"Happiness is a crackling fire, a cozy book,
a cup of hot cocoa, and an autumnal nook."
ANGIE WEILAND-CROSBY
October is almost here, and autumn is drawing nearer to the cozy centres of our lives. Those places where warm nourishing food is prepared, where enticing books gather in piles, and where cozy corners invite, and we don't really mind that long cool evenings are about to descend. For book lovers, like squirrels busy gathering nuts for winter, we search far and wide for reading materials to match the mood and the season.
Where do you go to find your book reading inspiration? I do have a few favourite places that are guaranteed to inspire me. Of course, the local library and bookstores are a given—lovely places to visit and browse—but what I'm thinking of today are those spots I visit online that usually have me coming away with lists of inspiration. Here are five places I enjoy visiting:
1. The Queen's Reading Room. "Discover new books each season & meet the extraordinary people who create them." This is HM Queen Camilla's book club which is wrapping up its eleventh season. Her Majesty The Queen picks four favourite books per four seasons (Jan to Mar, Apr to June, Jul to Sep, Oct to Dec). Recommendations are a mix of classic and new published works. A sample of the books I have read and enjoyed from previous seasons include: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. You can find The Queen's Reading Room on her website and Instagram page.
2. Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. This independent bookstore, owned by author Ann Patchett, gives weekly updates about current releases. I started following Ann and her shop during the pandemic. It's always a breath of fun to watch as she and Sparky (her dog), along with staff members, share enthusiastically about their latest favourites. Ann can be found on Instagram and the store website which includes Staff Picks, Ann's Latest Picks, and musings on the Parnassus blog. Her latest novel Tom Lake was a great read, and I absolutely loved her book of essays These Precious Days.
3. Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC. I first came across this bookstore a couple of years ago when I signed up for an online author interview with Canadian writer Louise Penny. Louise had chatted about writing her latest Gamache novel All The Devils Are Here. It was held during the pandemic, and one good thing that came out of this terrible season, so many in-person events had to be presented as Zoom events. Which meant a person living thousands of miles away could attend, and that's how I came to know about this bookstore. I still check back on their website once in a while to see what new books they are talking about. They continue to do their events online.
4. The Enchanted Book Club with Hayley Solano. If you've watched any of Susan Branch's recent interviews with Hayley, you will know about The Enchanted Book Club. The book club "is a kindred community that reads a different classic every month... perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women". Hayley also presents online events with beloved authors, hosts literary travels (Paris is on the list), and more. The book selection for October is Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. I'm enjoying revisiting some of the classics I so loved as a girl and young woman. They are still a joy to read. You can find lovely Hayley on Instagram and her website.
5. Miranda Mills on YouTube and Comfort Book Club. Miranda from Yorkshire, UK, posts weekly vlogs about her favourite books and seasonal living in the English countryside. I love watching her weekly enthusiastic videos... my bookshelves are filling (as we speak) with her delightful cozy and 'comforting' recommendations. Miranda and her mom, Donna, host the monthly Comfort Book Club. ←Click there and you'll find the books selected for discussion in upcoming months. September's selection was an old classic Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton. For October, Miranda has selected the new release Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, which are short stories by current authors written in Christie fashion. Miranda can be followed on Instagram and her YouTube Channel.
I'm wondering, do you have favourite online places where you find inspiration for your reading life? Could you share below?
To close, Elizabeth Lawrence wrote in A Southern Garden (2001), "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." Oh yes! Let's sit still and watch the leaves turn on our trees and turn in our books.
❦
I'm wishing you a beautiful weekend,
Brenda
Photo credit:
Image by FreeFunArt on Pixabay
I feel as though books often come across my path quite serendipitously. But having said that, I do know my book "antennae" are always on high alert for any mentions of likely-sounding tomes. Browsing at bookstores is always a fun activity, though more so online these days. And most meaningful conversations I have with friends and family eventually do include at least a quick discussion of current books. I seem to always have plenty of titles on hand and more waiting in the wings. You know how pansies seem to flourish the more you pick them? That's how books seem to me, the more I read, the more there are to read--the supply does not diminish.😀 Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteOur 'book antennae' is always on high alert - oh yes, here too! Thanks, Kathy, for taking time to drop a note. xo
DeleteSometimes NetGalley send me suggestions, which I don't always follow up. If I enjoy a book I often look for others by the same author. We dont have a travelling Library anymore, so I have to rely on Kindle books a lot more than i want to. I so love the feel of a 'real' book. So far I havent tried any 'online' recommendation sites, but I like the look of Miranda Mills choices, so will have a look at her site. I can't be without a book!
ReplyDeleteLike you, Barbara, I love the feel of a 'real' book in my hands and seeing it sitting on my side table or shelf. I feel lost without a book nearby.
DeleteOh wow, Brenda. What a treasure trove of information your post held. Wow. Thanks. I think my fave would be the Enchanted Book Club. I wish I had time to visit all of them but my life still remains extremely busy. Some days I struggle to just come up for air.Thanks for your visit, too. I always feel happy when you stop by.Sincerely, Susan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. Yes, there are seasons in life when other things press for our attention. It certainly makes it harder to find time to read. One often reaches the end of a busy day hoping to read for a bit only to find one's head bobbing with weariness. Perhaps novels aren't the thing to read during busy times, but collections of short poems or little essays. Whatever you are up to this week, Susan, I'm wishing you grace for it. xo
DeleteJust leaving a little comment to let you know I have been reading your blog again! :)
ReplyDelete- Bekah ( Miss_ Mousie on Twitter)
Thanks for stopping by, Bekah. I found you on Twitter (X).
DeleteWell, I think it's going to take me a week to read this post. I got as far as The Queen's Reading Room, with which I'm very familiar because I follow her on Instagram. But I'd never been to the website, so I got lost there after clicking on the link. Time got away on me and then I had to get back to life. I'll be back later for the next place on the link. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you getting through the links? I didn't realize there was so much info on The Queen's Reading Room website. Lots more than just the list of books to read. Have fun!
DeleteThank you for all the great book sources! I am always on the hunt for a good book recommendation! I follow a few booklover's sites on Facebook and through my news feed. My favorite genre are memoirs, which narrows things down quite a bit. Now that the cooler weather is here, I will hopefully have more time to cuddle up and read. I love the painting of the reading nook! Hope you have a wonderful day. x K
ReplyDeleteThanks for your note, Karen, lovely to see you. I love reading memoir as well.
DeleteOne memoir that I am looking forward to reading in the next while is titled The Farmer's Wife by Helen Rebanks. As a daughter of a farmer and his wife, my mom, I am drawn to read this book. Perhaps you'd be interested. She is the wife of a sheep farmer in the English Lake District. "Helen illuminates the daily grind of domesticity, highlighting the importance of strong relationships, nourishing food, and the ability to take a deep breath and savor moments of peace in the chaos. She also includes more than fifty of her favorite recipes for those who are looking for a taste of the life she leads." - excerpt from the back cover
Oooh, these are great places to find good books. I usually rely on other bloggers to find books, and am usually very pleased with what others read. I've been following Miranda Mills and enjoy her recommendations. I'll be exploring The Queen's Reading Room and others, too. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteYou're back from your trip across the country! Lovely to see you here. There is so much to explore on The Queen's Reading Room website. I'm sure you'll enjoy.
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