are important to us and that we both grew up loving to read. I commented about a survey I had seen not too long ago showing that the percentage of people reading for pleasure has dipped significantly.1 Honestly, I cannot imagine a life void of books or the ability to read them.
As I was writing this, I recalled the famous The Twilight Zone episode of a man, who loves to read more than anything, sneaking off to the vault of the bank where he works as a teller to do just that only to discover, when he comes out, the nuclear destruction of the world. He is now the last man alive and contemplates suicide. When he discovers that the books of the library have been spared, he happily organizes them in piles to Re-Re-READ as my son Duncan used to say when he was a toddler.2 Then just as he is about to settle in to read uninterrupted bliss and happiness for the remainder of his days, his glasses slide off his nose, shattering and leaving him virtually blind, surrounded by all the books he will never be able to read … a personal hell if there ever was one. I hope that never ever happens to any of us.3
If you might be wondering what the book is that I had on reserve at my local library, it’s The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. I’ve just started it and love that printed on the back of the dust jacket are the words “Have you ever wished you could live inside a book?” I often feel I do. Anyone else?
P.S. I realize this is kinda a short missive to you this week and I’m hoping I’ll be back at full speed very soon! Until then, here’s a pic of my best buddy.
“Study Finds 20-Year Drop in Reading for Pleasure”, Publishers Weekly Jim Milliot |Aug 21, 2025
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98435-study-finds-20-year-drop-in-reading-for-pleasure.html
I now have the honor of taking my grandson to storytime each week at our local library. I love that he is growing up in the stacks just as my son did and I did, too.
The Twilight Zone episode is “Time Enough At Last” (1959).
As I started to read your post, I thought of that twilight zone episode, and then I saw that you mentioned it! That twilight zone episode was traumatic for me since I was always a big reader even as a young child. The closest I got to living inside a book was when I worked at Borders books and music in the 90s. Surrounded by books, I was in heaven! I hope you feel better soon.😘🌷
Oh, Kate! I'm one of those who literally gets so into reading something I like that the hall alarm could go off over my head and I wouldn't hear it (this used to happen A LOT in school and I'd wonder where everyone went). Love the whole aesthetic of touching books, being able to wander through them and re-read over and over. Computers can't compare; Kindle will NEVER interest me and, sadly yes my eyes are getting worse but BOOKS ARE MY FRIENDS! Thanks for reminding me how much pleasure they give. They DO have a habit of multiplying, though, even when I'm trying to be "good"...!