What I learned from reading the same book for four months. (and an announcement!)
Plus, the book I read in one night.
“The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hi Writer!
This week I reached a 2025 milestone when I finished the book I’ve been reading since January 1 – Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.
As I’ve mentioned here before, this year I’m taking part in a slow read of Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy hosted by Simon Haisell.
Each week there’s a reading assignment (around 35 pages) along with background information, maps, and interesting tangents.
So now that I’m 4 months and 1 book into my slow read, here what’s I’ve learned so far:
Living with a book long term is a unique comfort. 2025 has been a tough year in the world, to put it mildly. Oddly, reading about the 1500’s and a narcissistic, capricious monarch who was willing to destroy the life of anyone who didn’t please him on any particular day has been a comfort. Both because the book is a reliable escape to me – like a long running tv show that never goes on break – and because Mantel depicts human nature so well that it’s impossible not to see rhymes between Henry VIII’s court and the political leaders of 2025.
It’s both a frustration and a relief to have an assignment each week. There have been weeks I struggled to get through the assigned reading and other weeks it was hard to stop. This usually had more to do with me and my mental state than the content for that week. Regardless, I have managed to keep up every week, with a short exception of a week when I was traveling and didn’t want to lug the paper book with me.
The reading expands to fit my interest. Historical novels may be uniquely designed for a slow read in this way. Stretching out the book has given me time to dive deep on the history of Henry VIII and his wives with articles, podcasts, and youtube videos (like this interesting one reconstructing the headwear ladies in Anne Boelyn’s retinue would have worn:
My other reading has suffered. I had planned for Wolf Hall to be the book I check in with for a day each week, then to spend the rest of my time reading more current books or writing manuals. But, Henry and all the Thomases and Annes take up so much of my brain, that when I do read something else I pretty much have to gobble it up in a few days or risk losing track of it completely. For me, personally, it’s too hard to be fully immersed in two books going back and forth.
I still need the weekly guidance. I had hoped by this point that I would be so used to Mantel’s writing that I would be able to follow it effortlessly, sort of the way A Clockwork Orange or Trainspotting reconfigure your brain. But, Wolf Hall is so dense, or maybe I’m so unfamiliar with the history (I think British readers are more able to pick up on mentions of tangential figures, for example), that I’m still starting with Haisell’s overview before I dive into the reading each week. It’s humbling, but also gratifying.
I want to keep going. The end of Wolf Hall would be a natural jumping off point, but I’ve decided to continue on to Book 2, Bring up the Bodies. If you’re interested in joining Wolf Crawl, this would be a good point for you to get on board, too. Or, Haisell is leading a slow read of Mantel’s book on the French revolution, A Place of Greater Safety, beginning May 5. See all the slow reads and sign up here.
Today’s Reason to Write is…
To preserve your sound at this age.
Okay, go with me for a minute here – the other day I was listening to the radio when a Destiny’s Child song came on and, having only listened to her 2020’s songs more recently, I noticed how youthful Beyonce’s voice was.
Her current voice is mature and powerful, but it was endearing to hear that younger voice, too. It reminded me of her playing Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers, a role that’s hard to imagine her taking now that her persona has so much dignity and weightiness.
Her Destiny’s Child voice was a tie to a different version of Beyonce. In some ways a lighter voice, but also the voice of a person who was ready to prove herself to the world and take her place as a major creator. I could recognize that youthful potential in 2025 in a way I couldn’t when the song was new, because now I know where it was headed.
Your writing voice is like that, too – full of potential you won’t even be able to see until you’ve become whoever you’re going to be and have written the things you will go on to write. And don’t tell me your voice isn’t youthful just because you’re 30, or 40, or 70 or 80. Whoever you are, and whatever age you’re at, you still have so much potential to release.
Don’t hold it back!
This Week I’m:
Reading: Tilt by Emma Pattee. This book was at the top of my Indie Bookstore weekend list, and it was exactly as good as I thought it would be. So good, in fact that I read it Saturday night in one go. The closest I can compare it to is Room, for sheer unputdownability.
Watching: The Rehearsal Season 2. Nathan Fielder’s shows are a particular flavor, but it’s one I really enjoy. I was only so-so on The Rehearsal Season 1, but Season 2 may be his best show ever, and last night’s episode was a work of art.
Listening to: Follow Your Curiosity podcast’s interview with Amber Petty. Amber has been a combination of inspiration and mentor to me ever since I took her Freelance Writing for Creatives class a few years ago. Listen to this podcast if you want to understand why.
Big Announcement! I’m a Coach!
I’m excited to announce Coaching now available as an option through my website.
In recent months I’ve heard from so many writers who want help with their writing projects but can’t find classes that fit what they’re working on, or who don’t have time/availability to attend a traditional class.
Hiring a writing coach is a great way to get the support you need on a schedule that works for you. Visit https://www.kayleighshoen.com/coaching to learn more and sign up for a free 20 minute consultation.
Until next week, Happy Writing!
Kayleigh
What a lovely write-up, Kayleigh, and I'm glad the notes continue to be helpful! And I think you are right that historical fiction is especially suited to the slow read. You can take it in so many different directions.