I love a book review - Lisa Marsh SubscribeSign in I love a book review Learning how to enjoy books all over again Lisa Marsh Aug 14, 2026 2 2 1 Share I know there are a number of insults that revolve around something like this—she’s so vapid/dumb/ignorant, she reads book reviews like they’re books. But there is something to reviewing a book that actually involves being creative. The best reviews lure you into the book while telling you something about the author of the review. It gives you perspective, or rather a sense of where that person is coming from—where the review is coming from. And the ability to draw you in without telling you too much—it’s a skill. bookshelves loaded with colorful books In 2019, I decided to challenge myself to read a book a week. I was hoping to clear out my “To be read” shelves. I was also attempting to apply some sort of discipline to myself in a period when I was underemployed (the plight of a freelance worker). There is only so much applying for jobs and sending resumes into the ether without response that one can take. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe Because nothing really happens unless you document it in this age of social media, I started posting thumbnail reviews on my socials to document this journey. They were short, included a little bit about me, a little bit about the book and how it worked/didn’t work for me. As I discussed with a writer friend last week, books that were absolutely awful in my opinion should not even get a mention and they didn’t. Why waste the space, my effort and my time? Two things happened as a result. First, I realized that I was learning how to read all over again. When one of my kids was learning to read and ripping through the different reading levels, I just assumed they could read whatever they could match to, grade-wise. One of their early teachers told me no, just because the words could be understood didn’t mean they had the maturity to understand the concepts and layers of each story. Ah ha! There’s more to reading than just reading. There’s reading and understanding that matters. By considering what I wanted to say about every book I read, I forced myself to think more deeply about them. What about the story appealed to me? Which characters were talking to me? And why? How was I identifying with or interpreting the story? I was getting much more in the equation than I’d expected. I was learning to read and think all over again. Second, I discovered there was value in what I was doing. I developed a small but vocal group of reading buddies who commented on so many of my little reviews. They offered opinions, started conversations and even made suggestions for my next reads. I am particularly happy to say that many of my friends now post their reads and quick reviews in the same way I started in 2019. The book geek that I am was delighted when authors would “like” the reviews or start following me. Periodically, I’d even get a “Thank you” in the comments. That was a thrill. Again, super book geek here. Last year, I attended my high school reunion and was shocked at the number of people who cited my book reviews. (Facebook and Instagram are clearly the sweet spot for people of my age). Since that first year, my book consumption is about half of what it was. And I haven’t regularly written my thumbnail reviews much in the past couple of years. But they were brought up over and over. They clearly resonated with my oldest friends. In fact, a couple of them still regularly solicit me for what to read. I’m approaching my reading differently these days. I’m feeling the pressure of not having enough time. I’m not quite reading or “Writing like I’m running out of time,” like Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, but I am trying to squeeze every moment out of every day. That means reading and focusing on what works for me. I give myself permission to DNF books that don’t give me joy. That may be because I’m older and have less patience or it may be because there are so many GOOD BOOKS to READ. I also like the idea of writing about books that could make good double features. I did this last with Miranda Cowley Heller’s The Paper Palace and Adrienne Brodeur’s Little Monsters and Wild Game in 2024. I loved all three and felt like they should be read in succession. I have two double features in the hopper coming soon. And finally, in a twist I love more than anything, I will be writing proper reviews for Sari Botton’s Oldster Magazine every month. This is another exercise in discipline and also a way to share my joy of reading with others. I hope to see you here, there and everywhere. Because seriously, if not now, when? #Readeveryday PS This is my first Substack post. I promise… it will get better. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe 2 2 1 Share Discussion about this post CommentsRestacks Vincent O'Keefe 2h Liked by Lisa Marsh Great post! And I look forward to reading your reviews at Oldster, where I am a regular reader and have contributed two essays. (I am also a former book reviewer, so I appreciate your points about the craft.) Happy reading and reviewing! Reply Share Robin 1h Looking so forward to this. Love your voice. I, too, have recently begun allowing myself to put down books that aren’t clicking. The funny thing is, sometimes I pick them up a year later and it works. I guess I was in a different headspace, who knows? Eager to see what comes next. Reply Share Ready for more? 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