One day last week I glanced over and the pile of books beside my night table called out to me. I realized that I hadn’t read a book in quite a while.I considered the reasons for this phenomenon: my addiction to my iPad as a constant source of news, the fact that my laptop is always open and readily available since the onset of working remotely, the new routines of evening entertainment, the overwhelming anxiety of the pandemic, and perhaps none of these.In a very informal sur...

When I finish a novel, I feel that I've said goodbye to a friend. There's a feeling of loneliness and a time to reflect upon the times we shared. I soon turn to finding a new book to put on the coveted spot on my night table that is reserved for my current read. There is always an abundance of books to choose from. (It seems that, with the best of intentions, I have accumulated more books than I could read in a lifetime.) Choosing the next book is more difficult than ...