#Our Reading Lives

Our Reading Lives features stories about how books and reading have shaped who we are and how we live.

New Adult Fiction: When You Want Adult Characters, But Not Too Adult

So you want to read about adult characters, but you're not ready for the emotional suburban dramas of literary fiction? Try New Adult.

One of The Books That Has Most Influenced Me Was One I Hated

Can a book you despise impact your life more than a book you love?

To Pizza Hut’s Book It! Program: A Fond Love Letter

The great thing about Pizza Hut’s Book It! program is that, when you’re a kid, doing a task to earn your own food makes you feel like an adult.

BLEAK HOUSE on the Beach: What Makes a Good Beach Read?

What kinds of books do you bring to the beach? One reader reflects on her preference for more serious beach reads.

Skipping Ahead: A Necessary Bookish Habit

Five Reasons You Should Try Bookish Thrifting

10 Rules for the Good Book Borrower

"I don’t want it, now that it’s been fermented in your tepid, grimy meat-suit cleanser."

The Salve of Beach Glass and Audiobooks

A reader muses about fleeting moments of beauty while walking the shores of Lake Michigan with audiobooks plugged in.

Can I Be a Feminist and Still Enjoy Chick Lit?

Yes, yes you can. A reader discusses her surprise at finding a one-star review that stated, "As a feminist, I cannot enjoy chick lit."

How Three Surprises in One Bookshop Saved My Vacation

All about what happened when a reader recuperating from a literary pilgrimage along Hadrian’s Wall experienced magic in a Hexham bookshop.