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A Beginner’s Map of Biographies
The first chapter was slow, and the slowness was the point. Every great book quietly argues with an older one. A short story can hold a whole life in twenty pages. Lessons A short story can hold a whole life in twenty pages. The footnotes were better than many novels I read this year. Some…
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What I Learned Reading History Books for a Year
The footnotes were better than many novels I read this year. Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. Keeping a reading log turned a habit into a conversation. The short version Some books are best read in one sitting; others need a month and a pencil. Rereading a book shows you how much you…
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What I Learned Reading Philosophy for a Year
Every great book quietly argues with an older one. The first chapter was slow, and the slowness was the point. Good translation is invisible until you compare two of them. Context Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. I underlined less this year and remembered more. Abandoning a book is allowed and sometimes wise.…
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Short Story Collections I Keep Recommending
I underlined less this year and remembered more. The first chapter was slow, and the slowness was the point. The author never explains the ending, and that is generous. What didn’t Good translation is invisible until you compare two of them. Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. Abandoning a book is allowed and…
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A Beginner’s Map of History Books
The footnotes were better than many novels I read this year. Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. I underlined less this year and remembered more. The short version Poetry rewards reading aloud, even to an empty room. Rereading a book shows you how much you changed. The footnotes were better than many novels…
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A Beginner’s Map of Translated Fiction
Keeping a reading log turned a habit into a conversation. Every great book quietly argues with an older one. The footnotes were better than many novels I read this year. The short version The first chapter was slow, and the slowness was the point. Rereading a book shows you how much you changed. Every great…
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Poetry I Keep Recommending
Rereading a book shows you how much you changed. Every great book quietly argues with an older one. Abandoning a book is allowed and sometimes wise. Lessons The author never explains the ending, and that is generous. Some books are best read in one sitting; others need a month and a pencil. Libraries remain the…
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In Defence of Mysteries
Some books are best read in one sitting; others need a month and a pencil. I underlined less this year and remembered more. A short story can hold a whole life in twenty pages. The short version Rereading a book shows you how much you changed. Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. The…
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In Defence of Translated Fiction
Abandoning a book is allowed and sometimes wise. Some books are best read in one sitting; others need a month and a pencil. Reading before bed works best on paper and badly on a phone. What worked Libraries remain the best recommendation engine ever built. Abandoning a book is allowed and sometimes wise. A short…