Second that! I get so excited whenever I see the newsletter pop up in my Inbox. The to-do list gets shoved aside every time. Today's post was particularly wonderful because it was long but also rich. :-)
What a DELIGHT!!! That bookshop looks like something out of a movie set. Charlee’s life sounds so beautiful. I’ve also started keeping track of the books I’ve read analog style and I’ve been loving it. I still screenshot titles for my TBR and keep them in an album on my phone for reference but the books I’ve finished go in the notebook. It feels like such an accomplishment when I write another title on the page.
I used to be Team Pristine but as I’ve grown older, I’m all about mauling my books. Especially the paperbacks. I underline, highlight, dog ear when my tabs are not near. 🤩🧟♀️
Thank you so much to you Petya. You are so incredibly kind, creative and I feel so lucky to call you a friend. Big hugs from your Australian reading twin 💌
Queenscliff is so lucky to have Charlee as a bookseller!!! 🥲
Love the echoes of you, Petya, in his words—the stillness, the dedication to beautiful experience, you really are twins! Happy I could be a tiny bridge between the two of you 🩷
This interview is such a delight! I feel like I am starting my day from such a bright place after reading Charlee's reflections on what books and reading mean to them. I hadn't heard of Charlee until this post (and I was even more delighted that they are a fellow Aussie!), but I will certainly be checking out their work in other spaces. I've added a number of Charlee's comments to my common place journal, and I especially loved the idea of romanticising your reading. I do this sometimes (a crackling fire ASMR + a proper candle), but overall I just really loved the idea of slowing down and being deeply thoughtful and engaged with the books that you are reading. We're all busy, but posts like this can feel like a slip of permission to just chill out.
This was such a delight! I love the idea of making reading “romantic.” Hmmm... suddenly feeling an urgent desire to pour a glass of wine, light some candles, and curl up on the couch with my book. (Which is Ordinary Time, Lessons Learned While Staying Put, by Annie B. Jones)
I love these little conversations that always leave me inspired-in this case, to continue reading The White Album by Joan Didion. Also a devoted member of team lived-in books, no matter what anyone says.
What a huge delight! When I got to the bit about going to bed with a book at 8pm, I laughed out loud. There is so little in life that will tempt me out, when I could have pajamas and reading at home. And the interstitial reading -- YES -- I used to be suspicious of this as well, but now I'm a total convert.
One thing I have done is to take off or block all apps on my phone for the majority of the day that distract from reading, so if I'm on a train and feel itchy, I now read library books on my phone. It feels empowering, taking that device back and reading on it. It feels like reclaiming my brain and my attention to not mindlessly scroll. Beautiful piece. Thank you Charlee, and Petya for sharing this.
ok this was DEEPLY satisfying. I’m so happy to learn of charlee and now follow his reading life as well. & LOVE the amount of mysticism present in his practices. be a baddie while you read! read how you feel! be led by your own curiosity and whims! OK don’t gotta tell me twice!!! 💫
After reading this yesterday morning, I took a book with me to work and read during lunch (instead of looking at my phone.) I felt like I was on vacation!!
Petya I love how you build true friendships that go beyond the parasocial with people you meet online. You are a cool people magnet! Thanks for sharing your friend Charlee with us!
So many wonderful pearls/reminders. - expansive & curious reader (adding global and reading the challenges and tickles) - literary lineage (always want that) - community (key for this reader). Also, in a world of fast "thrive in slowness" ❤️
I love this post. I love this substack. ❤️ I look forward to reading anything you write. Literally anything.
🥹🥹🥹 Thank you so much, Alexis!
Second that! I get so excited whenever I see the newsletter pop up in my Inbox. The to-do list gets shoved aside every time. Today's post was particularly wonderful because it was long but also rich. :-)
What a DELIGHT!!! That bookshop looks like something out of a movie set. Charlee’s life sounds so beautiful. I’ve also started keeping track of the books I’ve read analog style and I’ve been loving it. I still screenshot titles for my TBR and keep them in an album on my phone for reference but the books I’ve finished go in the notebook. It feels like such an accomplishment when I write another title on the page.
