At Tweetspeak, books matter. We host a book club, we review books, and we publish them at TS Poetry Press. We’re dedicated to literacy — for life. And we want to learn from each other about reading in the wild.
Do you want to be a wild reader? Are you reading wildly already? We’re using Donalyn Miller’s Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits to explore what it means to be a wild reader — someone most likely to embrace literacy for life. Read through these 5 characteristics and see which ones fit your reading style and which you might incorporate this month.
5 Main Characteristics of Wild Readers
1. They dedicate time to read.
This is the time of year — late fall — when I write a lot of words for my job. I have three big articles due right around Thanksgiving, each of which requires research and interviewing, and each year I basically stop reading while I work. But this year I was determined to not let that happen, mainly because I did not want to leave my November Wild Reads list empty. So I tried something new: I reread old favorites.
First, A Wrinkle in Time. I had already started it after including it in my list of Top 10 Books That Inspired Me (And You!) when Overdue covered it in their November list of books worth rereading. The new film adaptation of Wrinkle comes out in March, so do yourself a favor and read or read again this slim volume that feels as contemporary as ever.
Second, I reread A River Runs Through It, also on my Top 10 list. After struggling with words for weeks, it was healing balm to read Norman Maclean: “I could find words but not sentences they could fit.” My book version includes wood engravings by Barry Moser depicting the various flies used in the story, and the notes about each one were written by friend-of-the-Maclean-family George Croonenberghs. Each description reads like a tiny poem: “Santa Claus Streamer. Yields a few gifts when nothing else works. White polar bear hair gives fly good motion plus radiancy.”
2. They self-select reading material.
One afternoon while making butternut squash soup, I heard an interview with poet Kevin Young, who I first discovered while poetry buddying with Laura Lynn Brown. But the interview was about Young’s new nonfiction book, Bunk: The rise of hoaxes, humbug, plagiarists, phonies, post-facts, and fake news. If it had been written by anyone else, I wouldn’t have picked it up. This, friends, is a historic overview of a contemporary issue with deep roots, and because Young is a poet, his sentences are treasures. He also makes connections that perhaps most academics wouldn’t (although he is an academic in his own right; he serves as the poetry editor for The New Yorker and the director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library). Read it for the discussion on fake memoir alone.
3. They share books and reading with other readers.
Traditionally, I use this space to talk about a book a friend recommended to me. In this case, author Karen Swallow Prior shared — Twitter-style — about a book, and I followed her recommendation. The book is Flannery O’Connor’s Mystery and Manners. It’s a collection of her essays, articles, and speeches. I left it with another reason why we should all be wild readers: Reading instills hope.
O’Connor writes, “People without hope not only don’t write novels, but what is more to the point, they don’t read them. They don’t take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage. The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel of course, is a way to have experience.”
4. They have reading plans.
Here at Tweetspeak, we’ve started a Children’s Book Club, which has required weekly trips to the library. Taking time with picture books restores my soul. This month I read The Tin Forest by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson (next week’s selection) and Days of the Blackbird by Tomie DePaola (next month’s). To learn more, join us Friday, December 8.
5. They show preferences.
While looking for a book of essays about writing by Diana Wynne Jones, I found one of her YA novels, The Lives of Christopher Chant. I’d first heard of her when Overdue covered her more well-known book, Howl’s Moving Castle. What I liked about Christopher Chant is how little world-building Jones does while still setting the story in a precise place. One of my favorite details is that in this world, silver keeps Christopher from doing magic. One of the silver things holding him back is a “mouth brace,” a type of temporary orthodontic appliance. Thus, braces prevent magic. Thus, braces are to blame for the decline of civilization. #JustSayNoToBraces.
November’s Pages 
Finished
Adult
A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean
Living the Season Well: Reclaiming Christmas, Jody Collins
Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose, Flannery O’Connor
Early Readers and Picture Books
Days of the Blackbird, Tomie dePaola
The Tin Forest, Helen Ward, illus. Wayne Anderson
Middle Grade and YA
A Wrinkle in Time, Madeliene L’Engle 
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1: Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant, Diana Wynne Jones (The book I mentioned above has been reissued with this longer title to show where it fits in the series.)
