Of course, that got me thinking about my top 10. This is not easy and requires a large mug of tea. I note, with interest, you don't really rank them and consider that sensible. I can't rank 2-10 but I absolutely know my number one. The question is do you? A wee clue.....also one of your GCSE books! xx
How books become a part of us and transport us in time! :) I was happy to see you had some non-fiction books in there, Molly, as I always feel quietly odd for only preferring non-fiction, lol. Yes! That digital minimalism by Cal Newport made it okay for us to turn off the noise and be selective with our precious attention. If you only had ONE book you could have with you on a deserted island, which would it be??! (I'll share that I continue my odd streak and say it "a dictionary," as I imagine that would keep me the most engaged / distracted for the longest time--go odd balls!)
What a great list. Some of your classics are my faves too - Wuthering Height and Rebecca. Interesting that you've mentioned Michelle Paver, I haven't read that series but I love her ghost stories - Dark Matter and Thin Air. I like the sound of your non fiction picks too.
Some of these would be on mine! I really liked reading this. I’ve loved Wuthering Heights since I studied as a teen and my then best girlfriend and I had a pilgrimage to Haworth too!
I know my top seven: «Seacrow Island» by Astrid Lindgren, «Rasmus and the vagabond» also by Astrid Lindgren, «Marcus the fisherman» by Gabriel Scott, «Walden» by Henry David Thoreau, the books about the Larkin family by H.E. Bates, «The education of Little Tree» by Forrest Carter and «Danny the champion of the world» by Roald Dahl. I also love to read Kate Morton’s books and of course Jane Austen! And I love to watch your YouTube-videos!
I wanted to say thank you! I really enjoyed your YouTube video last week about reading. I used to be an avid reader but work and family seemed to get in the way of my daily habit and it had dwindled to only devouring books on holiday. I didn't know how to get back into reading. The choice almost seemed to be too much. I read the Midnight Library which I loved and then I read The Salt Path as I noticed it on your bookshelf. I loved it so much and I realised that I love nature writing. Why I hadn't thought of that genre before, I don't know! I am reading the second book in the series and was so excited to receive, Regeneration' . Thank you for such an inspiring video!
Still 'Middlemarch', which was one of my A level books. I re-read it about every seven years or so, I think, which makes about seven times now, that's about right. It's a marvellous thing to have books which accompany you your whole life. There have been many others I've loved at different times but only a few, maybe just one or two, old friends which really stay with you like that.
I read 'The Binding' recently and really enjoyed it. I gobbled it down in about two days and brushed the book crumbs off my front!
Thanks for sharing, Molly! I have soooo many. The most recent one that stands out to me is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Not a classic, rather a modern story, but I really liked it!
Being Australian, I do have a couple of favourite Aussie authors 🫶🏼 Both have won major book prizes. The first is Richard Flanagan from Tasmania, also a Rhodes scholar & environmentalist. I really enjoyed his ‘The sound of one hand clapping’, ‘Wanting’ & ‘Goulds book of fish’. His stories revolve around some aspect of Australian history. Then there’s the eloquent ‘Cloudstreet’ by Tim Winton, another environmentalist. I just couldn’t put that book down. He’s a surfer as well & the story ‘Breath’ is about this topic & more. I can also recommend Helen Garner’s books. Happy reading.
Anne of Green Gables yes I am behind in that series also have not seen any Theatre productions in PEI once called John's Island. (Only) 'A Fisherman Daughter' by a Canadian writer. I read it at 3 times. You might consider a trip to the Maritimes..Nova Scotia in particular lots of Scottish history
I am just starting to get acquainted with you and your blog, Molly, plus I have 40 years on you (😄) and live on a different continent... but feel so connected after reading your list! My absolute, all-time favorite book is "Wuthering Heights." Been obsessed with it for all the same reasons you note. A whole section of my bookshelf is devoted to all things Bronte. I also loved "Rebecca" in my youth. May re-read it now, inspired by you. My #1 favorite nonfiction book is one I'd like to recommend to you: "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" by Annie Dillard. I think you'd like it.
I've added so many of these to my reading list! It's so hard to narrow them down. I do remember having a visceral reaction to reading Anna Karenina for the first time. I love how books can transport us to new worlds and new ways of thinking. It's real life magic.
I'm a massive Elizabeth Gaskell fan I think she's often overshadowed by other authors of the age but for me North and South is a book I can read again and again. Same definitely goes for A Room With a View which I adore. The Night Circus and The Weather Woman are two of my more contemporary faves but the list is really endless if I'm honest!
