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​​I’d Rather Be Reading:  The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life
​​by Anne Bogel
​​release date 9/4/2018
​​run time:  ~ 2 hours
​​2 out of 5 stars


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​​According to the publisher, “For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.
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​​I'd Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary companion for everyone who feels that way. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives.
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​​The perfect gift for the bibliophile in everyone's life, I'd Rather Be Reading will command an honored place on the overstuffed bookshelves of any book lover. “
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​​In the months leading up to the release of this book, I was seeing it everywhere on social media, so, when I saw it was available from my library as an audiobook, I jumped at the chance to borrow it.  I realize now that most of the people who were popularizing this book on Instagram were most likely fans of the author prior to reading this book.
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​​I admit that I have never read the author’s blog or listened to her podcast, so I was going into this pretty blind.  Perhaps if I was a fan before encountering this book, I would have more favorable feelings about it, but, as it stands, I really did not care for this book.
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​​For the most part, there is not a huge amount of substance to this memoir.  The author shares a few cute stories about her experience as a life-long reader; my favorite anecdote was when she lived next door to a library and visited daily (living the dream!!!).  However, there wasn’t really anything earth-shattering shared by the author.  There is not a main struggle or character arc for the reader to follow.
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​​Perhaps, for some readers, that is part of the charm of this book; maybe they enjoy reading these snippets of a life very similar to their own experience.  Personally, I found this book to be pandering to the reader.  At times, it seemed as if the author was just compiling generic life experiences that are common among readers without actually including content specific to herself.
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​​Overall, the author’s voice was nice to listen to and the audio only lasts for two hours, so if you are interested in this book, it is worth a listen.
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