Time for issue #1

🥾 The Journey So Far - Why we started and what we’ve built
💬 Reader Q&A - A chat with… Jon Ginty
🏝️ Desert Island Novels - 5 books Jon would bring if stranded on a desert island
📱 Development Update - Testing kicks off (Android first, iOS soon)

The Journey So Far

We’re Logan and Dan, the developers behind PagePal, and after over six months of building (and debugging, and re-debugging), we wanted to take a second to say: Hey! We’re actually doing this.

Dan first had the idea for PagePal while reading a book a friend had recommended. He was loving it, until the last third, when the number of characters and place names became overwhelming. With ADHD, keeping track of it all was tough, and the confusion made it hard to enjoy the story. That moment sparked the idea: what if there were a simple way to keep your place, your context, and your momentum?

We started building PagePal late last year, with one clear goal: to make reading more accessible, especially for the kind of readers who don’t get enough love from the current tools. If your attention span is patchy, your schedule chaotic, or your bookmark permanently lost under the bed, we see you. And we’re building this for you.

Right now, PagePal is still small. Smart summaries are up and running, and our growing library already features a curated selection of books. We’ve launched a test version of the app on Android (with iOS close behind), and a group of test users are helping us shape what comes next. But we’re dreaming big. One day, we hope to offer a massive library of books with tools to help anyone stay connected to the stories they care about.

In the meantime, we’ve started posting about PagePal online (TikTok, Insta, and right here too). If our app is going to help people, it needs to actually reach them. If you’re reading this: thank you for being so early. You’re helping us get PagePal off the ground, and we’re seriously grateful.

Think someone you know would love an app built around ADHD-friendly reading? Share PagePal and help us grow a community of readers.

A chat with… Jon Ginty

Jon Ginty is a software engineer, podcaster, Twitch streamer, saxophonist, and a friend of ours from Scotland. When he’s not working or streaming, he enjoys skiing, snowboarding, and spending time with his dog.

Hey Jon, thinking back to your earliest memories of reading, is there a moment when books or stories really started to click for you as a child?

Yeah, I think it goes way back. I must have been two or three when my dad got me a copy of The Hobbit. It was too advanced since I’d only read kids' stories before. I recognised dragons, dwarfs, and elves from other kids' media, but the book was too wordy and it just flopped straight away for me.

But then I found a graphic novel adaptation around age three or four, and it made perfect sense. I couldn’t read all the words, but the pictures helped me follow the story. That’s my earliest reading memory, and it got me hooked. I wanted more books, even if they were just comics, and it set me on a path to loving fantasy.

I also remember the exact book that got me into sci-fi: a paper pop-out book with a spaceship model. I was fascinated by space. Soon, my room was covered in rockets, I had model rockets, and I watched space launches all the time. Later, I got into Star Wars, Star Trek, and sci-fi books. Those two genres have stuck with me the most.

How has your relationship with reading evolved as you’ve grown older?

For me, it’s all about when I read. As a kid, I read a lot in primary school but didn’t choose books deliberately, I just grabbed whatever was around, usually from the school library or my parents’ collection. It was casual; no plan, just reading whatever caught my interest.

In my teenage years, the internet wasn’t as accessible as it is today. On holidays, especially trips to the coastal Welsh countryside, there was no internet or TV, so I’d pack a stack of books. I’m lucky I don’t get car sick, so reading on long drives helped pass the time.

After school, your relationship with free time changes. Summer holidays as a kid meant doing nothing, but at university, I barely read for fun. Constant assignments made reading feel like work, so I neglected fiction. I read only a handful of fun books, like some Isaac Asimov shorts a friend lent me.

Others found reading relaxing then, but I preferred video games and TV. After uni, my 30 minute bus commute rekindled my reading habit. I got a Kindle and read about two books a month, the most I’d ever read.

Then the pandemic hit and I lost that commute. The extra time went to chores and dog walks, and reading dropped. I was stuck halfway through Dune again.

During lockdown, a friend suggested audiobooks. I thought I couldn’t focus on them but was wrong. Using a free trial from a big tech company, I found audiobooks worked well for me, especially during driving and walking the dog - times when I’m alert but can’t sit with a book.

I read slower listening than reading, but audiobooks give me time I wouldn’t otherwise use. I still finish about two books a month, with a huge to-read list.

