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Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love.
'Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time'
For as long as she can remember, Cathy Rentzenbrink has lost and found herself in stories. Growing up she was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, books kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.
Dear Reader is a moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another.
'Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time'
For as long as she can remember, Cathy Rentzenbrink has lost and found herself in stories. Growing up she was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, books kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.
Dear Reader is a moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2020
149 people are currently reading
8618 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Rentzenbrink
14 books324 followersCathy Rentzenbrink grew up in Yorkshire and now lives in London. A former Waterstones bookseller, she is now Project Director of the charity Quick Reads and Associate Editor of The Bookseller magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 764 reviews
December 11, 2020
Readers are a special type. We're drawn to spending hours between the covers of a book when the world tells us there are more important and more exciting things to do. But readers know that there is nothing more important or more exciting than the story which is waiting on the page to come alive in our imaginations. As such we devote countless hours to reading and we make room in the busyness of life for this remove from reality because we know that it is richly-rewarding time well spent. Cathy Rentzenbrink is a true reader. In “Dear Reader” she enumerates the many books which have held special meaning for her while chronicling the events of her life. More than this, she elegantly describes a life spent reading – how books are a central fixture in her life providing ballast, comfort and joy. Although reading is necessarily a solitary activity it also makes us all feel less alone. Rentzenbrink states “I find it consoling to be reminded that I am not alone, that everything I feel has been felt before, that everything I struggle with has been perplexing others since the dawn of time. My favourite books are specific yet universal. They illuminate my own life as well as showing me the lives of others and leave me changed, my worldview expanded.” This beautifully summarises the gift of reading and why for many of us it is a way of life.
If reading is viewed as a leisure activity predominantly for the middle-upper class, Rentzenbrink proves this is wrong. She describes her youth being raised in a working class family with a father who only learned to read and write later in life. Books were always present from an early age: “My granny gave me my first book when I was a few months old.” Growing up she always got her hands on books through the library or school or buying books as a special treat. As a naturally gregarious and extroverted individual, Rentzenbrink worked in pubs when she became an adult. But her penchant for recommending books to people naturally led her to becoming a book seller. The jobs she held in a number of different bookstores from Harrods to Waterstones to Hatchards is described so compellingly from the mechanics of shop life to the varied experience of dealing with customers.
Because her passion was so integral to her work, it naturally led to more opportunities in the wider publishing industry including programmes to encourage reading/writing in prisons and initiatives to support adults who struggle with literacy. In addition to being the fascinating life story of a bookish soul, what I loved about this account is the way Rentzenbrink comes into contact with a wide spectrum of readers from many different social groups. It shows the many ways books populate and influence people's lives.
Read my full review of Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink on LonesomeReader
If reading is viewed as a leisure activity predominantly for the middle-upper class, Rentzenbrink proves this is wrong. She describes her youth being raised in a working class family with a father who only learned to read and write later in life. Books were always present from an early age: “My granny gave me my first book when I was a few months old.” Growing up she always got her hands on books through the library or school or buying books as a special treat. As a naturally gregarious and extroverted individual, Rentzenbrink worked in pubs when she became an adult. But her penchant for recommending books to people naturally led her to becoming a book seller. The jobs she held in a number of different bookstores from Harrods to Waterstones to Hatchards is described so compellingly from the mechanics of shop life to the varied experience of dealing with customers.
Because her passion was so integral to her work, it naturally led to more opportunities in the wider publishing industry including programmes to encourage reading/writing in prisons and initiatives to support adults who struggle with literacy. In addition to being the fascinating life story of a bookish soul, what I loved about this account is the way Rentzenbrink comes into contact with a wide spectrum of readers from many different social groups. It shows the many ways books populate and influence people's lives.
Read my full review of Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink on LonesomeReader
October 21, 2021
Teza principală a cărții e că viața e minunată și că merită trăită din plin. În primul rînd, fiindcă Dumnezeu ne-a dat putința și obiceiul de a citi.
