Some great recommendations, some of which I've read, thank you! I thought Matt Haig's Midnight Library was brilliant and a great lesson in not harbouring regrets!
I love this genre of books and can recommend Susan Hill's - 'Jacob's Room is Full of Books' and 'Howard's End is on the Landing.' I'm currently reading (month by month) Francesca Beauman's 'The Literary Almanac: A Year of Seasonal Reading' which guides you through the year with relevant monthly suggestions.
(I'm also a former (retired) librarian who has spent their life immersed in and surrounded by books!)
Coincidence, I'm literally reading a book about a bookshop right now. The bookseller at the end of the world. About two tiny bookshops in the South island of NZ. I'm only halfway through but can recommend it so far 😊
Oh brilliant! It really gets good about 20% in…..stick with it! It’s wonderful! (There’s also a non-fiction book about the ewal story it’s based on!)
I've just read The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey and really enjoyed it. It also contains a theme of living with ADHD and I learned so much about this whilst reading this novel.
I was about to add 'Howard's End is on the Landing' by Susan Hill, but I see it has already been mentioned. Adding it anyway as a second recommendation! Wonderful list, thank you!
I've read Midnight Library which was such a joy! I've added tons of other titles to my list, so thanks for sharing! Another one I read in this genre and loved: The City and It's Uncertain Walls by Murakami.
I love the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. Even just the first one - 'The Eyre Affair' - is brilliant on its own. Really fancy the Jenny Colgan ones you've listed too, and the Travis Baldree series. Thanks Molly 📖💙
I also loved "The Library" by Bella Osborne about two lonely bookworms, an unexpected friendship between a teenager and a pensioner, and a library that needs their help. Delightful, heart-warming!
I love books about books! Having worked in that field "forever" as a bookseller, a librarian, a literary scholar and a writer, I just can't get enough of them. :) Thanks for the interesting post!
You will absolutely LOVE Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, it's a book lover's dream! I also loved Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, such a tender and beautiful story.
I too loved The Binding and although I am not a keen fantasy reader, I enjoyed The Book of Doors. I also loved Jenny Colgan's, The Christmas Bookshop - a perfect xmas read. I have just finished The Librarian by Salley Vickers - a novel about the power of books and reading to inspire us from childhood (plus there is a love element in there). I adore her writing - she is a very insightful writer.
Ooh I'll have to read "The Librarian" - I recently finished another of Salley Vicker's books - "Miss Garnet's Angel" set in Venice while I was visiting there and loved it!
May I suggest How to Be a Heroine: Or, What I've Learned from Reading Too Much by Samantha Ellis and Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose :)
Some great books here. If you haven't read it already I'd highly recommend 'The Shadow of the Wind', not only is it about books but it's a gothic mystery as well!! Also, I read 'the Reading List' last year and that showed the beauty, community and connection that can be found through reading (and its a love story for libraries as well :) )
Some great recommendations, some of which I've read, thank you! I thought Matt Haig's Midnight Library was brilliant and a great lesson in not harbouring regrets!
I love this genre of books and can recommend Susan Hill's - 'Jacob's Room is Full of Books' and 'Howard's End is on the Landing.' I'm currently reading (month by month) Francesca Beauman's 'The Literary Almanac: A Year of Seasonal Reading' which guides you through the year with relevant monthly suggestions.
(I'm also a former (retired) librarian who has spent their life immersed in and surrounded by books!)
This recommendations sound lovely, thank you!
Coincidence, I'm literally reading a book about a bookshop right now. The bookseller at the end of the world. About two tiny bookshops in the South island of NZ. I'm only halfway through but can recommend it so far 😊
Oh I think I've heard of that one!
I had to look this up because I just read a book called The Library at the Edge of the World. They are two different books. Haha.
had to look up that one, but that sounds like a lovely book too!
This was the first one that sprang to mind - Ruth Shaw is the author.
There’s a gorgeous novel translated from German about a man who sells books door-to-door (I’ll find my review link as the name escapes me).
And of course there’s The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams which you may enjoy (it’s wonderful!).
The dictionary of lost words is on my reading list as well!
https://open.substack.com/pub/kasshall/p/the-door-to-door-bookstore-by-carsten-henn?r=2vaz7f&utm_medium=ios
This was the book I was thinking of.
Just came back to let you know I started reading dictionary of lost words thanks to your recommendation and liking it so far!
Oh brilliant! It really gets good about 20% in…..stick with it! It’s wonderful! (There’s also a non-fiction book about the ewal story it’s based on!)
I've just read The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey and really enjoyed it. It also contains a theme of living with ADHD and I learned so much about this whilst reading this novel.
This sounds lovely!
Just looked up this book and it sounds right up my street, thank you!
Great list and many I want to get to here. I really enjoyed Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop – pure lovely vibes.
I was about to add 'Howard's End is on the Landing' by Susan Hill, but I see it has already been mentioned. Adding it anyway as a second recommendation! Wonderful list, thank you!
I've read Midnight Library which was such a joy! I've added tons of other titles to my list, so thanks for sharing! Another one I read in this genre and loved: The City and It's Uncertain Walls by Murakami.
Thank you for the recommendation! :)
I love the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. Even just the first one - 'The Eyre Affair' - is brilliant on its own. Really fancy the Jenny Colgan ones you've listed too, and the Travis Baldree series. Thanks Molly 📖💙
I love the Thursday Next series, too. Jasper Fforde is the best! Jenny Colgan is also great.
Did you know Jasper Fforde is writing on Substack now? Will definitely look into Jenny Colgan. Thanks Krisitn.
No, I did not know! Will subscribe immediately! Thank you!!
I also loved "The Library" by Bella Osborne about two lonely bookworms, an unexpected friendship between a teenager and a pensioner, and a library that needs their help. Delightful, heart-warming!
I love books about books! Having worked in that field "forever" as a bookseller, a librarian, a literary scholar and a writer, I just can't get enough of them. :) Thanks for the interesting post!
Oh I think I've seen that one in my local library (ironically!). I'll have to add it to my list :)
Lovely, I hope you like it! :)
You will absolutely LOVE Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, it's a book lover's dream! I also loved Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, such a tender and beautiful story.
I can't wait to read it!
Thanks for this Molly.
I too loved The Binding and although I am not a keen fantasy reader, I enjoyed The Book of Doors. I also loved Jenny Colgan's, The Christmas Bookshop - a perfect xmas read. I have just finished The Librarian by Salley Vickers - a novel about the power of books and reading to inspire us from childhood (plus there is a love element in there). I adore her writing - she is a very insightful writer.
Enjoy!
Ooh I'll have to read "The Librarian" - I recently finished another of Salley Vicker's books - "Miss Garnet's Angel" set in Venice while I was visiting there and loved it!
I love love LOVE books about books 💜 A couple of my favorites are The Book Thief and Inkheart!
May I suggest How to Be a Heroine: Or, What I've Learned from Reading Too Much by Samantha Ellis and Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose :)
Have you read Inkheart? Was beloved to me in childhood.
No but I'd like too!
Some great books here. If you haven't read it already I'd highly recommend 'The Shadow of the Wind', not only is it about books but it's a gothic mystery as well!! Also, I read 'the Reading List' last year and that showed the beauty, community and connection that can be found through reading (and its a love story for libraries as well :) )
Oh that sounds wonderful!
The Storied Life of AJ Filkry is great!
Love your recommendations, this is one of my favourite genres. I went straight onto the library website to place a selection on hold!