Of course, that got me thinking about my top 10. This is not easy and requires a large mug of tea. I note, with interest, you don't really rank them and consider that sensible. I can't rank 2-10 but I absolutely know my number one. The question is do you? A wee clue.....also one of your GCSE books! xx
How books become a part of us and transport us in time! :) I was happy to see you had some non-fiction books in there, Molly, as I always feel quietly odd for only preferring non-fiction, lol. Yes! That digital minimalism by Cal Newport made it okay for us to turn off the noise and be selective with our precious attention. If you only had ONE book you could have with you on a deserted island, which would it be??! (I'll share that I continue my odd streak and say it "a dictionary," as I imagine that would keep me the most engaged / distracted for the longest time--go odd balls!)
What a great list. Some of your classics are my faves too - Wuthering Height and Rebecca. Interesting that you've mentioned Michelle Paver, I haven't read that series but I love her ghost stories - Dark Matter and Thin Air. I like the sound of your non fiction picks too.
Some of these would be on mine! I really liked reading this. I’ve loved Wuthering Heights since I studied as a teen and my then best girlfriend and I had a pilgrimage to Haworth too!
I know my top seven: «Seacrow Island» by Astrid Lindgren, «Rasmus and the vagabond» also by Astrid Lindgren, «Marcus the fisherman» by Gabriel Scott, «Walden» by Henry David Thoreau, the books about the Larkin family by H.E. Bates, «The education of Little Tree» by Forrest Carter and «Danny the champion of the world» by Roald Dahl. I also love to read Kate Morton’s books and of course Jane Austen! And I love to watch your YouTube-videos!
I wanted to say thank you! I really enjoyed your YouTube video last week about reading. I used to be an avid reader but work and family seemed to get in the way of my daily habit and it had dwindled to only devouring books on holiday. I didn't know how to get back into reading. The choice almost seemed to be too much. I read the Midnight Library which I loved and then I read The Salt Path as I noticed it on your bookshelf. I loved it so much and I realised that I love nature writing. Why I hadn't thought of that genre before, I don't know! I am reading the second book in the series and was so excited to receive, Regeneration' . Thank you for such an inspiring video!
all excellent books! I would add The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, and many , many children's picture books and chapter books
Still 'Middlemarch', which was one of my A level books. I re-read it about every seven years or so, I think, which makes about seven times now, that's about right. It's a marvellous thing to have books which accompany you your whole life. There have been many others I've loved at different times but only a few, maybe just one or two, old friends which really stay with you like that.
I read 'The Binding' recently and really enjoyed it. I gobbled it down in about two days and brushed the book crumbs off my front!
Thanks for sharing, Molly! I have soooo many. The most recent one that stands out to me is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Not a classic, rather a modern story, but I really liked it!
Digital Minimalism was so good! 👏🏼✨
Being Australian, I do have a couple of favourite Aussie authors 🫶🏼 Both have won major book prizes. The first is Richard Flanagan from Tasmania, also a Rhodes scholar & environmentalist. I really enjoyed his ‘The sound of one hand clapping’, ‘Wanting’ & ‘Goulds book of fish’. His stories revolve around some aspect of Australian history. Then there’s the eloquent ‘Cloudstreet’ by Tim Winton, another environmentalist. I just couldn’t put that book down. He’s a surfer as well & the story ‘Breath’ is about this topic & more. I can also recommend Helen Garner’s books. Happy reading.
Anne of Green Gables yes I am behind in that series also have not seen any Theatre productions in PEI once called John's Island. (Only) 'A Fisherman Daughter' by a Canadian writer. I read it at 3 times. You might consider a trip to the Maritimes..Nova Scotia in particular lots of Scottish history
I am just starting to get acquainted with you and your blog, Molly, plus I have 40 years on you (😄) and live on a different continent... but feel so connected after reading your list! My absolute, all-time favorite book is "Wuthering Heights." Been obsessed with it for all the same reasons you note. A whole section of my bookshelf is devoted to all things Bronte. I also loved "Rebecca" in my youth. May re-read it now, inspired by you. My #1 favorite nonfiction book is one I'd like to recommend to you: "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" by Annie Dillard. I think you'd like it.
I've added so many of these to my reading list! It's so hard to narrow them down. I do remember having a visceral reaction to reading Anna Karenina for the first time. I love how books can transport us to new worlds and new ways of thinking. It's real life magic.
I'm a massive Elizabeth Gaskell fan I think she's often overshadowed by other authors of the age but for me North and South is a book I can read again and again. Same definitely goes for A Room With a View which I adore. The Night Circus and The Weather Woman are two of my more contemporary faves but the list is really endless if I'm honest!
Just wondering if you could recommend some leggings? I want some that on warm rather than ‘footless tights’. All the best, Susie x