A doua teză e că putem citi - fără nici o remușcare și în deplină libertate - absolut orice. Faptul că există cărți bune și cărți proaste nu prea contează. În fond, plăcerea lecturii e de un singur fel. Așadar, a discrimina între cărți - pe motivul că unele sînt valoroase și altele nu - este o evidentă futilitate. Multă vreme, Cathy Rentzenbrink nici măcar nu și-a dat seama că există unii indivizi încruntați, care au năravul hidos de a critica (pe motive de ordin estetic) cărțile. Citez:
În consecința acestei confidențe, autoarea vorbește cu aceeași necruțătoare bunăvoință despre toate cărțile menționate în acest tulburător volum (cîteva sute). În fond, de ce să fim ipocriți? Și noi citim adesea cărți proaste, dar nu îndrăznim să spunem că ne plac mai mult (mult mai mult, infinit mai mult) decît așa-zisele Great Books din canonul occidental. A venit momentul să fim sinceri și să declarăm urbi et orbi că Alchimistul lui Paulo Coelho ne-a făcut fericiți. Și nu o dată, ci de zeci de ori, pentru că nu ne-am mulțumit cu o singură lectură.
Mai aflăm că doamna Rentzenbrink obișnuiește să plîngă cu lacrimi dulci-amărui la pasajele semnificative din unele cărți pentru copii. Mărturisește că a moștenit sensibilitatea de la tatăl ei.
Așadar, Dear Reader... se compune din articole confesive ceva mai lungi, urmate de reading lists (cu 5 sau 6 titluri): romane în care unele personaje sînt scriitori, romane cu detectivi ingenioși, romane în care acțiunea se petrece în cîrciumi, romane cu orfani, romane despre iubiri care sfîrșesc rău, cărți despre minunea de a renunța la alcool etc. etc.
Mai are rost să spun că recenzia mea este ironică ?
A doua teză e că putem citi - fără nici o remușcare și în deplină libertate - absolut orice. Faptul că există cărți bune și cărți proaste nu prea contează. În fond, plăcerea lecturii e de un singur fel. Așadar, a discrimina între cărți - pe motivul că unele sînt valoroase și altele nu - este o evidentă futilitate. Multă vreme, Cathy Rentzenbrink nici măcar nu și-a dat seama că există unii indivizi încruntați, care au năravul hidos de a critica (pe motive de ordin estetic) cărțile. Citez:
„I don’t think I realised that some books were supposed to be better than others, and I had no concept of highbrow versus lowbrow”.
În consecința acestei confidențe, autoarea vorbește cu aceeași necruțătoare bunăvoință despre toate cărțile menționate în acest tulburător volum (cîteva sute). În fond, de ce să fim ipocriți? Și noi citim adesea cărți proaste, dar nu îndrăznim să spunem că ne plac mai mult (mult mai mult, infinit mai mult) decît așa-zisele Great Books din canonul occidental. A venit momentul să fim sinceri și să declarăm urbi et orbi că Alchimistul lui Paulo Coelho ne-a făcut fericiți. Și nu o dată, ci de zeci de ori, pentru că nu ne-am mulțumit cu o singură lectură.
Mai aflăm că doamna Rentzenbrink obișnuiește să plîngă cu lacrimi dulci-amărui la pasajele semnificative din unele cărți pentru copii. Mărturisește că a moștenit sensibilitatea de la tatăl ei.
Așadar, Dear Reader... se compune din articole confesive ceva mai lungi, urmate de reading lists (cu 5 sau 6 titluri): romane în care unele personaje sînt scriitori, romane cu detectivi ingenioși, romane în care acțiunea se petrece în cîrciumi, romane cu orfani, romane despre iubiri care sfîrșesc rău, cărți despre minunea de a renunța la alcool etc. etc.
Mai are rost să spun că recenzia mea este ironică ?
November 17, 2022
I think this may be one of my favourite non-fiction books ever.
January 23, 2021
I enjoyed reading about the author's life and the books she read that stood out for her.
July 14, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
'Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time'
This really is the ultimate book for book lovers. Cathy Rentzenbrink takes the reader down a rabbit hole of books from childhood to motherhood and loss, recommending some of her favourite and most memorable stories along the way. It’s a strange book to categorise really – part memoir, but also just part general chat about books, it feels as though the reader is talking to a friend, one who just happens to share a passion for reading, and reads a lot of books.
I think what I took away most from this is really just how transformative books can be. In the hard times in our life, they’re always there - the quiet friend who can help take your mind off things and ease you out of the real world for a while. They can also help change how you view the world, expand your horizons and outlook on life, right from your comfy reading chair.
