The prolific author Joyce Carol Oates famously said, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” I’ve been sitting with this quote for a few weeks, questioning what reading means to me. Despite being an avid reader most of my life, it wasn’t until the last few years that I centered my interests around books. I started deep reading, where I immerse myself in rich, complex, sensory reading experiences. I began to pay attention to the ways different styles of writing made me feel. I want to know what makes us human: the good, the bad, the ugly — all of it. Reading is the closest I come to an answer to that huge question, although never explicitly. It’s like I’m in a labyrinth; I keep running through its twisting maze, getting closer and further from the truth simultaneously. It sounds maddening, but it’s a thrill. I’m curious about the hidden truths that lie just beneath the surface of our lives. I read recently that Italo Calvino, one of my favorite authors, was great at unearthing these secrets. That a lot of his earlier work “retains the funk of the human.” This resonated with me. What interests me when reading is “the funk,” the dirty, the weird, the strange sides of people.

So what does this have to do with listening to things? Well, for one, I listen to a lot of books and interviews with authors. But it’s really about the act of listening. Similar to deep reading, listening to music and different forms of audio is an immersive experience. I don’t have the luxury to sit and read all day, but I can listen to things. I’m able to tap into that sensual, absorbing headspace through sounds. Whether I’m listening to something that provides me with knowledge or something that sends a tingle down my spine, I’m discovering things about myself and this wild, precious life.

Podcasts

Backlisted: “Beloved”

Until this year, I’d never read anything by Toni Morrison! So I decided I’d read one of her books each month in chronological order. Not surprisingly, it’s been a profound experience. I’m in awe of her talent for writing descriptive and symbolic sentences while maintaining a clean, efficient style (how does she do that?!). I’ll often reread passages to try to unravel why I’m having such a visceral response. Currently, I’m in the middle of Beloved, probably Morrison’s most famous novel, and I have to take it real slow. Reading each sentence gingerly. I want to savor this experience.

The podcast Backlisted is an enjoyable resource for deep dives into obscure books, but every so often, it’ll discuss a more well-known novel. I enjoyed its insights into Beloved. It reminded me how much she’s done for literature and fiction as a form.

A few other great listens from Backlisted:

• “Ann Quin — Berg”
• “Clarice Lispector — Água Viva”
• “Shirley Jackson — We Have Always Lived in a Castle”

Audiobooks

It drives a lot of people bonkers that I read multiple books at one time. I’m not sure I’d recommend it as a practice, but it works for me. I’m not in a race to finish books. What’s more important to me is to be engaged with what I’m reading. Sometimes that means I need a break from a book and should jump into a new one. Right now, I’m reading three books: Beloved, Berg and Jane Eyre. When I’m reading multiple novels, there’s usually one that’s a background book.

Currently, that’s Jane Eyre. I dip into its pages sporadically or listen to it on audiobook before drifting off to sleep.

I’m enjoying this audio version so much!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and narrated by Thandiwe Newton

Music

Usually, I cannot write or read while listening to music with lyrics, but I like to have soft, ambient music in the background, especially if I’m concentrating. Recently, my 20-year-old nephew recommended the indie band Men I Trust. Having my nephew, who I still envision as a little, dorky 10-year-old, talk to me about new music made me simultaneously feel cool and super old. He was totally right though, “Men I Trust” is a band that’s right up my alley. It is a mixture of jazz, alternative and dreamy bedroom pop. Unlike a lot of other music, I can listen to “Men I Trust” while concentrating. The lyrics are mellow — it’s like they’re softly slipping into my subconscious. It creates a deep, sensory experience.

A few of my favorite songs:

• “Show Me How”
• “Lucky Sue”
• “Pines”
• “Tailwhip”
• “Tides”
• “All Night” 

Play the entire Oncle Jazz album while you’re working/doing a project. Brownie points if you buy their LP!

Show Me How

Listen Lists:

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