Welcome to Footnotes and Tangents! A community for curious and creative readers.
My name is Simon Haisell. I am a writer, book guide and host of slow reads of great books. Here, you will find my book groups, tangents on life and reading, and my fiction.
Footnotes are the rabbit holes down which a curious reader is drawn. Tangents are what the creative reader makes from a book. The end of a story is just the beginning of the adventure.
If you’re new, check out this intro post and say hello in the comments:
If you would like to join this year’s War and Peace read-along, start here:
If you would like to join this year’s read-along of Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell Trilogy, start here:
For other writing and news of future reading projects on Footnotes and Tangents, subscribe to my occasional Endnotes newsletter:
Membership Options
Free
This year’s slow book groups are free for everyone. This includes weekly updates, further resources and space for discussion.
It is important to me that money should not be a barrier to participating in this community and benefiting from these books. So, my work depends on the generosity of paying subscribers who, in turn, support the community.
Paid (£3.50/month or £35/year)
Supporters have access to the full archive and bonus content for the book groups. I check in with supporters once a month in the chat section, where you can also start your own discussion threads at any time.
You guys make everything I do here possible, so I am enormously grateful for your support.
Founding member (£100+/year)
Feeling philanthropic? Set your own subscription rate to support the future of this community. Founding members have access to the full archive and bonus content for the book groups. I check in with all paying supporters once a month in the chat section, where you can also start your own discussion threads at any time.
As a founding member, you can also suggest a Footnotes and Tangents post on a novel of your choice.
What people said about the 2023 slow reading of War and Peace:
“It has been on my TBR since I was 9! I'm so glad I waited for this extraordinary experience - I would've missed so much! Reading one chapter/day has been immersive for me. The slow absorption of the story, and then the story absorbed me. Simon's daily summaries are simply sublime. He has created a place of kindness and inclusion in our discussion group, where sharing in the perspectives of others has been so deeply enriching. For me, this has been life-enhancing and I just urge you all to take the leap in '24 and treat yourselves to the most wonderful experience! You'll be so thrilled!”
– Juliet
“The W&P read-along is frankly the highlight of my day. I have so so enjoyed the community of fantastic readers who bring other ideas and viewpoints to add to one’s personal reading of this truly exceptional book, in a space where you are never made to feel silly for asking a question or putting an idea forward. Simon has steered the read-along with passion, intelligence, and creativity. It is fully obvious that he loves this book, and now I do too! I’m bereft at how little we have left to read (over a thousand pages in). Thank you Simon for bringing me the magic and wisdom of W&P through your remarkable hosting.”
– Annabel
“The daily breakdowns / summaries of the chapters that you provide (without fail!) Simon, have really added to my experience and understanding of War and Peace. The chat with other readers, guided by yourself, is also illuminating. Definitely recommend next year’s readalong for anyone wanting to tackle War and Peace.”
– Kim
“Simon puts so much care to ensure everybody can enjoy the reading and discussions at their own pace and his daily summaries are brilliant. I feel I am taking so much more out of War and Peace by reading everybody’s opinions and sharing mine, and there’s always someone who does some history digging to help clarify certain habits from the period or bringing historic context to specific elements.”
– Paloma
“I've attempted War and Peace many times in the past and failed miserably. Simon's daily commentary and weekly wrap-ups (and now the fuller Substack commentary) have been immensely helpful. As I've mentioned previously, my 16-year-old has expressed an interest in my doing the read along again next year and reading aloud to her, which I shall definitely do!”
– Gina
“It's been the loveliest experiencing this book with so many others around the world, and beautifully and lovingly hosted by you Simon 🥹🩵 I'm always excited to wake up and read the days chapter with my coffee and have fun discussing it.”
– Zoe
“Doing this readalong with others has meant knowing someone else is going through what you're going through, when a character dies or a big event happens we're all there together. Reading your posts has added so much extra understanding to the story. You give important historical context and pull focus to poignant moments making it all the more enjoyable and highlight things I would've missed. War and Peace is an intimidating book but so addictive once you get going. I'm so glad I found you all to experience it together.”
– Rachel
“I am very grateful to Simon for creating this wonderful readalong w&p 2023 and for travelling through this giant of a book with us every day with so much input and commitment. And a big shout out to all of you reading along, love the exchange on discord with you people ❤️ So from me a huge recommendation to join Simon's readalongs next year!!”
– Andrea
“It’s always great to share books you love and the chat is full of people who love Tolstoy. For such a challenging book, what more could you want? Simon puts an inordinate amount of effort in and it’s certainly appreciated.”
– Charlotte
“I have absolutely loved doing the slow readalong of War and Peace, I have got so much out of it, after reading Anna Karenina by myself, quickly last year, and wondering why I’d wasted my time on it! I have signed up as a subscriber for Simon’s substack. He puts so much love and care into this communal experience, it is amazing.”
– Rachel
“Without a doubt, Simon’s readalong has been THE BEST communal read/book club experience I’ve ever had. At this slow pace, you’re not just reading the book, you’re inhabiting it. Simon’s insights and added materials enrich the experience, as do your co-readers. I have gotten to know some lovely people this year. I have already signed up as a paid subscriber to Footnotes and Tangents on Substack for Wolf Crawl next year. Might do W&P again as well because it’s hard to say goodbye. 😂 Join us! You won’t regret it!”
– Laura
“There are not enough superlatives to explain how wonderful the daily readalong of W&P lead by Simon has been so far this year. It's been so good I'm contemplating doing it all again next year with a different translation. It's absolutely worth the small monthly Substack subscription if you can afford it to recognise all of the effort Simon puts in. Showing my southern UK bias here, it's less than the price of a coffee, less than the price of a pint of beer, much less than a subscription to Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+ etc and it's so much more fulfilling and wonderful than any of those things. Do it, you won't regret it.”
– Sarah
“I urge anyone with any interest in classics to join the War and Peace readalong next year. It's such a fantastic way of experiencing the book and Simon's daily summary makes everything easy to understand. It's the highlight of my reading year.”
– Gavin