Told chronologically, I really enjoyed the way this was set out- with book recommendations scattered within Cathy’s life to compliment her experiences. There are lists of books set in and around pubs for example, to coincide with her time spent living in a pub. We also get to see how her reading taste has changed as she has changed as a person – such as moving away from her love of thrillers etc. when she became a mother. Cathy manages to bring life into these books and stories, making it feel almost like an organic, every changing and expanding experience – which I suppose reading is. I also loved the inclusion of her work on quick reads, as it brought a whole new perspective on how privileged I am to be able to read so widely, and voraciously, as I do. I’ve never loved being a bookworm more, and I have a whole host of new books to add to my list to read.
'Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time'
This really is the ultimate book for book lovers. Cathy Rentzenbrink takes the reader down a rabbit hole of books from childhood to motherhood and loss, recommending some of her favourite and most memorable stories along the way. It’s a strange book to categorise really – part memoir, but also just part general chat about books, it feels as though the reader is talking to a friend, one who just happens to share a passion for reading, and reads a lot of books.
I think what I took away most from this is really just how transformative books can be. In the hard times in our life, they’re always there - the quiet friend who can help take your mind off things and ease you out of the real world for a while. They can also help change how you view the world, expand your horizons and outlook on life, right from your comfy reading chair.
Told chronologically, I really enjoyed the way this was set out- with book recommendations scattered within Cathy’s life to compliment her experiences. There are lists of books set in and around pubs for example, to coincide with her time spent living in a pub. We also get to see how her reading taste has changed as she has changed as a person – such as moving away from her love of thrillers etc. when she became a mother. Cathy manages to bring life into these books and stories, making it feel almost like an organic, every changing and expanding experience – which I suppose reading is. I also loved the inclusion of her work on quick reads, as it brought a whole new perspective on how privileged I am to be able to read so widely, and voraciously, as I do. I’ve never loved being a bookworm more, and I have a whole host of new books to add to my list to read.
August 25, 2020
Every word of this wonderfully bookish memoir resonated with me. Like Cathy Rentzenbrink I was somewhat out of place – a bookworm in a working class London comprehensive. I sympathised utterly with her tales of unsympathetic teachers, and the fact that they struggled to understand a child who was not what they expected. Like her, I always have found solace in books.
This is a love letter to Cathy’s love of reading. It is also the story of her life; of the tragic loss of her brother, her early work as a bookseller (goodness, though, this book really turned me off going anywhere near Harrods!), of her life recommending titles to other readers, of working in the prison system, of trying to reach people through the transforming power of books.
If you too are a bookworm, you will delight in this. It contains many recommendations – should you need them. I suspect that, like me, you won’t, but still, you may not be able to resist adding a few, surreptitious, titles to your wish list. For Cathy’s enthusiasm is uplifting and joyous and I adored every page of this. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. I will buying a copy for my own bookshelves, as soon as it is released. A pleasure to read and Cathy Rentzenbrink is definitely an author I wish to read more by.
This is a love letter to Cathy’s love of reading. It is also the story of her life; of the tragic loss of her brother, her early work as a bookseller (goodness, though, this book really turned me off going anywhere near Harrods!), of her life recommending titles to other readers, of working in the prison system, of trying to reach people through the transforming power of books.
If you too are a bookworm, you will delight in this. It contains many recommendations – should you need them. I suspect that, like me, you won’t, but still, you may not be able to resist adding a few, surreptitious, titles to your wish list. For Cathy’s enthusiasm is uplifting and joyous and I adored every page of this. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. I will buying a copy for my own bookshelves, as soon as it is released. A pleasure to read and Cathy Rentzenbrink is definitely an author I wish to read more by.
August 25, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this. It took me down the memory lane for some books. :)
December 21, 2020
An enjoyable read about a real bookworm and her career in bookstores and the book related industry in the UK.
May 18, 2021
(2.75) Cathy Rentzenbrink is one of the loveliest people you can imagine. In recent years she’s become a real stalwart of the UK book scene, and her recommendations carry clout. Through her writing she comes across as just as genuine as she does in person. I’ve read all three of her books now (The Last Act of Love and A Manual for Heartache are the other two, both on a grief theme). I saw her interview Michel Faber about Undying for a Foyles event, and I’ve also read transcripts and write-ups from various events she’s hosted, so I feel like I know her. Unfortunately, this meant I was very familiar with her life story up through the turning point of her brother’s protracted death, so the first third of the book felt redundant. Also, the writing about her childhood reading doesn’t measure up to that in Lucy Mangan’s Bookworm.
