Some weeks are packed with reading. Other weeks are packed with everything that surrounds reading.

This week fell firmly into the second category.

While I didn’t get as many pages finished as I would have liked, I spent a lot of time preparing new podcast episodes, editing interviews, writing blog posts, and getting several upcoming projects ready to launch. Sometimes creating content means sacrificing a little reading time but it’s all in service of sharing more conversations about books.

Revisiting The Second Apocalypse

Most of my reading this week was spent continuing my spoiler-filled reread of The Darkness That Comes Before as part of our Second Apocalypse discussion series.

Going back through the series has reminded me just how much I had forgotten. Events I thought I remembered clearly often happened much differently than I recalled, and many of the smaller details become much more important once you know where the story is heading.

It’s made this reread far more rewarding, and far more demanding than I expected.

Slowing Down Has Made Reading Better

One realization I’ve had recently is that I simply don’t read at the pace I used to.

A few years ago I could spend hours every day reading, sometimes finishing hundreds of pages in a week. Life looks a little different now, and that’s okay.

Instead of worrying about how quickly I finish books, I’ve started focusing on how much I actually absorb. Taking my time has made reading more enjoyable and has helped me appreciate the craft behind the stories rather than feeling like I need to race toward the ending.

If you’re a slower reader, you’re definitely not alone.

Podcast Updates

We’ve got a busy week ahead on Page Chewing.

Beyond the Page officially launches this week with two author interviews:

• Tuesday: T.J. Cooper joins me to discuss epic fantasy, Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and how creativity can help us through difficult times.
• Thursday: Jared Maxwell stops by to talk about Code of Vengeance, Florida noir, dark humor, and how his military and law enforcement background influences his writing.

We’ll also return to our Page Burners readalong of The Bonehunters this Saturday after postponing last week’s discussion. Sometimes coordinating a group recording isn’t easy, but Chapter 7 is absolutely worth the wait.

On Wednesday, Panel Chewing continues with our discussion of Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 7.

The Daily Page Is Almost Here

I’ve also been working on a new short-form series called The Daily Page.

The goal is to have weekday episodes that explore a memorable quote or passage from classic literature and discuss why it still resonates today.

Finding works that are safely in the public domain has taken a little more preparation than expected, but I’m excited to begin sharing these episodes very soon.

What I’ve Been Watching

Movie night this week included two very different horror experiences.

I finally watched Paranormal Activity 2, and unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. While I appreciated parts of the original film, the sequel never really connected and ended up feeling more frustrating than frightening.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I revisited the 2008 French film Martyrs. It’s an incredibly difficult film to watch, but one that continues to provoke new thoughts every time I revisit it. Few horror films leave such a lasting impression.

AI Isn’t Going Away

One topic that found its way into this week’s discussion was artificial intelligence.

After spending hours trying to solve a frustrating audio issue with my podcast setup, AI helped point me toward a solution in just a few minutes. That experience reinforced something I’ve been thinking about for a while.

Whether we like it or not, AI has become another tool that isn’t going away. Like the internet before it, the conversation is becoming less about whether it exists and more about how we choose to use it responsibly.

There are plenty of legitimate concerns surrounding AI, but there are also situations where it can genuinely save time and solve problems. Finding that balance is going to be one of the biggest conversations of the next decade.

Join the Conversation

This week’s question for everyone is:

What’s the longest fantasy series you’ve ever finished?

I’d love to hear your answer. Send me a message through SpeakPipe, and your response could be featured in next week’s Weekly Reading Update.

Thanks for reading, and as always, happy reading. I’ll see you in the next episode.