It's basically (almost) summer (in the northern hemisphere - hey friends on the other side - I see you!), which means I'm inviting you to READ.
I invite you to read anything, anytime, always, but if you would like a structured invitation to the process, I have got you.
THIS IS MY BOOK LIST FOR THE SUMMER
**book club invites for [virtual latte] subscribers**
June - American Detox, by Kerri Kelly
July - Becoming, by Michelle Obama
August - The Worthy Project, by Meadow DeVor
September - Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Archane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution, by R.F. Kuang (releasing Aug 23rd)
INDEX CARDS ARE MY LOVE LANGUAGE
This is a methodology inspired by my father, who is a great purchaser of books, who exists inside of a dozen books at a time, and who values having as much as reading.
I find it quite useful for the sharing of books, whether I've borrowed from the library or am passing along.
If you are the sort of person who likes to keep quotes or ideas from a book because you are then going to teach it or discuss it at a book club, stick an index card in the book to use as your bookmark.
ON SIDE ONE:
- Write down the title & author
- The date you are reading
- Page numbers & full quotes
ON SIDE TWO:
- Thoughts
- Feelings
- Reflections
- Questions
HOW TO READ LIKE A GROWN UP
Reading should be nourishing or joyful or both
Reading will change the way you think or engage with the world
Reflecting privately has merit
Sharing your thoughts, feelings, reflections,& questions has merit
Reading things you wouldn't have initially
chosen can change your life
Reading will improve your writing
Books are meant to be shared
One can be in the middle of many books simultaneously
Consuming books simultaneously or one at a time are equally wonderful
All books count
The best places to locate new books include free & public libraries, bookstores, shelves, and social media
Oprah & The NYT make lists of books, and so can you!
If promising yourself a new plant, a round of Putt Putt, or an ice cream cone helps you finish a book, you can absolutely leverage this beautiful facet of adulthood & reward yourself!
Reading includes written & spoken words, purchased and borrowed - paper, electronic, audio - read in the way that best suits you
EXTRA CREDIT
When you finish reading a book this summer, consider the ways in which you can share the legacy of this teaching with others
Gift or donate a paper book you have written to someone who would benefit from reading it
Read some books written by people whose lived experience is different from yours, whose book has not yet 'made it' into the mainstream
Read books about anti-racism. Out loud. From your balcony. Through a megaphone.
Write a review of the book on a platform where readers share their commentary - book selling websites & book reviewing websites.
Who would benefit from reading this book?
What do you need to know before reading it?
In what way was this book meaningful to you?
What did this book make you want to do next?
If a book wow-ed you, send a note to the author. You can do this via social media, email, snail mail, or cast the intention into the ether.
Consider how this book fits into the lived experience of your life - will it impact decisions you make, become part of your memoir, or help you in some way? Was it super fun? FUN COUNTS you can read things JUST FOR FUN!
[Virtual Latte] Bonuses
free subscribers get access to my book reviews
Paid subscribers get weekly nuggets and reflections in their inboxes
Coffee Connoisseurs get postcards, first releases, and invitations to live [virtual] conversations
PS: The links to the books at the top are affiliate links to bookshop, which is a sweet place to spend your dollars because it supports the writers AND independent bookstores. If you click them and purchase something, there is a tiny chance that one day I will receive a few pennies for sending you there. I keep lists of books there, and I love lists.
PPS: The list of books I’ve read so far in 2022 and a one-liner about what I think of them.