Rosebuds, I'm pretty sure I told you to gather 'em

[mrissa]

 New essay today in Uncanny! Failing the Marshmallow Test: On Not Saving Books for Later. I know that some amount of book hoarding is inevitable because nobody, not even me, reads instantaneously. But this is about deliberately putting off something you know you want to read for "later"--and why I think it's maybe better not to.

Comments

[oracne]

This essay is relevant to my interests.

[mrissa]

Good!

[sonia]

Seems like that’s a bluesky link? Found the essay here: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/failing-the-marshmallow-test-on-not-saving-books-for-later/

[mrissa]

Should be fixed, thank you. Long autumn. Sigh.

[cgbookcat1]

I deliberately save a new book from some trusted author to read on my birthday each year. It hasn't failed me yet!

[mrissa]

I bet there's a very different satisfaction rate among people whose concept of "save it for later" has a specific detail attached to later (such as "my birthday") vs. indefinite later!

[magenta]

For a specific time or event, yes. I might buy a book to read on a trip. Sometimes I buy a book, or get it from the library, and realize it needs more time and concentration than I have right now. I have "Professor Borges" on hold from the library again, because it is a very dense book I can only read slowly - a record of Juis Lous Borges lectures on English Literature, starting with Beowulf.I tend to have a small horde of books as winter approaches, in case I can't get out to get books, like a horde of canned soup. Both get finished in the spring.

[vcmw]

I did not delay my gratification, I read this delightful essay immediately.

Also I had so much trust that when you mentioned marshmallows you would give the follow up context about those studies and you sure did and it was central to theme and filled my heart with 💜.

[mrissa]

Fistbump, of course! We can't be having that shit.

[tarasacon]

As I’m in the process of culling my bookshelves and deciding what to keep, this was useful to me. Thank you!

My sole cavil: I haven’t read The Shepherd’s Crown. I'm saving it because it’s not only the last discworld book, but I know that one of my favorite characters (anywhere, ever) dies in it. And as long as I haven’t read it, they aren’t dead.

[elisem]

That essay is personally useful. Thank you. <3