Reader Profile
Growing up, I read everything. If the book was in my house, I read it. My mom often joked that she would leave her book club book out on the kitchen table for a week, and then ask me what she should talk about at the meeting. I bulldozed through the YA room at my local library. I read my siblings’ books, even if they were technically below my grade level. Picture the very hungry caterpillar, but with books instead of apples and cupcakes.
As an adult, my reading life has been less consistent, but richer. My undergraduate degree is in Creative Writing/Poetry, so that was a time of discovering literary magazines. In my early twenties, I formed a book club and we read pretty widely from almost every genre possible. Ironically, during my time as an MLIS student, I’m reading less than I think I ever have, and I miss it so much. I know I’ll get back to it when the bulk of my reading stops being so academic.
When I do find the time, I gravitate most towards:
- Poetry, still! It’s probably the only type of re-reading I do. Current favorites include Jose Olivarez, Ada Limon, Kimmy Walters, and Marie Howe. The Poetry Foundation has an amazing poetry library in Chicago and they pull in some great speakers.
- Graphic Novels are engaging during my long commute, and they pull me into a story when I’m feeling a little rusty and distracted. I borrowed the Monstress series by Marjorie M. Liu from a coworker, and although it was a little more violent/grisly than most things I read, I found the world captivating and the story compelling. I also like Lucy Knisley’s more autobiographical style (and she lives in Chicago!).
- Classic mysteries like Agatha Christie’s are great when I want to read something light. I have been known to miss my bus stop to find out whodunnit.
- I am a sucker for literary fiction about women’s interior lives. Some favorites include Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings, The Round House by Louise Erdrich, Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, and Circe by Madeline Miller. I can deal with almost no plot as long as I like the character’s voice and relate to how she thinks and feels.
-The older I get, the more I enjoy nonfiction. I like personal essay collections just as much as adventurous explorations of topics like sex and dating, money, feminism, and general “how to be a good person in the world” musings.
I’m looking forward to reading things I might not otherwise choose via this class! I really enjoy getting out of my established reading ruts and finding new favorites in unlikely places.
As an adult, my reading life has been less consistent, but richer. My undergraduate degree is in Creative Writing/Poetry, so that was a time of discovering literary magazines. In my early twenties, I formed a book club and we read pretty widely from almost every genre possible. Ironically, during my time as an MLIS student, I’m reading less than I think I ever have, and I miss it so much. I know I’ll get back to it when the bulk of my reading stops being so academic.
When I do find the time, I gravitate most towards:
- Poetry, still! It’s probably the only type of re-reading I do. Current favorites include Jose Olivarez, Ada Limon, Kimmy Walters, and Marie Howe. The Poetry Foundation has an amazing poetry library in Chicago and they pull in some great speakers.
- Graphic Novels are engaging during my long commute, and they pull me into a story when I’m feeling a little rusty and distracted. I borrowed the Monstress series by Marjorie M. Liu from a coworker, and although it was a little more violent/grisly than most things I read, I found the world captivating and the story compelling. I also like Lucy Knisley’s more autobiographical style (and she lives in Chicago!).
- Classic mysteries like Agatha Christie’s are great when I want to read something light. I have been known to miss my bus stop to find out whodunnit.
- I am a sucker for literary fiction about women’s interior lives. Some favorites include Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings, The Round House by Louise Erdrich, Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews, and Circe by Madeline Miller. I can deal with almost no plot as long as I like the character’s voice and relate to how she thinks and feels.
-The older I get, the more I enjoy nonfiction. I like personal essay collections just as much as adventurous explorations of topics like sex and dating, money, feminism, and general “how to be a good person in the world” musings.
I’m looking forward to reading things I might not otherwise choose via this class! I really enjoy getting out of my established reading ruts and finding new favorites in unlikely places.
