💬 Friday Thread: What Books Would Make Your "Books I Binged" List?

And what are you reading this week?

Hello and Happy Friday,

I hope you’ve been having a good week. This week’s question is something I’ve been thinking about lately—binge reading. Definitions vary, but for the purpose of our Friday Thread discussion, I’m referring to books that completely and utterly take over our lives so to speak.

The books that we either start and finish in an hours long reading binge because we can’t put them down. Or the ones that we get in multiple formats because we have to keep reading/listening at every available moment. The stories that make us say I don’t care how much sleep I lose, I’m staying up to finish this book!

I have vivid memories of staying up so late to finish these books and of getting so lost in a story that when I finished and looked at the time, six hours had gone by in what felt like the blink of an eye. For me, this kind of reading flow doesn’t happen all that often, but when it does it’s the best type of binge reading!

Those are my definitions above, but just for fun, here’s what the internet says about binge reading:

Binge reading is the act of reading large amounts of text in a short amount of time, often consuming an entire book or series in one sitting or over a few days.

Also from the internet…..Key Aspects of Binge Reading

• Rapid consumption:

  Binge readers often read for extended periods, sometimes neglecting other activities to stay immersed in the story.

• Deep engagement:

  Binge reading can lead to a heightened sense of immersion and engagement with the narrative and characters.

• Series focus:

  It's particularly common with book series, where readers may consume multiple books back-to-back to follow the narrative thread.

• Time commitment:

  Binge reading can require significant time blocks, potentially impacting other daily routines or commitments.

• Emotional impact:

  Some readers experience a "book hangover" after finishing a long series, characterized by a feeling of loss or sadness, or difficulty transitioning to other material.

I’ve put together a list of 8 of my most memorable binge reads and I can’t wait to find out what books would make your list. All of this will be below the paywall today. If you’d like to join the conversation and find out about all the binge reads, upgrade your subscription here or click the button for details

Question Time

The questions I ask in weekly threads are meant to be fun and help us connect, so please know you don’t have to answer each question, if you only have the time/desire to answer one, great! Please put book titles IN ALL CAPS for easy reading:)

1. What books would make your “Books I Binged List?

2. What are you reading this week?

If you’re reading this in email, click itsbooktalk.substack.com to comment and join the conversation!