There’s been an article circulating for a few weeks about how the kids aren’t reading anymore, and college professors have stopped assigning whole books to read because students won’t finish them. Then I saw a post on Bluesky about how writers and academics aren’t reading anymore (it has since been deleted so maybe the poster realized it was flawed). For the past two weeks I’ve also struggled to finish a book.
I’m not worried. This happens on occasion. When you read constantly, you’re bound to hit rough patches. Lately I’ve been starting books, and, for whatever reason, I have not enjoyed them and so I stop reading them. Perhaps I’m just making poor choices. Perhaps these are not the right books for right now. Perhaps I’m too distracted by the news or the upcoming holiday season to really focus on these stories. Still, I keep trying.
This all has got me wondering: who is reading and what was the last book they finished? I put the question to our bookstore’s community on Instagram and received a positive and encouraging response.
“We’re still reading!” was the general consensus. (Phew.) The most common book respondents had just completed was “Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout. This makes sense to me because it’s a book that returns to beloved characters and continues their stories. They’re known entities, which feels comfortable. Most people coming to this book have read at least one other Elizabeth Strout book and they know they’re safe in her hands.
Other people mentioned slightly older books like “Interview with a Vampire” by Anne Rice, “The Friend” by Sigrid Nunez, and “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan. These books continue to stand the test of time. “Interview with a Vampire” has been made into a TV show that’s been airing since 2022, though I, like many people, am only just hearing about it. A recent headline from Slate declared it “The Best Show Almost Nobody is Watching.” Still, the story continues to be part of the zeitgeist. “The Friend” won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2018 and “Good Squad” won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2011 — two qualifiers that assure readers in 2024 they will be satisfied with their choice.
Other entries included “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon, “Small Mercies” by Dennis Lehane, “All Fours” by Miranda July, “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney, and “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore, all books that recently have been or are currently on bestseller lists. This is another kind of stamp of approval. It’s also a way to feel part of something, to feel less alone. If we’re all reading the same thing, that gives us not just something to talk about besides the weather, but a way to bond, to go a little deeper.
It might feel hard to take risks right now, when the government is changing hands and uncertainty of what the new administration will bring looms. When the seasons are changing and the end of the year is nigh, bringing with it its own form of stresses and unknowns. I fully embrace returning to the classics at times like these. Maybe now is also a good time to join — or form — a book club. Soon you’ll also be seeing every media outlet announce its Best Books of the Year. (Stay tuned for mine . . .) If you’ve been struggling to finish a book, those lists might be a good place to start.
Hannah Harlow is owner of The Book Shop, an independent bookstore in Beverly Farms. Harlow writes semi-regular recommendations for our readers. See more of what she recommends reading at thecricket.com.