I’ve tried speeding up audiobooks, but past 1.1 or 1.2x speed, it becomes mush. I’m not in a rush anyway. Slowing down has helped me absorb more. When younger, I might’ve skimmed comics or novels without really taking it in. Now, even at a slower pace, I feel like I’m getting more out of it. I’m still enjoying reading, and that’s what matters.

In what ways has ADHD shaped or influenced your experience with reading or your overall reading journey?

One big factor for me is how ADHD affects the brain’s reward signals. Quick-reward activities like infinite scrolling or video games are more appealing, making it hard to break those habits. If something easier and more stimulating is available, like a game or movie, I usually choose that over a book.

Reading takes time and lacks immediate feedback. Modern media, games and apps, use sound, color, and constant stimuli designed to hold your attention. With ADHD, resisting this engineered engagement is especially tough.

On the bus, even a phone buzz could break my concentration, leading me to check messages and then scroll Facebook or Reddit. I’ve used an app called One Sec, which forces you to pause or solve a puzzle before opening distracting apps. That often snaps me out of autopilot and makes me ask, “Why am I opening LinkedIn?”

You can’t block everything, though. At home, there are even more distractions: media, side projects, or just the sofa and TV. It’s easy to get pulled away from reading.

When I read on public transport, I wore headphones playing instrumental or electronic music, otherwise people’s conversations would replace the words on the page. Before noise-cancelling headphones, that was a big problem. Even with music, I’d sometimes get through a few pages but absorb nothing - my mind drifting to work, my phone, or random thoughts. That made reading hard.

I’ve learned not to force myself through books anymore. I once read advice that said it’s okay to stop a book if it isn’t working. You can park it and switch to something easier. Maybe you’ll come back, maybe not. Either way, that’s fine.

Sometimes I pushed through a grind of a book and lost the joy of reading. I’d finish it and think, “Why’d I do that? None of it stuck. I could’ve done something else.”

What types of books do you find yourself drawn to nowadays? Are there particular themes or genres you prefer?

I mostly read sci-fi, especially hard sci-fi - the kind that starts with current science, changes one or two things, and stays consistent with its rules. I love detailed descriptions of how things work; it appeals to my engineer side. Sci-fi is definitely my go-to genre.

That said, I also read some non-sci-fi. Last year, I dove into Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting series. I reread the original, then explored its sequels and prequel. They’re not quite as good as the first but still engaging.

Having read and listened to the audiobook, I find the audiobook more accessible, especially for those not fluent in Scots. Scots words often look different from English but sound similar, so listening helps comprehension.

Being from the area, I understand the text fairly well. The series is interesting; I’ve read three so far, with the first definitely the best.

If you haven’t read Trainspotting, start with the audiobook, it’s great. Also, the film cuts a lot out; the book feels more like a collection of linked short stories than a continuous narrative. I love that style: independent stories that connect to form a bigger picture.

Do you often discuss books with other people?

No, I don’t really talk about books much. Many people don’t read as much anymore and don’t chat about books like they do with visual media. Plus, my niche sci-fi isn’t common, so deep conversations are rare.

Once at a party, I found someone whose favorite author was Arthur C. Clarke, and we had an intense hour-long chat about his books. That kind of connection is really rare but great.

Books aren’t like trendy TV shows where anyone can join the conversation. With shows and movies, people watch as they come out, but books are usually read at one’s own pace. People don’t schedule around books.

I’ve only pre-ordered one book, which was from the We Are Bob by Dennis E. Taylor, last year, and planned to read it right away. But for movies or games, I’m more likely to dive in as soon as they release, like watching a film in the cinema.

When it comes to representation in fiction, especially regarding neurodivergent characters, what kinds of portrayals do you wish you saw more of?

I’m probably not the best person to ask about this because a lot of my favourite books, like Arthur C. Clarke, have characters who feel more like vessels to experience the world than fully developed personalities. Honestly, I prefer that over drama or conflict for conflict’s sake. I often lose interest in books because of pointless arguing or bickering.

So, this might not be the best question for me. I care more about world-building than representation of certain characters.

That said, I found The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time really interesting. Told from the perspective of an autistic narrator, it gave me insight into autism that, even though my sister is autistic, I hadn’t fully understood until then. The book didn’t make a big deal of autism but offered a fresh perspective.

I also enjoy first-person narratives, like Trainspotting, where characters’ thoughts are written in a style that matches their personalities. I like that style.