Sliced (1/4 to 1/2 Only: Got What I Needed and Moved On or Plan to Finish Someday) and Abandoned (Not My Cup of Tea, It Bogged Down Quickly, or Others Beckoned)
The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes That Inspired The Little House Books, Marta McDowell. (This one could be in either Sliced or Abandoned. It was not my cup of tea; however, I also got what I needed and will use parts of it in my upcoming workshop)
Started (The Jury is Still Out. Will I Finish?)
Bunk, Kevin Young (It’s long, but I will definitely finish.) 
Your turn
1. Share anything about you and the 5 main wild reader characteristics. How do you display them, or wish you did, or plan to in the future?
2. Share your November pages. Finished, sliced, started, and abandoned are all fair game.
Photo by Mike Beales, Creative Commons, via Flickr. Post by Megan Willome, author of The Joy of Poetry.
Browse more Reading in the Wild
__________
“Megan Willome’s The Joy of Poetry is not a long book, but it took me longer to read than I expected, because I kept stopping to savor poems and passages, to make note of books mentioned, and to compare Willome’s journey into poetry to my own. The book is many things. An unpretentious, funny, and poignant memoir. A defense of poetry, a response to literature that has touched her life, and a manual on how to write poetry. It’s also the story of a daughter who loses her mother to cancer. The author links these things into a narrative much like that of a novel. I loved this book. As soon as I finished, I began reading it again.”
—David Lee Garrison, author of Playing Bach in the D. C. Metro
- Perspective: The Two, The Only: Calvin and Hobbes - December 16, 2022
- Children’s Book Club: A Very Haunted Christmas - December 9, 2022
- By Heart: ‘The night is darkening round me’ by Emily Brontë - December 2, 2022
Glynn says
Read “A River Runs Through It” and “Mystery and Manners” years ago (decades ago, in fact), and they remain favorites.
Read in November:
Time to Get Ready: An Advent Christmas Reader to Wake Your Soul by Mark Villano
A Shattered Peace by Luke Herron-Davis
In These Days of Prohibition: Poems by Caroline Bird
A Horse Walked into a Bar by David Grossman
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves
All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss
Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places by Kaitlin Curtice
On Balance: Poems by Sinead Morrissey
Wild Embers: Poems by Nikita Gill
More Work for the Undertaker by Margery Allingham
Songs from the Heart: Meeting with God in the Psalms by Tim Riordan
East End Vernacular: The Artists Who Painted London’s East End by Paul Godfrey
Ink by James Graham (play about Rupert Murdoch)
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Heads or Tails by Damien Boyd
A Country Life: Poems by Arthur Elfstrom
This Side of the River by Tom Darin Liskey
Seven Dead by J. Jefferson Farjeon
Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth
It was also “read books to the grandsons on Thanksgiving and the day after” time, and so I read the following aloud. I should note that the five-year-old loves being read to, while the seven-year-old is bit too cool to look interested, so he sits quietly to the side, only leaning toward the story, so he can always deny he’s listening. But he manages to laugh at all the right places.
Kristoph and the First Christmas Tree by Claudia McAdam
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen (a major hit with the five-year-old grandson)
The Poky Little Puppy
H-Hoo’s There? by Jason Todd
Doorkins the Cathedral Cat by Lisa Gutwein
And, finally, I read my forthcoming novel Dancing King twice, once in pdf format and one in print proof format.
Megan Willome says
That last one makes me so, so happy!
On the grandsons, yes, some kids like to act as if they’re not listening but then, as you said, they laugh in the right places. (I had one of those.) Love Mike Mulligan! Love Blueberries for Sal! I loved the Poky Little Puppy, although my kids did not. Thanks for giving me some new reads to add to my list.
May your Christmas include more reading aloud moments.
