Librarian here. Research shows that audiobooks light up the same parts of the brain as reading text and comprehension is identical, so you’ve definitely read Dostoevsky!
John, You are a delightful soul--and our exchanges that, sadly for me, seem to have ended filled me with the joy of your generosity and intellectual acumen. Sending fondness and a hope for reconnecting ASAP!
Made me laugh: As you say, that could be a long, long wait.
Here's a thought that might help with the "damn book": I always read something unrelated to my own work--and that helps me write because as Hèléne Cixous says: “Writing and reading are not separate; reading is a part of writing. A real reader is already on the way to writing.” Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing
I've been reading 150+ books a year for a while now, and there are still so many canonical Classics I haven't read and never will. So while I can't converse about Dickens or Dostoevsky (which have never come in conversation), I can talk about a lot of other things (fantasy and historical novels) that have actually come up in conversation. I have made my peace with that fact that there are more books coming out in a single year than can be read in one lifetime.
I am also, sadly, not great at learning languages.
I have a strong compulsion to reassure you but that might imply that I'm in some superior advice-dispensing position which, of course, I'm not. I am, like you, like everyone, down in the impostor-syndrome-fray beating myself up!
Yes, that's why I wrote this. I have a sneaking suspicion that pretty much everyone who is not an outright narcissist feels this way, so I thought people might identify.
John, this missive touched my heart. While our paths are distinct, I feel we have been going through a similar period of introspection. We are all flawed creatures but sometimes the hardest person to admit that to is ourselves. I am grateful to have found you through this platform and intend to continue enjoying your work regardless of your self-declared shortcomings. In unrelated news, I will be down in your neck of the woods the last week of this month. Our daughter wanted a vacation to the Gulf Shores for her graduation trip so rented an AirBnB for a few days. All the best my friend.
Thanks, Matthew! The feeling is entirely mutual. Let's touch base to see if we can get a coffee or something when you are down this way. It would be great to chat in person.
Librarian here. Research shows that audiobooks light up the same parts of the brain as reading text and comprehension is identical, so you’ve definitely read Dostoevsky!
I have a ton of imposter syndrome too.
Thanks, Ellen! That’s a relief: maybe I should listen to more audiobooks.
You just need to find a situation that lets you focus. For me, that’s the car.
John, You are a delightful soul--and our exchanges that, sadly for me, seem to have ended filled me with the joy of your generosity and intellectual acumen. Sending fondness and a hope for reconnecting ASAP!
Thanks, Mary! I still have your recent book on my shelf, and I look forward to reading it, probably after I finish my own damn book :)
Made me laugh: As you say, that could be a long, long wait.
Here's a thought that might help with the "damn book": I always read something unrelated to my own work--and that helps me write because as Hèléne Cixous says: “Writing and reading are not separate; reading is a part of writing. A real reader is already on the way to writing.” Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing
I've been reading 150+ books a year for a while now, and there are still so many canonical Classics I haven't read and never will. So while I can't converse about Dickens or Dostoevsky (which have never come in conversation), I can talk about a lot of other things (fantasy and historical novels) that have actually come up in conversation. I have made my peace with that fact that there are more books coming out in a single year than can be read in one lifetime.
I am also, sadly, not great at learning languages.
“You always make every day so special, by just your being you. And people can like you exactly as you are.” -Fred Rogers
One of my heroes.
I have a strong compulsion to reassure you but that might imply that I'm in some superior advice-dispensing position which, of course, I'm not. I am, like you, like everyone, down in the impostor-syndrome-fray beating myself up!
Yes, that's why I wrote this. I have a sneaking suspicion that pretty much everyone who is not an outright narcissist feels this way, so I thought people might identify.
John, this missive touched my heart. While our paths are distinct, I feel we have been going through a similar period of introspection. We are all flawed creatures but sometimes the hardest person to admit that to is ourselves. I am grateful to have found you through this platform and intend to continue enjoying your work regardless of your self-declared shortcomings. In unrelated news, I will be down in your neck of the woods the last week of this month. Our daughter wanted a vacation to the Gulf Shores for her graduation trip so rented an AirBnB for a few days. All the best my friend.
Thanks, Matthew! The feeling is entirely mutual. Let's touch base to see if we can get a coffee or something when you are down this way. It would be great to chat in person.