After losing a finished novel, writer found comfort in reading two books at once

An essay in Time recounts that when the author was 25 and living in New York City they spilled water on their computer, lost their completed first novel and, searching for consolation, walked to a bookstore looking for a new book.

The author describes splitting reading into “day books” — works that demand focus or serve as research — and “night books” — immersive escapes that bring joy. They say reading multiple books at once lets otherwise disparate titles unexpectedly “speak to each other”; examples include Sophie Elmhirst’s A Marriage at Sea, which the author read from afternoon until midnight, and Bruce Holsinger’s Culpability, a night book revisited in daylight because of its lingering psychological impact.

The essay concludes that books provide refuge from disappointment and loss, that storytelling can feel like an act of rebellion, and that reading several books at once is a reminder we still have choices about what to do next.

Key Topics

Culture, Sophie Elmhirst, Bruce Holsinger, Culpability, Day Books, Night Books