Tangent #1: Why We Need More Readers, Not More Gatekeeping

In this Lacuna Tangent, Remy Renard and E. Donohue use The Atlantic article The End of Reading Is Here by Rose Horowitch (July 8, 2026) as a jumping-off point to ask a different question entirely: if we truly care about the future of reading, are we focusing on the right problem?Rather than blaming readers, we explore the pressures that make reading harder in modern life, from economic realities and education to accessibility and digital technology. Along the way, we discuss oral storytelling traditions, genre fiction, children's literature, disability access, and why creativity itself can become an act of resistance during difficult times.Whether you love classics, fantasy romance, graphic novels, audiobooks, or folklore, this conversation argues for creating more readers, not policing what "counts" as reading.Topics DiscussedThe Atlantic article "The End of Reading Is Here" Reading statistics and literacy Education and creating lifelong readers Classics versus contemporary literature Dark fantasy, romance, and genre fiction Oral storytelling traditions Accessibility and digital reading Graphic novels and Dog Man Creativity as resistance Why joy matters in readingResources & ReferencesRose Horowitch, The End of Reading Is Here (The Atlantic) (July 8, 2026)Shooting the Shit podcast (CeCe Lyra & Carly Watters) Walter J. Ong and oral storytelling Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Dog Man by Dav Pilkey The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Works by Toni Morrison Greek mythology and Rick Riordan Norse mythology The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsAbout the HostsRemy Renard is the author of The Florilegium Cycle, an Appalachian dark fantasy romance series set in Lorewood, a town where monsters are ordinary, folklore is real, and every story leaves its mark. Drawing on a background in the humanities, education, and storytelling, she explores the intersections of literature, philosophy, folklore, and pop culture.E. Donohue is a professional horticulturist and author of many works of creative non-fiction about ecology and our connection to the natural world. She is also the aspiring author of The Raun Cycle, a historic grounded fantasy trilogy set on the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland and England at the time of the Roman invasion. Drawing on a background of ecology, anthropology, and creative writing, as well as a lifetime study of folklore, she explores the science and archeology behind the magic of folklore.Connect with UsPodcast IG: @whatlivesinthelacunaPodcast TikTok: @whatlivesinthelacunaRemy Renardwww.remyrenard.comIG: @remy.in.the.wildTikTok: @remy.in.the.wildE. Donohuewww.edonohueauthor.com/IG: @e.donohuewriterTikTok: @edonohuestoryteller