#Our Reading Lives

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

How THE WITCHES Made Me the Reader and Writer I am Today

A reader remembers encountering Roald Dahl's THE WITCHES for the first time, and how the book guided their early reading and writing experiences.

The Subtle Magic of Reading on an Airplane

Do you find the reading experience improved in-flight? Here's one reader on why reading on an airplane is such a pleasurable experience.

New Independent Bookstores In Old Homes

A reader keeps up with the indie bookstore scenes in the places where she used to live, and talks about some favorite spots.

Books are Like Time Machines: Remembering Life Through Books

Books are like time travel machines for me. They transport me back to when I first read them. I often find myself remembering my life through books.

Thanks, Dad, For All the Sci-Fi

A reader remembers the part his father played in the development of his love for reading and, specifically, science fiction.

Getting Started With Goodreads

After years of avoiding the platform, a reader gives in and starts a Goodreads account. Here's how this reader navigated lists and the rating system.

Coming Back to YA as an Older Reader

A reader on returning to YA books--what that reading experience looks like as an adult and parent, and the books that pulled her back in.

Why I’m No Longer Reading Books by White Men

Wherein one reader decides to stop reading books by white men, and how this experiment affected her perspective and reading experience.

Another Year, Another BookExpo

Missed Book Expo? A reader is here to tell you about the experience...and the totes.

I (Re-)Discovered Comics in Grad School: 5 Favorites

How often do you hear “grad school” and “pleasure reading” used in the same sentence? Not very often. Comics changed that for this reader.