What is Widely Read?

Hello! Welcome to Widely Read! Thanks for coming. Can I get you a seat? Some coffee? Yea, we have tea! Please, please get comfortable. Let's talk about what we're reading.

I came to reading and then writing pretty late in life. At least, I think it's late. It wasn't really until I was 18 or 19 that I started actually finishing books I started. It wasn't until I was 20 that I found poetry and took writing seriously. I've been trying to make up for lost time since.

Fast forward to now, and I'm constantly shooting for, then falling short, of reading 100 books a year along with 365 individual comics. I also try to average 1 hour of reading a day. If I could spend my days reading and organizing books/comics (Oh I love organizing books and comics) I would. With breaks for Italian beef sandwiches and conversation of course. Really, this desire to read, write, talk about the processes of both, and to organize it all is at the heart of Widely Read.

I want to write about comics and poetry and fiction and the audio books I listen to on my drives to work. I want to write about current National Poetry Winners and random collections from the 1970's I found at the used bookstore. I want to talk about panel transitions in Shubeik Lubeik and then gush about The Question. I want to spin in circles until I get a little sick then chat more about The Parable of the Sower and To Reign in Hell.

Hence, actually creating Widely Read.

Widely Read is a monthly newsletter that includes a conversation about books, reading, and/or writing. It is starting up in late December 2024 and will start with three essays in three weeks to get the ball rolling. Right now, I just want a place to write in longer form about the books I've been reading. I have paid subscription tiers for those who want to help support me make this work but nothing other that my love and gratitude as a reward. Eventually, I will add to those subscription tiers. Please subscribe for free if you want to try it out first. I can't promise I'll change your life, but I also can't promise it'll be worth a few minutes of your time each month. I can only hope you'll enjoy it!

For now, cozy up on the couch or in bed or on that really nice chair you have, crack open a book or a few issues of Poison Ivy (it's so good right now, right?) and I'll meet you there soon.

Happy reading.

MVC