There is so much I love about readers. I love that we are generally curious people. I love that we sniff each other out and can find so much in common even when our particular tastes are nothing alike. I love that we all think we are nothing special and yet, when pushed a little bit… we divulge our idiosyncratic little habits that inevitably reveal just how many different ways there are to be a reader. How many different ways there are to connect to the written word. It’s for that reason, exactly, that I wanted to introduce you to Erin Duncan.
Erin is a reader and writer, originally from the Bay Area, who now calls Maryland home. I met Erin through her beautiful Substack — Notes from Erin — where she talks about her reading, interviews authors she loves, and shares thoughts on music… all braided together in a way that feels both unique and inviting. I have never quite encountered this way of interacting with books before. In reading Erin’s work, you get the sense that she has a musical soul and that she walks through the world picking up its subtle sounds. She then brings that sensitivity to everything she touches, including the books she reads. It is wonderful, magical, and so inspiring.
I hope you love getting to know Erin through this conversation as much as I did.
Tell me a little bit about what role reading plays in your personal and professional life?
Reading has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As an only child, reading was always my companion and comfort, and it still plays that role for me today. Growing up, my parents really prioritized my reading; taking me on reading dates, entering me in reading competitions at my local library, or just reading to me or with me, and those experiences shaped me into a life long reader.
As I have gotten older, reading has stayed my comfort blanket: a way to detach, stay curious, or find language for things I can’t necessarily articulate. Professionally, reading found its way in during my years as a music journalist, when I read constantly about musicians to better understand their creative processes. These days, I lead social media strategy, so I tend to read more newsletters or articles related to my work than books. Reading today is mostly for leisure and is something that is just for me.
PKG: As a parent of an only child, this answer was music to my ears (no pun intended). I truly hope that by helping Rumi in her journey as a reader, I am also helping her become an adult who will never be without a friend or companion because she can always find one between the pages of a book.
On an average week, how much do you read and when?
On average, I read between 8-12 hours a week. I tend to read the most in the morning after I come back from the gym. I listen to an audiobook during my workday on days when I have light meetings, like Monday or Friday. I will also listen to an audiobook when I’m cooking or running errands, and I read for about an hour or 40 minutes before bed.
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What do you like to read? How has your taste changed over the years?
My reading has changed over the years. When I was younger, I would read anything and everything. Once I started doing music journalism, I went through a decade or so of reading almost nothing but music memoirs and biographies, some about musicians I already loved and was fascinated by, like Marvin Gaye (Divided Soul by David Ritz) and Rick James (Glow by Rick James and David Ritz), and others about artists I knew less about going in, like Joni Mitchell (Reckless Daughter by David Yaffe) or Eric Clapton (Clapton by Eric Clapton).
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction, which is probably my favorite genre right now, though I still read a mix of fiction and nonfiction. I think the genre fascinates me because it takes craft to write about a time period or historical figure audiences may be familiar with and still make the story feel alive, while being mindful of the legacy and narrative already attached to it. I’ve also been dabbling in romance, which isn’t usually a genre I enjoy. I’ve always found romance to be too predictable, but Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan and Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley changed that for me. I love how Kennedy Ryan’s books have another theme running through them, like mental health or caring for parents, and Deep Cuts isn’t a traditional romance book; it’s more of a story with a love story intertwined, as well as a journey of finding oneself. I enjoyed so many things about the book, like the musical element and the references to the Bay Area, where I’m from.
What’s a reading ritual or habit you’ve developed that’s unique to you?
One reading habit that I have is writing down song lyrics or albums that remind me of a chapter, a line I read, or even a character. Sometimes that turns into a newsletter; sometimes it becomes a mental thread that connects to something else entirely.
I recently read Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola, and a line about two characters listening to Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor album stood out, so I wrote it down, and it ended up reminding me of another book I read and loved: No Sense in Wishing by Lawrence Burney.
Some of my habits also shift with the weather. During the summer I tend to read more print or audiobooks, and in the winter I learn more toward e-books so I can read under the covers (literally). In any season, though, I always come back to reading on the floor in front of a window. I have been doing this since I was a child, whether it was sunny or storming, and I still do it now, or I read on my couch in front of the window instead. When I bought my new couch, it was to make sure I had a comfortable place to read, and I guess also so my guests would have somewhere to sit too.
PKG: OK, tearing up picturing little Erin reading on the floor in front of a window and feeling so heartened knowing that big Erin protected that beautiful habit for them.
Do you take notes while you read? If yes, are you particular about your materials - notebooks, pens, highlighters vs. pencils, etc?
I take notes while I read, and I will admit, my system is a little chaotic. I’m a mix of a digital and print notetaker, though I am working to adopt a better and more streamlined system. On the digital side, with every book, I start a new Apple Note, and if there aren’t many notes or things to remember, I delete it. I also read on my Kindle, where I highlight quotes and jot notes as I go, then I add some of those to an Apple Note or my notebook once I’m done. For print books, I always read with a highlighter, and my favorite pen is the Paper Mate Flair felt tip. I’m a quote person, so I highlight often and jot the page number in my paper notebook so I can find it again.