I used to be Team Pristine but as I’ve grown older, I’m all about mauling my books. Especially the paperbacks. I underline, highlight, dog ear when my tabs are not near. 🤩🧟♀️
Delight, right?!
Writing down the title of a book I’ve read in my reading log is in my top 5 favorite life experiences right now 😂
😂 and same!
💗 lovely read - you two dear people inspire me. Officially joining Team Lived-In now. Thank you, Charlee and Petya, best always and a big ol'
Aunt Patty hug -read on!
What a sweet note! Thank you! Team Lived-In forever 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you so much to you Petya. You are so incredibly kind, creative and I feel so lucky to call you a friend. Big hugs from your Australian reading twin 💌
Everything you said, times 1,000. 💌
I enjoyed every word of this Charlee! I relate a lot to my reading life being obsessive and all-consuming.
It's the only way to live, in my humble opinion 🥰
Queenscliff is so lucky to have Charlee as a bookseller!!! 🥲
Love the echoes of you, Petya, in his words—the stillness, the dedication to beautiful experience, you really are twins! Happy I could be a tiny bridge between the two of you 🩷
The bookstore looks so dreamy, doesn't it?!
And YOU are our twinship godparent!!! We are forever grateful!
YES to annotations and lived-in books!
The messier, the better.
Felt great to know him 👍 Thanks for the introduction 🙏📚🙏
I am so glad it felt that way! Thank you so much for reading!
This interview is such a delight! I feel like I am starting my day from such a bright place after reading Charlee's reflections on what books and reading mean to them. I hadn't heard of Charlee until this post (and I was even more delighted that they are a fellow Aussie!), but I will certainly be checking out their work in other spaces. I've added a number of Charlee's comments to my common place journal, and I especially loved the idea of romanticising your reading. I do this sometimes (a crackling fire ASMR + a proper candle), but overall I just really loved the idea of slowing down and being deeply thoughtful and engaged with the books that you are reading. We're all busy, but posts like this can feel like a slip of permission to just chill out.
This was such a delight! I love the idea of making reading “romantic.” Hmmm... suddenly feeling an urgent desire to pour a glass of wine, light some candles, and curl up on the couch with my book. (Which is Ordinary Time, Lessons Learned While Staying Put, by Annie B. Jones)
Mission accomplished!!! I hope you do it! Your book sounds perfect.
I love these little conversations that always leave me inspired-in this case, to continue reading The White Album by Joan Didion. Also a devoted member of team lived-in books, no matter what anyone says.
What a huge delight! When I got to the bit about going to bed with a book at 8pm, I laughed out loud. There is so little in life that will tempt me out, when I could have pajamas and reading at home. And the interstitial reading -- YES -- I used to be suspicious of this as well, but now I'm a total convert.
One thing I have done is to take off or block all apps on my phone for the majority of the day that distract from reading, so if I'm on a train and feel itchy, I now read library books on my phone. It feels empowering, taking that device back and reading on it. It feels like reclaiming my brain and my attention to not mindlessly scroll. Beautiful piece. Thank you Charlee, and Petya for sharing this.
ok this was DEEPLY satisfying. I’m so happy to learn of charlee and now follow his reading life as well. & LOVE the amount of mysticism present in his practices. be a baddie while you read! read how you feel! be led by your own curiosity and whims! OK don’t gotta tell me twice!!! 💫
After reading this yesterday morning, I took a book with me to work and read during lunch (instead of looking at my phone.) I felt like I was on vacation!!
Petya I love how you build true friendships that go beyond the parasocial with people you meet online. You are a cool people magnet! Thanks for sharing your friend Charlee with us!
So many wonderful pearls/reminders. - expansive & curious reader (adding global and reading the challenges and tickles) - literary lineage (always want that) - community (key for this reader). Also, in a world of fast "thrive in slowness" ❤️
*that