In media like movies and games, lack of representation of race, gender, sexuality, disabilities, and neurodivergence is a problem. But in books, I like that characters can be described loosely, letting readers imagine themselves in the roles.

I’d like to see more stories about ADHD. It’s often misunderstood as just lack of focus, but it affects mental and physical health in many ways. A book showing one perspective would help others understand it better.

No book can represent everyone’s experience. Poor representation can do harm. My main point is that inaccurate ideas about neurodivergence persist. I want to see representation that shifts opinions in positive, constructive ways.

Jon’s Desert Island Novels 🏝️

We asked Jon to imagine being stranded on a desert island - what five books would he bring to keep him entertained, inspired, and sane? Here’s his must-have reading list.

#5 — Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

Trainspotting hooked me immediately. It’s a visceral painting of life in Edinburgh in the late 80s or early 90s. It’s not a happy read, though it has moments of fun. Being from Edinburgh, I liked picturing the places mentioned, especially since I wasn’t really aware of the city’s seediness growing up. Watching the film later, I recognised almost every location. Edinburgh has changed a lot since then, something they address in the later books and film sequel, but that tone of complex, real people remains. I also loved that it’s largely written in Scots, a dying language that might not be remembered in a few generations, which makes me sad. That’s why Trainspotting is my number five.

#4 — World War Z by Max Brooks

World War Z is about the zombie apocalypse, told after the fact as a collection of short stories from different perspectives. The audiobook is a great way to experience it, with voice actors like Simon Pegg, Nathan Fillion, and Mark Hamill bringing the characters to life. Max Brooks narrates as if interviewing survivors, creating the feel of an oral history. Even if you're not into zombie fiction, it's a fantastic read. Skip the film and the game - they share only the name and zombies, and the movie especially is terrible.

#3 — The Martian by Andy Weir

The Martian’s narrative is distinctive, told entirely through Mark Watney’s text logs while stranded on Mars. The film adaptation closely follows the book but uses video logs instead. Andy Weir’s writing is excellent. He’s a space nerd with lots of research, making it hard sci-fi with scientific accuracy. The main character’s humor and swearing make it very enjoyable. Watching the film first won’t spoil the book, which has much more detail. I also recommend Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, a bit more speculative but still engaging.

#2 — Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

I haven’t read Catch-22 in about ten years, but it’s a book I’ve enjoyed multiple times. The writing style is unique, almost poetic, with great humor. The story follows bomber pilots off the coast of Italy during World War II, balancing comedy, dark humor, and serious themes. Joseph Heller was a bomber pilot himself, adding authenticity. However, some language and descriptions about women, race, and LGBTQ+ people may feel outdated or offensive today, so check for content warnings before reading.

Honourable Mentions

There are book series I love that wouldn’t make this top five list as individual books but are definitely worth mentioning:

• The Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor starts with We Are Legion (We Are Bob) and follows a guy who has his brain frozen after death and wakes up as an AI in a space probe. It’s nerdy, fun, and consistent within its own sci-fi rules.

• I also enjoyed The Expanse series, which was adapted into a TV show. The books have calmer and more level-headed characters compared to the show, which sometimes amps up drama unnecessarily. Both series come highly recommended.

#1 — Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

This is probably the best book you’ve never heard of. Arthur C. Clarke, my favourite author, delivers a classic of hard sci-fi: Rendezvous with Rama. The plot is simple - a big object enters the solar system, humanity investigates, and that’s the story. It’s a perfect example of the "big dumb object" trope. Everyone who’s read it calls it a classic and it’s often on best hard sci-fi lists. Clarke’s writing shows his joy and fascination with space and technology, with clear, vivid descriptions that don’t overwhelm. People imagine Rama’s interior similarly, even without a movie, proving how well it’s written. I love his work but warn against the sequels and collaborations, as they don’t match Clarke’s original style.

Development Update

Things are getting real! The app is up and running for a few initial test users on Android, and we’re just about ready to let a few more folks in. We’ve not deployed to iOS yet, but that’ll happen soon.

In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be inviting a small group of waitlist members to start testing PagePal. If you’re on Android and eager to try it out early, we’d love to hear from you! Just reply to this email with a list of books you want to read - we can add specific books to the server on request.

We’re starting small so we can learn and improve before opening the doors wider. If you don’t get invited this round, don’t worry because more spots are coming soon.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this issue, forward it to a friend or share it on social media - we’d love to grow the PagePal community with your help.