The book does improve, thankfully, when Rentzenbrink moves on to her bookselling years and the unexpected opportunities that came her way through her literary connections. She started off at the Waterstones stand inside Harrods, and worked at various other London branches of the bookstore chain. Through book signings and other shop events, she got to know a lot of authors, but her greatest joy came from talking to strangers about books. Jobs at Quick Reads and The Bookseller followed; now she is a full-time author and freelance book person, involved with a lot of literary festivals and providing cover quotes for what seems like 95% of UK new releases.
I enjoyed the insider look at aspects of the book publishing and promotion industry, and Rentzenbrink is appealingly humble about her own gifts and the good luck and serendipitous timing that have given her chances to be involved in so many parts of the book world. It’s a shame, then, that her book recommendations are so obvious. The book lists interspersed with the narrative chapters go no deeper than a Book Riot article or back cover blurb. Most of the books she discusses are ones I’ve read or heard about, and she is guilty of plot summary – even when a book is so famous that no explanation is needed (e.g. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Anne of Green Gables). She even says, “Everyone knows the story of the unloved orphan boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs…” yet goes on to give several paragraphs of basic information about the Harry Potter series.
So while I am wholly on board with Rentzenbrink’s guiding ideas of the power of books and how we define ourselves as readers (and, specifically, I share her fervent love for Moon Tiger), I found that the execution of this memoir fell short.
Favorite lines:
“It is the most central aspect of my identity; the truest thing I could say about myself is, ‘I am a reader.’”
“The trick is to feel entitled to nothing and to treat everything good that happens as a delightful surprise”
“‘Anyone who has read The Last Act of Love knows me far better than someone who knows me in real life but hasn’t.’ I’m far more truthful in writing than in person” (I feel the same way about my blog)
“A friend asks me how I have time for all this rereading and I boggle at the question. It is the thing that keeps me sane. A book a day will keep the doctor away, I hope.”
“the best thing about putting technology in its proper place – servant not master – is that it liberates you to read more books. I usually turn my phone off at about 6 p.m.” (I don’t have a smartphone, but for phone substitute computer)
The book does improve, thankfully, when Rentzenbrink moves on to her bookselling years and the unexpected opportunities that came her way through her literary connections. She started off at the Waterstones stand inside Harrods, and worked at various other London branches of the bookstore chain. Through book signings and other shop events, she got to know a lot of authors, but her greatest joy came from talking to strangers about books. Jobs at Quick Reads and The Bookseller followed; now she is a full-time author and freelance book person, involved with a lot of literary festivals and providing cover quotes for what seems like 95% of UK new releases.
I enjoyed the insider look at aspects of the book publishing and promotion industry, and Rentzenbrink is appealingly humble about her own gifts and the good luck and serendipitous timing that have given her chances to be involved in so many parts of the book world. It’s a shame, then, that her book recommendations are so obvious. The book lists interspersed with the narrative chapters go no deeper than a Book Riot article or back cover blurb. Most of the books she discusses are ones I’ve read or heard about, and she is guilty of plot summary – even when a book is so famous that no explanation is needed (e.g. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Anne of Green Gables). She even says, “Everyone knows the story of the unloved orphan boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs…” yet goes on to give several paragraphs of basic information about the Harry Potter series.
So while I am wholly on board with Rentzenbrink’s guiding ideas of the power of books and how we define ourselves as readers (and, specifically, I share her fervent love for Moon Tiger), I found that the execution of this memoir fell short.
Favorite lines:
“It is the most central aspect of my identity; the truest thing I could say about myself is, ‘I am a reader.’”
“The trick is to feel entitled to nothing and to treat everything good that happens as a delightful surprise”
“‘Anyone who has read The Last Act of Love knows me far better than someone who knows me in real life but hasn’t.’ I’m far more truthful in writing than in person” (I feel the same way about my blog)
“A friend asks me how I have time for all this rereading and I boggle at the question. It is the thing that keeps me sane. A book a day will keep the doctor away, I hope.”
“the best thing about putting technology in its proper place – servant not master – is that it liberates you to read more books. I usually turn my phone off at about 6 p.m.” (I don’t have a smartphone, but for phone substitute computer)
February 14, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Book Break in exchange for an honest review.
Video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crrP...
Oh what a book!
