An Ode of Gratitude to All the Books I

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[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Please understand this is not intended as a criticism of said books

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A few weeks ago, I listened with glee as several of my fellow Rioters talked about how

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] They were talking about which books of hers are their favorites, what order to read them in,

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I’m quite sure that if I actually picked one up, I’d like it

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] And oh, what joy! What delicious freedom! Three whole books — good books! books that come highly recommended! —

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Thank you for giving me this precious, precious gift of books that I do not need to

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] A lot of people I follow on Bookstagram have been reading the 2022 Booker Prize longlist

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] But a lot of smart, interesting, thoughtful bookish people have been posting about these Booker books for

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] What a glorious relief! One more beautiful book, full of rich historical detail, I’m sure, and

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Sign up to Today In Books to receive daily news and miscellany from the world of books

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] While we’re at it, I’d like to offer my deep and endless gratitude to Trust

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I just can’t get excited about such a long book about straight people

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I’ll continue to read intriguing reviews that make me curious about it

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] I’ll heap it with all the praise, because, truly, what a feat, to write a book

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Every year there are a few books that, for reasons I still can’t quite figure out,

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] One of those books this year is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I read a few glowing reviews from several queer bookstagrammers I follow, and thought, yeah, it sounds

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] And then, I don’t know what happened, I just kept not picking it up

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] I still have the audiobook saved, and every time I go to pick a new audiobook I

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Is it because I thought it was super queer and it’s really not? Maybe

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Thank you, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, for your service

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] I love the idea of cozy mysteries, but the truth is that when I’m looking for

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] There’s so much, and I’ll never get through it! So even though the premises of

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] There are plenty of books out there about things I have absolutely no interest in

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] And there are some genres I know I don’t like — very scary and/or gory horror,

[{"selector":"#anim-574aa85e-66b7-49d5-84bb-35b3f4202fba [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.4034399948172863e-15%, 2.5495635385903583e-7%) scale(0.8403361344537815)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] But all of those books are a given, you know? I’m not tempted by the newest

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] If I had all the time in the world, I would absolutely read them

[{"selector":"#anim-312dbec2-448c-4388-85c4-1b8014f14582","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d08196-99ec-4261-87a6-4af6a44e4cae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(3.3045977011494228%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Every book I hear about and don’t have to add to it is — say it with