March 24, 2020
Top Ten Favorite “Books About Books”
Before we get to the book talk, I’m curious if you are in isolation at home due to Covid 19 or are you an essential worker? Most of my family and I are at home. We do have three essential workers in our family that we cover in prayer. God Bless the medical staff and grocery store workers!
Honestly, it’s been a little difficult to read with an anxious mind. Have you been finding it difficult to focus on reading? How are you practicing self-care? I discovered that I need lighter reads right now which will likely play havoc with my Spring TBR. This Top Ten topic involving a favorite genre is timely because most of the titles in this post could be considered lighter reads.
A Favorite Genre
Do you love the “book about books” sub-genre? If you are a bookworm like me, one of your favorite genres might be “books about books.” Here are a few of my favorites! Do we share any favorites?
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for TTT: Favorite Genre.
Titles are Amazon affiliate links and my reviews are linked.
(listed in order of favorites)
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Genre: Histfic (Kentucky) 5 Stars
What I Love: the fearless, feisty, determined, compassionate main character
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Genre: Histfic (WW11) 5 Stars
What I Love: the perspective, the characters/relationships, the writing
The Book Thief Movie Adaptation (excellent!)
(not reviewed)
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer
Genre: Histfic (WW11) 5 Stars
What I love: the setting, the delightful characters, the epistolary format
Guernsey Movie Adaptation (excellent!)
(Not Reviewed)
The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
Genre: Women’s Fiction 4.5 Stars (5 rounded up)
What I Love: the lovely themes of friendship and forgiveness
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Contemporary Fiction 4 Stars
What I Love: the setting, the heartfelt second chances theme
(not reviewed)
How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
Genre: Women’s Fiction 4.5 Stars
What I Love: the small-town community, the complicated and lovable characters
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
Genre: YA Histfic (WW11) 5 Stars
What I Love: the fearless, clever, determined main character
The Lost For Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
Genre: Contemporary Fiction 5 Stars
What I Love: the found family trope, the courage to face the past and hope for a bright future
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Genre: Women’s Fiction 3.5 Stars
WhatI Love: the quirky main character, the snappy and humorous writing
(CW: eye-rolling crude jokes in Chapter 5…but the rest is great)
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Genre: Nonfiction Memoir (Classics) 3 Stars
What I Love: the beautiful writing, the epistolary format
84, Charing Cross Road Movie Adaptation
(not reviewed)
QOTD:
What is your favorite genre?
Do you have a favorite “book about books”?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
ICYMI:
10 Inspirational Reads For Middle Grade March
10 Inspirational Reads for Women’s History Month
Why getting lost in a book is so good for you according to science!
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Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
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Reading Ladies 
Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for visiting! 🙌
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My pleasure!
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Great choices. Lost for Words (UK title) is one of my favourite books. For non fiction, Bookworm by Lucy Mangan is excellent and Daniel Gray’s Scribbles in the Margins is a joy.
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Thanks so much for the recs! I’ll check them out!
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I love books about books! I’ve read several on your list!
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They are very fun for bookworms! Thanks for commenting!
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I’ve read several of these, but I really want to read Troublesome Creek!
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I hope you’ll enjoy it Davida!
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I’ve heard so many good things about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
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It’s on my lifetime favs list! 👍😍
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Great list! I love Guernsey, and I’ve got AJ Fikry in my TBR soon pile. I want to get a copy of Lost for Words sometime.
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Thanks Kayla! It occurred to me while making the list that I need to reread Fikry! Lost for Words is a heartfelt story that I think you’d enjoy!
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Thank you for the recommendation about it. Your previous review of it made me want to read it more.
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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek does sound interesting. I keep seeing it pop up on TTT posts!
My TTT .
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It’s on my lifetime favs list! I think you’d enjoy it!
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I have read and loved The Book Thief and the Guernsey Book and Potato Peel Pie Society. Also loved watching the movies later. The other books on this list look great too. I like how you wrote a short blurb saying what you liked about them.
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Thanks Pearl! Im happy to hear we share some favorites!
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The Book Thief is one of my favourite books, and probably my favourite “book about books” too. Where I live is currently in lockdown so I’m stuck at home for the time being, but lots of time to blog and watch TV and read at least.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/24/top-ten-tuesday-256/
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I’m happy to hear we share a love of Book Thief! Even though I’m in a lockdown situation, I find that I’m having difficulty focusing on reading at times. Thanks for leaving your link!
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Yes, always love finding people who share my love of that book. I definitely get that, it’s difficult to focus when you’re so worried about the state of the world. Stay safe and hopefully things get better soon 🙂
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I wonder who will be the first author to write a histfic about our current situation?!
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Guess we’ll have to wait and see!
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Super choices! I’ve read and loved most of these!
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Thanks! I’m happy to hear we are book twins! 😍
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Wonderful post Carol! I loved Lost for Words I listened to the audiobook and it was narrated by Imogen church one of my favourite narrators. We’re not in lockdown yet in Jersey but I imagine it’s going to come eventually. My husband and son are both essential workers in utilities, so they’ll be working through it all, which is a worry. xx
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I’m happy to hear you loved lost For Words! My son is a psychologist working in the prison system and we have a nurse in the family and a doctor…..it is worrisome but on the bright side it’s nice to have a paycheck! I worry about the small business owners who have had to shut down and all the children missing their education. It’s a nightmare.
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Great topic! 😊 I consider books about books as one of my favourite subgenres. Bascially all the books on this lists are books I either have read or want to read. The Book Thief and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society are both amazing stories! And especially The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is high on my TBR-list.
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Sounds like we might be book twins! 😂 I hope you enjoy Book Woman! Thanks for visiting and happy reading!
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I really liked The Bookish Life of Nina Hill!
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She’s an adorable and unforgettable character!
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Clever choice for this week’s Top 10. I started thinking about it then got distracted. So glad to see you have my favourite listed – 84, Charing Cross Road is simply brilliant. Actually this would be a good film to dig out right now because this virus crisis has me feeling nostalgic for better times….
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Great idea! I never actually saw the film. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Hi Carol, thanks for the great suggestions. I have read several of them & some are on my to be read list. But I am glad you asked about being distracted, I thought it was just me. But yes, I am having great difficulty focusing. When I struggle I put my book aside and either journal or crochet.
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You’re welcome Deb! I’ve heard that many readers are struggling so it’s not just us! Take care and stay safe!
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I’ve read several of these, but not all. I remember reading “84 Charing Cross Road ” many years ago. I can still remember her glee when she’d get a book post. Loved it!
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She would have loved amazon prime! I remember that she’d rather write a letter and order from London than walk a few blocks to her own bookstore! 😂😂😂 I love epistolary format!
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I love books about books! I’ve read five of the ones you mentioned. I loved THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, A.J. FIKRY, and THE BOOK THIEF, and liked NINA HILL and GUERNSEY.
Thanks for all the reading recommendations you left on my blog. I can’t wait to check them all out!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I’m happy to hear we share some favorites!
My pleasure to leave the recs! It’s dangerous to ask me for a rec! 😂
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Great list Carol. I have read most of these. I have had The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry that I forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder, I actually have a physical copy of this one on my shelf. A couple of others that I will need to check out as well.
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I’m due for a reread of Fikry! I think you’ll love it! And thanks so much for giving so many of my posts some love today! 🙌😍 I appreciate it…and it’s nice to hear feedback!
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I spend a lot of the day catching up. I got behind when I had a guest with me in Florida.
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Thanks! 🙌😍
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