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Why I No Longer Have a Favorite Book

👋 Hey Reader,

​
Last night at dinner, I asked the usual question: What’s everyone reading?

It’s become a bit of a ritual for us. My 19-year-old is in the middle of some horror novel that he says is THE BEST THING EVER, and my daughter was talking about her experience reading Howl’s Moving Castle—she couldn't stop smiling.

At some point, my wife turned to me and asked, “What’s your favorite book?”

I couldn’t answer.

When I was younger, that question was easy. I hadn’t read that many books yet, so my favorite was usually whatever I’d finished most recently.

But now, I don’t think I have one.

I stood in front of my shelves later that night, thinking about it, and the only way I can describe it is this: it feels less like a bookshelf and more like a room full of old friends.

I don’t keep books I don’t love. And I don’t reread books I don’t love.

So when I try to pick a favorite, I keep running into the same problem—

I love all of them.

And I think that’s probably the better answer anyway.

📚 Until next time, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas.

-Eddy

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New This Week:

Book Recommendation Slow Productivity by Cal Newport What Happening in Book Club this Week The Picture of Dorian Gray Update on My Novel I Need Your Vote (See Below)

Looking for More Enchantment?

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

If you’ve ever felt busy all day and still wondered what you actually got done, Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity is worth your time.

Newport makes a pretty uncomfortable observation: a lot of what we call “productivity” today is just… activity. Emails, meetings, checking things off lists. It looks like work, but it’s often just noise.

His argument is simple, but it sticks with you:

1. Do fewer things.
2. Work at a natural pace.
3. Obsess over quality.

This isn’t one of those productivity books that tries to squeeze more out of your day. It’s the opposite. It’s about stepping back and asking what actually matters—and then giving that your full attention.

Pick it up at Edgewater

Update From Book Club

What We're Reading:

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Edition: Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. Fingerprint! Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 978-93-5440-217-3

Reading Pace: 15 pages / day

Dates: 4/14/2026 to 4/28/2026

Online Meetings Held: Tuesdays at 8:30 EST – [Click here to join]​

The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the story of a young man who trades his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Oscar Wilde’s novel is a gothic tale of vanity, corruption, and moral decay.

Three questions to consider while you read:

1. How does Wilde explore the relationship between beauty, morality, and identity?
2. What role does art play in shaping Dorian’s worldview and fate?
3. How does the novel critique Victorian society and its values?

📚 Ready to Join Book Club?

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You get:​
✓ All weekly notes
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✓ Access to our live Tuesday discussions
✓ A thoughtful community of readers

📚 - Join us here →

Update on My Book (Sinners in the Orchard)

I Need Your Vote

(Voting is anonymous, and you'll see the results when done!)

Quick favor—I’d love your help with something.

I’m working on the logline for my novel. A logline is just a one-sentence description of a story—the kind of thing you’d see on the back of a book or in a pitch. It’s meant to capture the heart of the story in a really tight, compelling way.

It matters more than you’d think. A strong logline is often the first thing an agent, publisher, or reader sees. It’s what makes someone interested—or move on.

And that’s where you come in.

I’ve put together a few options, and I want to know which one actually makes you interested in the story.

Your vote helps me see what’s working (and what’s not) from the reader’s side—which is the side that matters most.

Which one sounds the most interesting to you? In a religion that stops aging and death, a devout woman is marked to die when she tries to expose the secret behind its rituals. Marguerite Sinclair has spent years devoted to a faith that defeated death, but when her husband is taken, she discovers its promise of eternal life demands something unforgivable. Marguerite Sinclair hasn’t aged in 3,285 days, but when her husband is punished for a faith crime, she must decide to protect the secret of eternal life—or expose it and lose everything. None of these options would interest me enough to buy and read. Keep workshopping the logline.

👋🎉 Also, I wanted to thank the 10 beta readers who offered to read my manuscript and provide some feedback before the next round of revisions. Thank you all for your help!!!!

Hi, I'm Eddy. How Can I Help? Feel free to respond to this email. Let me know how I can make your experience in our reading community better, or if you have questions, I'm all ears. As always, read slowly - take notes - apply the ideas. -Eddy

Got Questions?

Reply to this email with your questions. I respond to each and sometimes make a podcast or video to answer your bookish questions.

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