Maria van Oosterwijck was a Dutch Golden Age painter (1600s) who was famed for her floral still lifes, many of which found homes in the art collections of the kings and queens of Europe. Victoria Redel is a writer of prose and poetry, whose latest book is a work of historical fiction about van Oosterwijck. And Sarah Jessica Parker is an actor most famous for playing a writer! No no, I kid Carrie. SJP is a big reader — a description I’d usually find patronizing to say about an adult, but these are trying times — with her own imprint (SJP Lit, here’s hoping it lasts longer than her shoe company) that published Redel’s book last month. To promote the release of the book, I Am You, Redel and SJP took part in a panel at 92NY moderated by editor Adam Moss. The panel happened a month ago, but People Mag’s reporting is brand new. To summarize the content of SJP’s commentary: we need to do more to get people to read.
Moss asked Parker if she thinks the novel as a form is still thriving, to which Parker agreed. She also noted, however, that reading has been on the decline.
“I think we’re not doing enough to support people reading,” Parker said. “And I think there’s great work out there, great work to be discovered. There’s writers that have been around for a long time, who are still doing extraordinary work and surprising us, and there’s an entire new generation of writers across the globe who are thrilling to know about and read.”
Parker also noted a discrepancy in reading, particularly between men and women. A study published by journal iScience in August 2025 found a general decline in reading for pleasure in the United States over the last two decades, but also found that women were more likely to read consistently than men in 2023.
“We’ve seen a pretty serious decrease in men reading, really sitting down and reading,” Parker said. “I think women have been supporting publishing in lots of ways and reading lots of different types of books, but we’re not reading the way we used to read.”
“I don’t think it’s the fault of the writers,” Parker added. “I think there are riches to have in your hand. We’re just not getting books. We’re not pressing them. We’re not grabbing the attention because it’s so impossible to grab people’s attention now.”
The actress noted that when looking for books to acquire for her own SJP Lit book imprint, which she launched with publisher Zando in 2022, she wants a story that grabs her attention.
“We try to find books that we’re really excited about, that really wow us immediately,” Parker said. “We hope we get the chance to publish them and either introduce a writer to readers or introduce a writer who’s debuting as a writer … every time a writer says yes, it’s a very big deal to us.”
Redel’s novel, a historical fiction with a dreamy dash of sapphic romance and gasp-inducing intrigue set amongst the art scene in 1600s Amsterdam, was a book that Parker says she couldn’t put down.
“A historical fiction with a dreamy dash of sapphic romance and gasp-inducing intrigue set amongst the art scene in 1600s Amsterdam…” Um, HALLO! If those 21-words don’t save reading in America then I fear nothing will! But sadly, I realize the subject of I Am You is more likely to do the opposite for literacy in this country. One Million Moms has probably drafted a boycott petition over it already (penned by a mom who could really do with a dreamy dash of sapphic romance). I am sure I Am You will land on next year’s Banned Books Week list.
As to SJP’s fundamental question (and graciously setting aside the oxymoron of trusting the taste of a woman who kept saying yes to And Just Like That… scripts) — how do we better support writers and the (joyful!) act of reading? I don’t have a great answer for what the overarching strategy should be. The only tiny, maybe helpful, nitpicky idea I have is that perhaps it would improve the situation if we had a Secretary of Education who knew, as a result of reading from words printed on a page, the difference between artificial intelligence (AI) and steak sauce (A1)? Worth giving it a shot?
Post Scriptum — That data about men reading less than women is fascinating… and I dare not say any more than that.
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- Celebrities attending the NYC Ballet 2025 Fall Gala at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center Plaza Featuring: Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker Where: New York City, New York, United States When: 08 Oct 2025 Credit: mpi099/MediaPunch/INSTARimages
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- Celebrities attending the NYC Ballet 2025 Fall Gala at the David H Koch Theatre Featuring: Sarah Jessica Parker Where: New York, United States When: 08 Oct 2025 Credit: Darla Khazei/INSTARimages
photos credit: Janet Mayer/INSTARimages.com, M10s/TheNews2/Cover Images, mpi099/MediaPunch/INSTARimages, Getty
Reading seems to be going away. People listen to audiobooks instead of reading books, and podcasts instead of reading blogs, and so on. I can’t stand audiobooks or podcasts myself.
BookTok is getting me to read. So many librarians and regular folks doing reading lists and recommendations. Also Anne Patchett has a great account on their from her indie bookstore.
I’m a voracious reader who goes back and forth between audiobooks (and podcasts) and paper copies. I actually get upset when people dismiss audiobooks as not real reading. Not only does it dismiss people who have trouble reading on the printed page, such as people with dyslexia, but it is still part of book culture. It still requires an author to write a book, buying an audiobook (or renting one from the library via the Libby app) is still supporting the author and the library (though I understand there are tradeoffs), and for me, it increases the amount of time I can spend with books. I’ll listen to audiobooks while walking the dog, doing dishes, making dinner, etc. That time wouldn’t otherwise be spent with a physical copy of a book. Let’s not yuck people’s yum when that yum is still about books!
It’s sadly true – reading for pleasure has taken a nose dive in this country.
I love reading! I never go anywhere without my Kindle and if I really love a book, I’ll buy a physical copy for my book shelf!
I also do not leave the house without my kindle. Voracious reader here. My coping mechanism against the awful news.
I’ve loved reading since I was a little child, but after the death of my husband last year, I haven’t been able to read much except gossip (thanks and sorry, Celebitchy). I was also an English teacher for many years and my love of reading is also a sad loss to me.
When I was younger, I used to read. A lot. But as I have gotten older, I’m really having trouble concentrating on a book, even a kindle version. My brain just won’t let me focus. I’m sure part of the issue is the internet, social media…etc