I'd Rather Be Reading

Title: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of The Reading Life

Author: Anne Bogel

Genre: Nonfiction, Books about Books, Memoir

Publisher: Baker Books

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Challenge: Virtual TBR, 50 Books Challenge

My review:

I read I'd Rather Be Reading for over a month.

It is easy to pick up, read a little bit, then set aside. I found the first half more interesting than the latter half. I am glad I read it, but I wouldn't read it again. 

A "great" book means different things to different people.

While Bogel's stories are interesting, as are her quirks, mine (and yours) will be different than hers. Why? Because of her quote below:

But reading is personal. We can't know what a book will mean to us until we read it. And so we take a leap and choose.

This is a book about books, and fellow book nerds or "bibliophiles" will enjoy reading it. There will be parts you can't help but agree with and others that will make you think. 

The best books move you, drawing out the full range of emotions from the reader, and somethings that includes breaking your heart. 

This book is a quick read. It took me longer because I forgot about it, LOL. I do think most people will find something to enjoy about this book. I am not familiar with this author's blog, nor had I read anything else about her. I came into the book without knowing anything about her and felt the book was okay, not great. I did enjoy her stories of living next door to a library, isn't that every book lover's dream?

★★★/5

Challenges: 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.

I'd Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary companion for everyone who feels that way. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives.

The perfect gift for the bibliophile in everyone's life, I'd Rather Be Reading will command an honored place on the overstuffed bookshelves of any book lover.