Introduction

There were so many ways to go with this anthology, but I decided to go with, ‘stories that mean something to me.’ It’s the only way I really know to talk about reading, when it comes down to it, and it’s what feels true.

Ultimately reading is a selfish act, even when we read to know other people’s minds. We want to know more, and feel more, we want to look at something and go, ‘Oh I understand!’ or ‘Oh! this person understands me!’ or we want to learn a new thing, or a new thought, or a new way of looking at the world. We want to laugh with recognition or horror, or sit at the kitchen table, trembling with the everythingness of everything.

We want to connect.

At least, I do. And as this is My Personal Anthology, I’m going with that. Reading is a glinting collage of a thousand double-sided mirrors. Or something.