Why Do We Read What We Read?

(Including this newsletter.)

This photo from 2019 popped up when I searched for something involving books, and has now solidified my resolve to grow my hair super long again.

I was a moody Judy today, which was unsettling to my generally steady self, but I found that listening to an audiobook calmed me a bit. This led me to ponder something I’ll put to you, you sexy beast: why do we read what we read?

I wonder why you read this newsletter, SARATONIN, whether you’re a paid subscriber, a free follower, or just somebody dipping in to see what’s what. It comes out four times a month, with two extra issues exclusively for paid subscribers. The content includes personal essays, recommendations for books and articles and occasional other things, and - once in awhile - an interview. Sometimes there are photos.

I know why I write it: I love writing; these feel like letters to the world; it’s the zine I always wanted to have when I was a kid reading SASSY magazine and checking out their featured Zine of the Month; and it brings in some of my income.

But why do you read it? Why do you read anything you don’t have to read? Why do you pick the books you pick, if you pick any at any at all? What about the other reading you do outside of work or school?

I took a look at the audiobooks currently in heavy rotation in my glowing brick telephone, and decided to write out exactly why I’m reading what I’m reading lately. I invite you to join me in the exercise in the comments, where you can share why you read this newsletter, your favorite newspaper, the novel you’re currently diving into, or anything else on your reading rotation (for the purpose of this discussion, “reading” is the same as “listening to an audiobook” because we love inclusive methods of absorbing stories.)