I hear you, I hear you... plus it's hard to focus when someone's powerwashing. I love the inner-worlds renditions here:)
If I may, I must admit that I enjoy to watch people when they read, often inadvertently, when they chuckle, gasp, or frown. It's hard not to check what they're reading. Plus, what a pleasure it is to congregate in cafés, libraries, bookstores, public transportation, on the beach, etc. with a book. A different experience altogether, but who does not like a little sand, a pressed flower or leaf in the books we read while away from our reading nooks?
I have to add (don't laugh): powerwashing is soooooo incredibly satisfying! Yes, I'd rather read, but when I can't, I'd take powerwashing over dusting or doing the laundry:)
That's a great story about Kingsolver! I was reading Kingsolver once at the social security office, and someone else's toddler kept asking me about it which led to a brief chat with his mom :)
Oh my goodness! What a story. :) I relate so much to this inner rattling or nervousness of having eyes on me while I’m reading — regardless of who it may be. I just want the pressure to lift in this quiet space.
And I’m absolutely, incredibly honored you chose to incorporate something I said in this piece. Thank you for this. 🙏🏼
Thanks so much, Amanda! I responded to your note and just saw that you commented here too. As I said, your words just stopped me in my tracks. And you said it so clearly! As someone who rambles a lot, I was like, whoa, how did she just say a perfectly quotable quote on the fly? 😂
You're my hero. My saviour. I wanted to write my next book by hand and with doddles and all sort of weird stuff that goes through my head. I was going carzy because I couldn't figure out how. And your post appeared in my feed. I am checking all your books. Thank you for writing this one. I think mine will on the line A Woman Writing and The Man Doing The Dishes.
I'm glad to hear it! I remember when I first read Maira Kalman's books, and I was like, Whoa, you can just handwrite your words? And paint cool images? Your title with the man doing dishes cracked me up!
For three years I have been in awe of Lynda Barry’s books. I have been wanting to create at least one book like hers. Now you have introduced me another writer Maura Kalman. I will check her out. I tried getting your book The Keeper, but it’s very expensive in Australia. I will buy it in London. I am going there in ten days.
Omg, the illustration of how we only see the outer appearance of women reading, but NOT where they go -- that was amazing. Along with everything else :-) A topic dear to my heart, ever since I was a kid, and being called 'out' of a book to come to dinner, or whatever, was always such a jolt.
Thanks so much! It was definitely satisfying to find that way to highlight the inner vs outer world. And yes, I remember those days of being called from reading for dinner! I would be like, “It might take a while! I’m coming from Narnia!”
I love Amanda B Hinton’s comment and I further love how you then opened up a view into the lively and entrancing reading worlds of these elegantly dressed, totally engrossed readers. That’s a calendar of women reading that I would totally buy!
One of my favourite posts (subject and incredible drawings that always are a party for my eyes), Dear Kelcey! Also, I identify well, as I feel the same when my landlord shows up to cut the grass in front of my window… immediately I move to the dinner table to hide from her so she doesn’t think that I am being lazy while she is doing the hard work…
I feel weird when I’m washing dishes as my lawn service guys blow off the deck (so we’re eye level through the window). It’s work but I still feel weird. 🤷♀️ It’s as if I feel we’re meant to hide the fact that we are home and therefore “available” to do the work we pay someone else for ourselves.
I love your art showing the inner lives of the reading women! Your post reminded me of something: Here in West Seattle there are occasional silent reading "events" where a bunch of people who don't necessarily know eachother get together at a coffee shop and just read their books quietly. This is probably a thing elsewhere too--idk? Personally, I don't get it cuz I'd rather be reading alone on my couch in my yoga pants. haha 😆
Love this post so much. How true that spending hours leisurely reading was really a privilege of the upper, mostly white classes, as evidenced by those portraits of women reading. And how true that it is such a vital part of being (and staying ) alive. Please put this one in your next book.... !!!
I wish I could get lost in reading and be transported into another time and place for hours in the way I could as a pre-digital age child. Those were the days of single bandwidth. No competing distractions -- texts, email, deck washers.
I hear you. I couldn't fit this in the post, but until summer I was actually worried that I'd lost the ability to read books! I would come home after a long day, crawl into bed, open a book, and promptly fall asleep. So I've just allowed myself to start the day with reading this summer, and I am so glad to find that my brain hasn't totally atrophied! I also found some books I love, one of which is Milkman by Anna Burns. It's (ostensibly, thought not officially named as such) set in the Troubles of 1970s Belfast, and the language is so gorgeous and subtly humorous. I think you'd appreciate it as a poet! (I couldn't get into the first time I tried reading it--at night after a long day--but morning brain couldn't get enough of it!)
I remember one day my wife and I moved across town (NYC) and the movers said, "you got a lotta books. Are you Jewish?"
Posting without further comment 😂
Thanks for this Kelcey!
Hahaha! That's perfect.
I hear you, I hear you... plus it's hard to focus when someone's powerwashing. I love the inner-worlds renditions here:)
If I may, I must admit that I enjoy to watch people when they read, often inadvertently, when they chuckle, gasp, or frown. It's hard not to check what they're reading. Plus, what a pleasure it is to congregate in cafés, libraries, bookstores, public transportation, on the beach, etc. with a book. A different experience altogether, but who does not like a little sand, a pressed flower or leaf in the books we read while away from our reading nooks?
I have to add (don't laugh): powerwashing is soooooo incredibly satisfying! Yes, I'd rather read, but when I can't, I'd take powerwashing over dusting or doing the laundry:)
You're so right--reading in public is a TOTALLY different thing! I hadn't thought about that, hmmmm...
And I am with you: I would take powerwashing or mowing the lawn over dusting and laundry any day!
Reading physical books in public is a positive counterexample to phones. It has generated a few serendipitous conversations with strangers.
Having Kingsolver at hand once saved me from a speeding ticket.
That's a great story about Kingsolver! I was reading Kingsolver once at the social security office, and someone else's toddler kept asking me about it which led to a brief chat with his mom :)
Oh my goodness! What a story. :) I relate so much to this inner rattling or nervousness of having eyes on me while I’m reading — regardless of who it may be. I just want the pressure to lift in this quiet space.
And I’m absolutely, incredibly honored you chose to incorporate something I said in this piece. Thank you for this. 🙏🏼
Thanks so much, Amanda! I responded to your note and just saw that you commented here too. As I said, your words just stopped me in my tracks. And you said it so clearly! As someone who rambles a lot, I was like, whoa, how did she just say a perfectly quotable quote on the fly? 😂
You're my hero. My saviour. I wanted to write my next book by hand and with doddles and all sort of weird stuff that goes through my head. I was going carzy because I couldn't figure out how. And your post appeared in my feed. I am checking all your books. Thank you for writing this one. I think mine will on the line A Woman Writing and The Man Doing The Dishes.
I'm glad to hear it! I remember when I first read Maira Kalman's books, and I was like, Whoa, you can just handwrite your words? And paint cool images? Your title with the man doing dishes cracked me up!
For three years I have been in awe of Lynda Barry’s books. I have been wanting to create at least one book like hers. Now you have introduced me another writer Maura Kalman. I will check her out. I tried getting your book The Keeper, but it’s very expensive in Australia. I will buy it in London. I am going there in ten days.
Lynda Barry is amazing, and I think you will appreciate Maira Kalman too! If you can't find The Keeper in London, let me know. I can get it to you! ❤️
Will do.
Weird, isn't it? Reading is a worthy thing to do. I guess it feels so good we don't really believe it is.
Omg, the illustration of how we only see the outer appearance of women reading, but NOT where they go -- that was amazing. Along with everything else :-) A topic dear to my heart, ever since I was a kid, and being called 'out' of a book to come to dinner, or whatever, was always such a jolt.
Thanks so much! It was definitely satisfying to find that way to highlight the inner vs outer world. And yes, I remember those days of being called from reading for dinner! I would be like, “It might take a while! I’m coming from Narnia!”
I love Amanda B Hinton’s comment and I further love how you then opened up a view into the lively and entrancing reading worlds of these elegantly dressed, totally engrossed readers. That’s a calendar of women reading that I would totally buy!
Thank you, Rebecca! That was my favorite part of the whole piece! (And yes, not a bad idea for a calendar! ❤️
One of my favourite posts (subject and incredible drawings that always are a party for my eyes), Dear Kelcey! Also, I identify well, as I feel the same when my landlord shows up to cut the grass in front of my window… immediately I move to the dinner table to hide from her so she doesn’t think that I am being lazy while she is doing the hard work…
That's so nice to hear about the post, C! ❤️ I didn't realize until reading many of the comments how common of a feeling this is!
It's good to know we are not alone in this!
It’s like reading is a leisure activity only! Odd!
Ha! Right?!
I wouldn't want the deck guy seeing me reading, either... but more than anything, having the deck guy within eyeshot would disturb my reading!
PS, I also took note of Amanda B. Hinton's comment about reading... 👀
Yes, it works both ways! And cool, you tuned in to the summit too! I thought Christin did a really great job.
I feel weird when I’m washing dishes as my lawn service guys blow off the deck (so we’re eye level through the window). It’s work but I still feel weird. 🤷♀️ It’s as if I feel we’re meant to hide the fact that we are home and therefore “available” to do the work we pay someone else for ourselves.
Yes, you know it's a fraught dynamic when even washing dishes feels weird! Ugh!
This goes perfectly with the book I just finished, Cal Newport’s slow productivity.
Oh I've seen that one mentioned a lot...I need to check it out!
It’s a good one! Between that and How To Do Nothing they’re two of my favorite summer reads ✨
Sounds like a perfect pair! I read How to Do Nothing a few years ago and definitely need to revisit it!
Oh! I love your pictures of the readers’ inner worlds! (I think it was a perfectly reasonable response, too.)
Thank you on both counts, Linda! 😁
I love your art showing the inner lives of the reading women! Your post reminded me of something: Here in West Seattle there are occasional silent reading "events" where a bunch of people who don't necessarily know eachother get together at a coffee shop and just read their books quietly. This is probably a thing elsewhere too--idk? Personally, I don't get it cuz I'd rather be reading alone on my couch in my yoga pants. haha 😆
Yes, there are some wonderful folks who have organized silent reading events in South Bend! And I too skip them to read at home! 😂
Hi Kat, I’m on the ferry ⛴️ looking at you in West Seattle… hmm 🤔 would you enjoy a Substack in-person? I’m considering a meetup
I hope you can meet!
Not everybody has alone space and quiet time at home.
Good point, and very true.
Love this post so much. How true that spending hours leisurely reading was really a privilege of the upper, mostly white classes, as evidenced by those portraits of women reading. And how true that it is such a vital part of being (and staying ) alive. Please put this one in your next book.... !!!
My next book, you say??? 😁
wait is this post already in one of your books?? IN any case, I can't wait to read ALL of them. 😍
I wish I could get lost in reading and be transported into another time and place for hours in the way I could as a pre-digital age child. Those were the days of single bandwidth. No competing distractions -- texts, email, deck washers.
I hear you. I couldn't fit this in the post, but until summer I was actually worried that I'd lost the ability to read books! I would come home after a long day, crawl into bed, open a book, and promptly fall asleep. So I've just allowed myself to start the day with reading this summer, and I am so glad to find that my brain hasn't totally atrophied! I also found some books I love, one of which is Milkman by Anna Burns. It's (ostensibly, thought not officially named as such) set in the Troubles of 1970s Belfast, and the language is so gorgeous and subtly humorous. I think you'd appreciate it as a poet! (I couldn't get into the first time I tried reading it--at night after a long day--but morning brain couldn't get enough of it!)