Bethany R. says
How do you do it, Glynn? Do you have any tips on how to finish reading that many books each month? I feel like I could start that many, but…
Sharon A Gibbs says
I wonder the same thing each month. Glynn’s a power reader! 🙂
Glynn says
I’m reading every day – and it helps that I’m retired from my full-time day job. That said, I’m still surprised at how busy retirement actually is.
Bethany says
What a wonderful post, Megan, thank you. And my—that is a powerful statement by Flannery O’Connor. I hear what she’s saying.
I’m looking forward to perusing the library with my 11-year old in a couple hours. I’ll let you know if I find some goodies.
To get back to you about A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman, I enjoyed it and recommended it to a family member. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say it grew on me. The tone continuously shifts throughout the book, There were a couple specific details about Ove that reminded me of a loved one, so I felt pretty emotional when I finished it.
I just started reading another book by the same author (as you do when you don’t want a finished book to end). It’s called Britt-Marie Was Here.
Megan Willome says
Thanks, Bethany. Several people have recommended “A Man Called Ove” to me.
It sounds like after you read a book you like, you often read another one by the same author — correct? I know a lot of people do that, but if I really loved a book, then I’m usually afraid I’ll never like anything else as much. I’m sure I’m in the minority.
Sharon A GIbbs says
It’s such fun to read others’ reading lists. Each month I find a few to place on my reading list (“Exit, Pursued by a Bear,” “Britt-Marie Was Here,” and “House on Mango Street.”
Thanks, everyone, for sharing!
I went to the movies to see “Goodbye Christopher Robin” and now want to read the Winnie-the-Pooh books.
Read in November
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
The Tin Forest by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson
Waiting by Kevin Henkes
Flotsam by David Weisner
Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
The Adventures of Beekle, The Imaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klaussen
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex
Leo a Ghost Story by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson
A Full Moon is Rising, poems by Marilyn Singer
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Thirst by Mary Oliver
Insideout:poems by L.L. Barkat
Blue Nights by Joan Didion
Started
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
On my nightstand (waiting for my attention): A Wrinkle in TIme
Bethany R. says
Love reading through your list, Sharon. 🙂
The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, was an incredible education for me. Concise, intimate, powerful writing.
(And I love Ramona books too.) 😉
Has anyone read from The Land of Stories series, by Chris Colfer?
Sharon A Gibbs says
Thanks, Bethany.
Haven’t read Colfer but want to.
I really enjoyed Pax. Have you heard of this one? It’s about a pet fox and his boy, Peter. I was engrossed.
Bethany says
I haven’t read it yet but just looked it up. Looks like such a sweet story!
Megan Willome says
I’ll put “Pax” on my list, Sharon.
Megan Willome says
As in Chris Colfer of “Glee”? Kurt’s writing fantasy? Sign me up.
Megan Willome says
Sharon, I’m gonna have to read me some Mac Barnett!
L.L. Barkat says
Thank you for reading me, Sharon. 🙂
Now, I do want to know about the movie. Did you like it? The Pooh books are marvelous, marvelous. Such wonderful expression. Such insight into human nature. Such tender wit.
Reading your list (and seeing the note about the movie) made me recall that I listened to Redwall in November. That’s one way I’m getting my middle-grade and YA fiction to happen. So much car time. I’m turning it into a secret door to stories!
Megan Willome says
Oh, my goodness, my son loved Redwall! I read a bunch of books in the series when he was reading them. Favorites were the original and “Loamhedge.”
Bethany R. says
I loved Redwall too.
Prasanta says
Redwall is a great series. My boys loved it, too.
Did you know Brian Jacques originally wrote Redwall as a story for blind students? That is why he tried to make his stories as descriptive as possible. He was a truck driver at the time, delivering milk. When his childhood English teacher read Redwall, he showed it to a publisher, unbeknownst to Jacques. It led to a publishing contract.
Also, I read that Jacques finished school at the age of 15. He held many different jobs: sailor, boxer, singer, and even a stand-up comic, among others.