"Reading has always been a great source of comfort , knowledge, pleasure and joy. It is the most central aspect of my identity; the truest thing I could say about myself is, 'I'm a reader.'"
This was such a wonderful book and it's a really long time since I've seen myself so clearly reflected back at me in the words and the story I'm reading, and I'm not sure if it's ever happened in a non-fiction read.
In Dear Reader, Cathy Rentzenbrink talks about her life in context to the books she read during different points, and how books were always her great big love, her friends, her comfort, her joy when she needed them most.
I loved how Cathy talked about her childhood and despite being misunderstood by teachers, was a happy girl as long as she had her books to read. I loved her family, and how her parents were happy for her to read anything (similar to mine - the only thing my dad ever stopped me reading was Top of the Pops magazine!).
While my childhood was different to Cathy's, I still felt myself connect to her with the experience of feeling on the outside, desperate for a way in and often using books and stories as that bridge to understand experiences. I was the same child going to bed and reading by any type of torch light under my covers (once I even used a light-up Lumiere toy from McDonald's);
"Reading woke me up rather than calmed me down."
I loved hearing about Cathy's days as a bookseller and while she definitely highlighted the lows of such a life, as well as the highs, I still felt vaguely jealous I never took that path and was surrounded by books 24/7. I appreciated her enthusiasm and the time she gave her customers as someone who also talks enthusiastically to anyone I meet about my favourite books. Maybe I'm an unofficial bookseller?
"Every book offers an invitation to open a door and find a way to another world. It is both simple and profound to consider the vastness of human experience that sits on one small shelf of books."
Cathy's time helping people, particularly prisoners, to read and write was eye-opening and humbling and I love how her father's experience helped her build empathy and a true understanding. The way Cathy also talked about her depression and grief following her brother's death was also one I felt privileged to hear about, and while I have thankfully never been through something similar, I can understand and connect with how books are a source of comfort, escape and often a reflection of the pain one might feel over anything; whether it be grief, bullying, family issues, health issues etc.
I also really appreciated the vast array of books talked about in this book! And they're not all classics or books written a long time ago, which is something you often see in other books about books. There's lots of modern books mentioned including My Name is Leon, A Little Life, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
This book is the perfect read for someone who finds an escape in the words they read, and would be a wonderful gift for anyone struggling to buy for a book lover! I enjoyed every second of it.
"Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved books. She still does. She always will."
Video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crrP...
Oh what a book!
"Reading has always been a great source of comfort , knowledge, pleasure and joy. It is the most central aspect of my identity; the truest thing I could say about myself is, 'I'm a reader.'"
This was such a wonderful book and it's a really long time since I've seen myself so clearly reflected back at me in the words and the story I'm reading, and I'm not sure if it's ever happened in a non-fiction read.
In Dear Reader, Cathy Rentzenbrink talks about her life in context to the books she read during different points, and how books were always her great big love, her friends, her comfort, her joy when she needed them most.
I loved how Cathy talked about her childhood and despite being misunderstood by teachers, was a happy girl as long as she had her books to read. I loved her family, and how her parents were happy for her to read anything (similar to mine - the only thing my dad ever stopped me reading was Top of the Pops magazine!).
While my childhood was different to Cathy's, I still felt myself connect to her with the experience of feeling on the outside, desperate for a way in and often using books and stories as that bridge to understand experiences. I was the same child going to bed and reading by any type of torch light under my covers (once I even used a light-up Lumiere toy from McDonald's);
"Reading woke me up rather than calmed me down."
I loved hearing about Cathy's days as a bookseller and while she definitely highlighted the lows of such a life, as well as the highs, I still felt vaguely jealous I never took that path and was surrounded by books 24/7. I appreciated her enthusiasm and the time she gave her customers as someone who also talks enthusiastically to anyone I meet about my favourite books. Maybe I'm an unofficial bookseller?
"Every book offers an invitation to open a door and find a way to another world. It is both simple and profound to consider the vastness of human experience that sits on one small shelf of books."
Cathy's time helping people, particularly prisoners, to read and write was eye-opening and humbling and I love how her father's experience helped her build empathy and a true understanding. The way Cathy also talked about her depression and grief following her brother's death was also one I felt privileged to hear about, and while I have thankfully never been through something similar, I can understand and connect with how books are a source of comfort, escape and often a reflection of the pain one might feel over anything; whether it be grief, bullying, family issues, health issues etc.
