Years ago when I read and wrote about The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I mentioned the way a book you are reading can lead you to others, just by a mention.
Well, my current print book (on sidebar) is one that the local library email recommended. I immediately signed up for it, and began the book a couple days ago. I have gotten through just a very few pages because I have been caught by so many titles that I have to put the book down and come to the computer to learn more.
George Orwell's "Bookshop Memories" - an essay I now have on the desktop.
Three Fevers by Leo Walmsley - a title that had me visiting the LW society and reading about his books and his life. And which sent me to Stuck in a Book because I just knew that he would have read this author.
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell.
The Bankrupt Bookseller Speaks Again by William Y. Darling.
Ian Niall, who was mentioned by the author as having believed that the "land of milk and honey" was Galloway (Scotland) "in part because there was always an abundance of both in the pantry in the farmhouse in which he grew up, but also because, for him, it was a kind of paradise." Well, that certainly caught my interest and I have found in my searching that he is definitely someone I must read.
All this in five pages! I'm sure there will be more to come in this wonderful book.
Oh, I haven't heard of The Diary of a Bookseller, but it sounds like my kind of book!! The cover art is wonderful. Thanks, Nan! xo
ReplyDeleteI am just loving it!
DeleteI just discovered a follow-up book by Bythell. It's called Confessions of a Bookseller (Diary of a Bookseller #2).
ReplyDeleteHere is the site of the bookshop: https://www.the-bookshop.com/
DeleteThere is a third book, too!
Such a wonderful way to read and I love it when it happens. I've decided that next year I will try to do more wandering, bookwise, rather than too much in the way of challenges which mean I have to be organised and go more by lists. Too many 'have to read' books mean I have ground to halt in November, slightly tired of it all. But I am enjoying a wonderful memoir by poet, Pam Ayres. Her descriptions of her Wiltshire childhood in the 1950s was just delightful. And Dear Hugo by Molly Clavering set on the Scottish borders, a lovely gentle book, I think you would enjoy both, Nan. I've read the Jen Campbell book and enjoyed it. And my favourite bookshop essay is that one by Virginia Wolf when she goes out for a walk late afternoon in autumn in London and visits an old bookshop. There, I just popped in to say, 'Hello' and ended up rambling on... I could do it for England! LOL
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see a challenge offered, my heart beats a bit stronger, but I know myself well enough by now that a challenge is not for me. Years ago, I was part of several, but quit far too many.
DeleteI loved Dear Hugo. And I will look into the Pam Ayres, and the Jen Campbell.
I laughed right out loud when I read Virginia's words!
Yes! Especially when reading nonfiction I know I must have a pencil and notepad with me and usually stop to search books online that I might want. It does make for slow reading because one thing leads to another. I'll write some of yours down as I do love a good book about bookshops. Currently I'm reading my second Elizabeth Yates autobiography--your fellow New Hampshire author--and I can fill one page of paper with notes on someone or some book she mentions. And off I go! Yesterday I read in one of my favorite Faith Baldwin's monthly books that she loved to put gourds in a Sung green bowl in her house for November. Not only did it make me want some gourds, it made me want her Sung bowl and I found one on Etsy that exactly matched her description. Alas, it cost $300 so I'll have to pass on it and use a bowl I have on hand but it was exciting finding one that, who knows, might have been hers back in the 1950s.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I didn't even know there was an autobiography. I'll look for it. I love her poetry, and I love the work she did saving Sandwich Notch. I don't think I've ever driven through it. I should. Not too far away.
DeleteI think I told you I read the Faith Baldwin book about the young girl who was paralyzed - Mavis of Green Hill. I just loved that book. However, I think that is the only one. Must remedy! I love the Etsy story!!
I have heard of The Diary of a Bookseller, but never looked for a copy. I will have to do that soon. I love book recommendations even though I don't need to add more books to my shelves. I think it would be a fun and enlightening read anyway.
ReplyDeleteI am leaning in the same direction as Cath regarding challenges in 2023. I have not even been faithful to my favorite European Reading Challenge this year. I will do a Japanese Challenge in the first three months of the year and I have a Canadian one that started in mid-2022 and will go to July 2023. But other than that, I am going to read off my shelves and / or just what strikes my fancy at the time.
Right now I am reading the third Thursday Murder Club mystery, The Bullet that Missed, and short stories by Alice Munro.
That is definitely me - "what strikes my fancy"!
DeleteThe only Alice Munro I've read is a short story called "The Bear Went Over the Mountain". I read it because I was going to the movie, Away from Her and wanted to read what it was based on first. And this was back in 2007! I really need to read some more. Thanks for the reminder. If you want to read what I wrote so long ago - https://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2007/07/todays-short-storythe-bear-came-over.html
Nan, thanks so much for including this link. I enjoyed your post and I will try to find that short story. It is in a collection titled Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage and may be in other collections published later. I had heard of the movie.
DeleteSo, so worth reading, and watching the movie. It is just excellent with the still very beautiful Julie Christie. It is directed by Sarah Polley who played Ramona in a series on PBS (I think) years ago, based on the Beverly Cleary books. I checked my library and they have three collections of Alice Munro's stories.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this book, and one of last year's Christmas presents was 'Three Things You Need to Know about Rockets' by Jessica Fox, which is related. She was a NASA employee, read about the bookshop, and gave up her job to travel to Scotland. I haven't read it yet (I have a massive TBR pile) but you are right about one book leading to another!
ReplyDeleteI will sure look into the Fox book! Thank you.
DeleteOne of my all time favorite books is Potato Peel Pie ... I've read it at least three times. Currently reading Going West with Giraffes.
ReplyDeleteVery intriguing title. I shall look into it. Thanks!
DeleteI also have Diary of a Bookseller on my mental TBR and am glad you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Guernsey book, although afterwards I found some of the plot aspects unconvincing. Still, a good book sweeps you away while you are reading it, regardless of quibbles. I do not have Netflix but a year or so ago I was giving platelets and the Red Cross cleverly sets up a chair with a monitor so one can watch Netflix while donating. My mind was blank but then I remembered the Guernsey Potato Peel miniseries and was able to watch the first two episodes. I need to watch the rest as it was intriguing (but not as good as the book).
Constance