All of that by itself is a wonderful story, too. 🙂
Sharon A Gibbs says
L.L. Barkat, many, many “insideout” poems captivated me—even poems open secret doors! (“Autumn Milkweed,” “Almonds,” “Teacup,” “You,” and “Song” are among my favorites.) I admire your commitment to sit outdoors every day for a year.
Redwall. I’ll have to check it out. 🙂
“Goodbye Christopher Robin” was okay (maybe a 7/10 for me). I was drawn to see the movie because I love history and backstories (and children’s lit). Even during the creation of such beautiful fiction as Winnie-the-Pooh, sorrows take their place in the lives of the Milne family, especially the real-life Christopher Robin (aka Billy). I think his story touches something deeper in us that can’t be ignored.
Megan Willome says
Prasanta, I did not know that background, only that Jacques worked as a sailor. One thing I love about the series is you get a feel for the variety of accents across the UK.
Sharon, it’s basically good woodland creatures waging war against bad woodland creatures.
Laura Brown says
Read in full or in part in November:
How Doctors Think, Jerome Groopman
Disruptive Discipleship, Sam Van Eman
The Best American Poetry 2017, guest editor Natasha Trethewey
What Will Soon Take Place, Tania Runyan
Whiskey, Etc., Sherrie Flick
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen (a graphic memoir), Lucy Knisley
The Praying Life, Deborah Smith Douglas
Have You Seen Marie?, Sandra Cisneros
Every Moment Holy, a book of liturgies by Douglas McKelvey
Land Shark, Beth Ferry
Megan Willome says
I did not know Natasha Trethewey was the editor for this year’s “The Best American Poetry.” I’ll have to check that out.
And I’m intrigued by “Relish.” How did you like the format? It seems like a natural fit, judging by the “Look Inside” feature at Amazon.
Laura Brown says
Well, the food topic and the drawing both appealed to me. We read one long chapter in the Food course, and reviews were mixed on its effectiveness. But I enjoyed the book, partly because of the drawings, partly because of the author-narrator’s persona.
I forgot to list these books partly read in Nov. and continuing this month:
The Exact Place, Margie L. Haack
Dwellings, Linda Hogan
L.L. Barkat says
Megan, love. 🙂
I’m especially drawn to the idea of rereading during times when we’re needing to dedicate ourselves to other large tasks. All in all, I think we don’t do enough rereading anyway, as if Reading’s only badge of honor was to march forward into the new. There is something deep and important about treasuring fine words by going back to them. That said, I think that a mature reading life includes both the old and the new. Maybe we can thank the seasons of busyness for drawing us back to the old. Just as we can thank the seasons of spaciousness for beckoning us into the new.
In November I almost finished Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life (maybe I’ll finish in December before I owe the value of the book in library fines! 😉 )
I sliced Storm in a Teacup. Learning about how to get an egg into a bottle surely was worth the whole book? 🙂
I reread Make Way for Ducklings. It’s sweet and tender and old in a very dear way. When I heard a story about a current celebrity turkey in Massachusetts, this made me wonder if McCloskey had plumbed something surprising about this old New England state.
I also reread some old Poetry magazines.
Yes, it has been a busy fall—for tasks other than reading. 🙂
Megan Willome says
You make a good point about the need to mix old and new: “Maybe we can thank the seasons of busyness for drawing us back to the old. Just as we can thank the seasons of spaciousness for beckoning us into the new.” That’s a lovely thought.
Laura Lynn Brown says
It is sometimes a new book in the rereading. And sometimes rereading is like digging for an old favorite flannel shirt.
Megan Willome says
Agreed. “A River Runs Through It” was almost a new read because I have changed over the last, oh, 20 years.
Katie says
L.L., I agree with your comment:
“All in all, I think we don’t do enough re-reading anyway, as if Reading’s only badge of honor was to march forward into the new. There is something deep and important about treasuring fine words by going back to them. That said, I think that a mature reading life includes both the old and the new.”
Thank you for sharing these insights.
Gratefully,
Katie