I also really appreciated the vast array of books talked about in this book! And they're not all classics or books written a long time ago, which is something you often see in other books about books. There's lots of modern books mentioned including My Name is Leon, A Little Life, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous.
This book is the perfect read for someone who finds an escape in the words they read, and would be a wonderful gift for anyone struggling to buy for a book lover! I enjoyed every second of it.
"Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved books. She still does. She always will."
March 23, 2021
4 Stars
Whether you’re a lifetime lover of books or have discovered the joy of reading later in life, this memoir-type book-about-books, by Cathy Rentzenbrink (the author of The Last Act of Love), will surely be like a lovely trip down memory book lane.
This book reminded me, in every single way possible, why it is that I love (and need) reading so damn much.
Cathy reminded me that reading for escapism is absolutely okay. Books keep me sane and help me heal in difficult times, and it does not matter whether the books we read are considered quality literature or trashy romances, we have the right to I love what we love if it makes us feel good.
Dear Reader was an absolute joy to read. And I daresay, through experiencing Cathy’s life’s journey so deeply interwoven with the stories she’s had the pleasure of reading along the way, I’ve now been gifted with a few precious book recommendations that I look forward to exploring in my own time.
*******************************************
Audio Edition:
Narrated by Cathy herself, this audio edition is highly recommended.
Whether you’re a lifetime lover of books or have discovered the joy of reading later in life, this memoir-type book-about-books, by Cathy Rentzenbrink (the author of The Last Act of Love), will surely be like a lovely trip down memory book lane.
“Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time.”
This book reminded me, in every single way possible, why it is that I love (and need) reading so damn much.
“Don’t allow anything to dent your reading pleasure. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you like isn’t proper, that what brings comfort and ease to your soul isn’t good enough.”
Cathy reminded me that reading for escapism is absolutely okay. Books keep me sane and help me heal in difficult times, and it does not matter whether the books we read are considered quality literature or trashy romances, we have the right to I love what we love if it makes us feel good.
“People can be a bit snooty about the idea of books as a form of escapism, but I believe this is one of the great powers of literature: to comfort.”
Dear Reader was an absolute joy to read. And I daresay, through experiencing Cathy’s life’s journey so deeply interwoven with the stories she’s had the pleasure of reading along the way, I’ve now been gifted with a few precious book recommendations that I look forward to exploring in my own time.
*******************************************
Audio Edition:
Narrated by Cathy herself, this audio edition is highly recommended.
December 23, 2022
I can not begin to describe the joy I felt reading this book and I recommend it to any of you that see books as an integral part of your identity. The author takes us through her life in books and then her experience as a book seller and writer and how her life has been shaped around the books she has read.
What stood out for me is the personal way in which it was written. I felt like I was reading about my own experiences when reminiscing about Narnia, Malory Towers ( how I longed to play lacrosse!!!), Anne of Green Gables etc. There are some very poignant chapters about using books to get through hard times as well as amusing chapters on experiences dealing with customers. I must confess I fitted into the category of ‘the little posh girl’ from the country who goes into Hatchards book store in London with my Mother as she took me there was a treat when we visited London and I was allowed to pick a book of choice.
I got so much out of the book and it made me realise just how much I love everything about reading. Of course there is the book itself and the story, but I physically love books and having them on my shelves like they are my prized valuable treasures. It was such an enjoyable experience and I will definitely reread in the future ! 😊
What stood out for me is the personal way in which it was written. I felt like I was reading about my own experiences when reminiscing about Narnia, Malory Towers ( how I longed to play lacrosse!!!), Anne of Green Gables etc. There are some very poignant chapters about using books to get through hard times as well as amusing chapters on experiences dealing with customers. I must confess I fitted into the category of ‘the little posh girl’ from the country who goes into Hatchards book store in London with my Mother as she took me there was a treat when we visited London and I was allowed to pick a book of choice.
I got so much out of the book and it made me realise just how much I love everything about reading. Of course there is the book itself and the story, but I physically love books and having them on my shelves like they are my prized valuable treasures. It was such an enjoyable experience and I will definitely reread in the future ! 😊
April 14, 2021
Utterly charming and immensely joyful account of Cathy's life growing up with books. Whatever else was happening in her life, books kept her sane, kept her grounded and saved her. It was wonderful to read, both about the books she has read that I was familiar with already, but also the books she has read that I have never heard of. