Fran, you might appreciate that I listened to this post on the bus. Delightful narration and “the
voice’s” pronunciation of cortado brought me a smile.
I agree. I’ve had a few talks with myself recently about slowing down to savor vs galloping through the chapters. In Meditations for Mortals Oliver Burkeman offers the idea of treating our reading like dipping into a stream instead of getting emptying our to-be-read box. I like this along with his and your acknowledgement that just because something is excellent didn’t mean I must read it (or finish it).
Oh, yes, we can love a book and yet not finish it. Thanks for pointing that out. . . . I’ve thought about recording my postings, but I’m not quite sure about the mechanics and I’m such a perfectionist, I’d keep having to start over. One of these days…
And I have something else to say about Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, like why she is Mrs. Basil. It’s in the Jan 31 posting coming up Saturday. And I am slow-reading through Burkeman’s book about 4,000 weeks.
Always enjoy being in your curious, wandering and wondering company, Fran. Yes, to slow down and savor is good advice for reading & life. And The Mixed Up Files book was a childhood favorite of mine. Glad you enjoyed it! Loved especially your description of winter moods: “Winter is a shamanic time, when the membrane between reality and dreamtime is thinner.’ My inner shaman is taking to a lot of recent dancing around my living room & burning incense and pulling tarot cards, going within rather than venturing out.
Today, I just sat on my recliner for over an hour, inviting the universe, enjoying the ride, knowing that I might not consciously understand, but that the understanding was in me.
Hi Fran, I have missed reading you. It has been a long time, but I find myself here for the perfect post. I relate to reading too fast and not remembering what I read because I’m hurry to get to the next read.
Yes, there is too much to read. I am going to take your advice and read less, read slower and save what I read so I can sit with me and teach me something anything.
Actually, Scott gave me a snow shovel for our anniversary in 2015, our first winter in Portland after living in Boring for 36 years. We didn't have any sidewalks out in the country and the driveway was gravel.
I remember that ice storm! We didn’t have power for a week. I had a one year-old baby and we had to live in the basement, where there was a fireplace. We couldn’t get our car out of the garage because it had an electric door opener, and we didn’t have a key.
Oh, my!! Those are the things that toughened us up! We went to Tierra de Mar for our honeymoon and sat on the deck in shirt sleeves one day. The contrast was amazing.
I think I got the 1.8 million figure from Sarah Fay, who said she heard it somewhere, that Substack owners have never divulged a figure, and that the number of Substacks is probably in the tens of thousands, not millions.
Love this Fran! So many of us need more slowing down, a deepened absorption. Your pieces always offer a glimpse of what’s possible when we pay attention. I want to crawl inside that cup and traverse those sedimentary layers!
Ya do this so well. Thank you. Words woven fine. A woke this morning with a great dream so I sit here and feel I’m on this magic carpet. Now reminded that I must reread a book written by Olaf Stapledon. Old book I found in my grade school library fifty nine years ago. Your words are reminders to me to slow down. To watch wind in trees with out ambition. At least for awhile. And later when the time is right, I will write about what I learned in my dream.
Lots of good stuff here. Little treasures throughtout, including that 50-shekel note. An Israeli probably read that book, or perhaps someone who visit the country. I still have coins from when Israel used lirot and agorot,
A young girl I worked with long long ago rave about the only book she every read: Mrs. Frankweiler. She may not have read much, but she will always remember and love that one. Meanwhile, like you, I've built a mountain of books to read. Now that my eyes have deteriorated, I don't enjoy the reading experience at all, juggling the book and a huge magnifying glass and trying to turn pages and hold the book in the light. So, my Kindle library is now on my computer to read. Currently, I'm burrowing slowly through Women who Run with Wolves. Very dense anaysis of folk and fairytales. I don't expect to remember much of it, but what stands out are the epiphanies I have in each chapter.
It’s just harder to read as we get older. After only a dozen or so pages, I find myself turning to video solitaire, letting my mind clear. A lot of times, I just sit and “meditate,” more like fantasizing and napping rolled into one.
It's funny- I had the same thought this year about reading less, as I found myself not clearly remembering all the books I read last year. Good insight:)
Oooh, this is one of my favorite BECOMINGs! Reading less and more slowly is good counsel. I tear through books but often don’t retain even the jewels. I must change my reading ways. Thank you!
Your photos help me open my eyes to the details of this city we live in. So thank you for that too. See, you have really inspired me tonight!
I read two (2) of the YA Books you recommended a few months ago - and thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Your writing is so delightful and makes my Saturday evenings!
I just read another great kids book, “Busted,” by Dan Gemeinhart. A boy who’s lived with his grandpa in assisted living since he was a baby is enlisted in a wild plot to help this former mafioso go off campus to tie up some loose ends in his life. The man swears a lot, so the kid substitutes “quack” and “quacking” for the cuss words. You know what they are, and it’s funny! So are the misadventures they encounter.
Fran, you might appreciate that I listened to this post on the bus. Delightful narration and “the
voice’s” pronunciation of cortado brought me a smile.
I agree. I’ve had a few talks with myself recently about slowing down to savor vs galloping through the chapters. In Meditations for Mortals Oliver Burkeman offers the idea of treating our reading like dipping into a stream instead of getting emptying our to-be-read box. I like this along with his and your acknowledgement that just because something is excellent didn’t mean I must read it (or finish it).
Thanks, Fran!
Oh, yes, we can love a book and yet not finish it. Thanks for pointing that out. . . . I’ve thought about recording my postings, but I’m not quite sure about the mechanics and I’m such a perfectionist, I’d keep having to start over. One of these days…
Honestly the computer voice does a pretty nice job! I say save your energy for your cool urban exploring.
Even though your post is about reading _less_, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is now ready for me to pick up at the library! ; )
And I have something else to say about Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, like why she is Mrs. Basil. It’s in the Jan 31 posting coming up Saturday. And I am slow-reading through Burkeman’s book about 4,000 weeks.
Always enjoy being in your curious, wandering and wondering company, Fran. Yes, to slow down and savor is good advice for reading & life. And The Mixed Up Files book was a childhood favorite of mine. Glad you enjoyed it! Loved especially your description of winter moods: “Winter is a shamanic time, when the membrane between reality and dreamtime is thinner.’ My inner shaman is taking to a lot of recent dancing around my living room & burning incense and pulling tarot cards, going within rather than venturing out.
Today, I just sat on my recliner for over an hour, inviting the universe, enjoying the ride, knowing that I might not consciously understand, but that the understanding was in me.
Hi Fran, I have missed reading you. It has been a long time, but I find myself here for the perfect post. I relate to reading too fast and not remembering what I read because I’m hurry to get to the next read.
Yes, there is too much to read. I am going to take your advice and read less, read slower and save what I read so I can sit with me and teach me something anything.
With love
Prajna
Most excellent!
Actually, Scott gave me a snow shovel for our anniversary in 2015, our first winter in Portland after living in Boring for 36 years. We didn't have any sidewalks out in the country and the driveway was gravel.
Thanks for an enjoyable read.
I remember that ice storm! We didn’t have power for a week. I had a one year-old baby and we had to live in the basement, where there was a fireplace. We couldn’t get our car out of the garage because it had an electric door opener, and we didn’t have a key.
Oh, my!! Those are the things that toughened us up! We went to Tierra de Mar for our honeymoon and sat on the deck in shirt sleeves one day. The contrast was amazing.
How romantic! You must have a winter anniversary, like I do.
Jan 13th, 1979 in the middle of that ice storm.
Wonderful post Fran! 'Becoming' is eye opening and you are 1 in a million or 1.8 million! A gem. Thanks for the enlightenment!
ps...I did read Mrs Frankweiler in the late 60's (and I loved it then) and it will be quite fun to read once again. Thank you~
I think I got the 1.8 million figure from Sarah Fay, who said she heard it somewhere, that Substack owners have never divulged a figure, and that the number of Substacks is probably in the tens of thousands, not millions.
Love this Fran! So many of us need more slowing down, a deepened absorption. Your pieces always offer a glimpse of what’s possible when we pay attention. I want to crawl inside that cup and traverse those sedimentary layers!
Ya do this so well. Thank you. Words woven fine. A woke this morning with a great dream so I sit here and feel I’m on this magic carpet. Now reminded that I must reread a book written by Olaf Stapledon. Old book I found in my grade school library fifty nine years ago. Your words are reminders to me to slow down. To watch wind in trees with out ambition. At least for awhile. And later when the time is right, I will write about what I learned in my dream.
A great read and many thanks for the mention — may your 2026 be filled with finding wonders in books.
Here’s to finding many more treasures in books!
Besides the. words themselves . . .
Such interesting “tree toes”! Very glad the passerby helped you get unstuck.
Lots of good stuff here. Little treasures throughtout, including that 50-shekel note. An Israeli probably read that book, or perhaps someone who visit the country. I still have coins from when Israel used lirot and agorot,
A young girl I worked with long long ago rave about the only book she every read: Mrs. Frankweiler. She may not have read much, but she will always remember and love that one. Meanwhile, like you, I've built a mountain of books to read. Now that my eyes have deteriorated, I don't enjoy the reading experience at all, juggling the book and a huge magnifying glass and trying to turn pages and hold the book in the light. So, my Kindle library is now on my computer to read. Currently, I'm burrowing slowly through Women who Run with Wolves. Very dense anaysis of folk and fairytales. I don't expect to remember much of it, but what stands out are the epiphanies I have in each chapter.
It’s just harder to read as we get older. After only a dozen or so pages, I find myself turning to video solitaire, letting my mind clear. A lot of times, I just sit and “meditate,” more like fantasizing and napping rolled into one.
That is a lot of substacks!! Another exciting rescue in the wild, featuring squirrels! I don’t know if I can read less.
Sure you can! Try riding the bus!
It's funny- I had the same thought this year about reading less, as I found myself not clearly remembering all the books I read last year. Good insight:)
Oooh, this is one of my favorite BECOMINGs! Reading less and more slowly is good counsel. I tear through books but often don’t retain even the jewels. I must change my reading ways. Thank you!
Your photos help me open my eyes to the details of this city we live in. So thank you for that too. See, you have really inspired me tonight!
Thank you! I am torn. I really want to read, read, read. But the days when I could do that are past.
I love the shovels for sale sign. Back east, we're being beseiged. A winter unlike we've had in years.
My daughters are stuck in the snow in New York and Vermont.. Except that the Vermont girl is on vacation in Egypt. Good call.
I read two (2) of the YA Books you recommended a few months ago - and thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Your writing is so delightful and makes my Saturday evenings!
I just read another great kids book, “Busted,” by Dan Gemeinhart. A boy who’s lived with his grandpa in assisted living since he was a baby is enlisted in a wild plot to help this former mafioso go off campus to tie up some loose ends in his life. The man swears a lot, so the kid substitutes “quack” and “quacking” for the cuss words. You know what they are, and it’s funny! So are the misadventures they encounter.
Delightful, as always.
I appreciate your steadfast dedication -- to reading, writing, noticing.