With historical fiction especially, I take a lot of notes on things I want to look into further, which adds its own layer of chaos. And are you ready for more chaos? I often type up my print notes and add them to Apple Notes because I fear spilling water in my notebook and losing every single note; and, less dramatically, if I don’t have my notebook, I can still reference my notes. In Apple Notes, I add tags so I can reference them later, whether in conversation or for something I’m writing.
PKG: This all feels very professional AND super practical. I really love how discoverable and usable Erin notes are.
How do you keep track of what you want to read?
To keep track of what I want to read, I have an Apple Note that has books I own and want to read. I also use Storygraph and tags to identify things I want to read, either from things I own, things that I was recommended, or things I’m interested in, and I just filter between the tags.
Where do you get ideas about what to read?
I get ideas for what to read from so many places. Often it starts with another book, an author I like, or a friend recommends something to me – all of my friends are readers, so we’re always sharing recommendations. A lot comes from Substack too. For one, Petya, I get a lot of recommendations from you and your newsletter. I subscribe to other readers and writers here: Kate Hergott’s Bookwild podcast and newsletter, book talk with lauren, Ingrid Haring-Mendes’s BookLetter, Stephanie | That Bookish Life, Traci Thomas — The Unstacked, and Tembe Denton-Hurst’s bookdates in her newsletter Extracurricular. Also, I made friends with a bookseller at my local bookstore, and she often gives me books to read based on what she already knows I enjoy.
How do you decide what to read next? Are you a mood-reader or a planner?
When deciding what to read next, I am a mood reader working within a few planning constraints. I read a lot of ARCs, so I’m always trying to be mindful of their release dates, which impact some of how or when I read. Outside of ARCs, if I read something dark, I need something light, and if a book gets me interested in a topic or an author, I add those to my list. I read a lot of historical fiction, and it often sends me down a rabbit hole, so I keep finding new books based on the setting, a character, or a nugget of information I come across. When my holds become available on Libby, that will inform my reading. Lastly, as of this June, I counted 114 books I owned but hadn’t read, so I’ve been prioritizing those as well.
When people ask me how come I read as much as I do, I frequently just give them a list of things that I don’t do as regularly as I probably should: exercise, clean house, spend time with friends. What do you choose NOT to do in favour of reading?
I wouldn’t say reading has replaced any of the things that I should be doing. I have been a reader my whole life, so it’s a non-negotiable for me, the same as everything else. And with audiobooks, I technically am still reading even when I clean my house or grocery shop.
Do you have any tips or advice for people who wish they were reading more?
If I were to give tips or advice to people who wish they were reading more, I would start with not putting so much pressure on yourself. If you can find ten minutes in your day, or even just make time to read a paragraph or an article, that counts as reading more.
Another thing is switching the format. If you want to read more but don’t have the time to sit down with a physical book or an e-book, try an audiobook. You can listen on a walk, during your commute, while you cook, or while you’re doing something else. An audiobook is an easy way to immerse yourself in a book, even when you don’t think you have the time.
My last tip would be to use reading as a reward when possible. I wake up early to workout just so I can reward myself with anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour of reading once I’m done. That sets the tone for my day and gives me an immediate dopamine boost.
What books do you find yourself recommending over and over again?
I have five books I always recommend to people for different reasons. First is my favorite book of all time: I’m Down by Mishna Wolff, a coming-of-age memoir I picked up years ago because of the cover. It remains one of the funniest books that I have ever read, so I always preface it by saying it’s a good comfort read. The Color of Water by James McBride sits close behind it, another coming-of-age memoir, and one whose detail has stuck with me since first reading it in high school.
As a music lover, David Ritz is one of my favorite writers and has written a few of my favorite biographies. Two I always recommend are his books on Marvin Gaye: Divided Soul, about Marvin’s life, and After the Dance, which David wrote with Marvin’s wife, Jan Gaye, about their relationship. The last book on my list is Jazz by Toni Morrison, the first of hers I ever read. The prose, storyline, and setting all came together in a way that was both lyrical and haunting.
Erin and I have had a chance to talk in person a few times now and I am just convinced she is the coolest. We have a standing plan to have salad for lunch and then go bookshopping in DC. When that happens, we will have to let you know because I know many of you would love to join in.
🤓 In the meantime:
Do books ever make you think of particular songs or albums? What’s a book-and-music pairing that has stuck with you?
Is there a reading habit or ritual from childhood that you’ve carried into your adult reading life?
Is reading a non-negotiable part of your life? If so, where does it naturally fit into your day?
This was so cool! Since Erin is a former music journalist, the answer may be that she is just way more tuned in to the music world than I am, but I'd also love to know where you get music recs or what places you follow to hear about new-to-you music. I'm always looking for some human-curated music recs in the age of the algorithm.
Great interview. Thanks for introducing us to Erin. Always amazes me the myriad ways to enjoy a reading life.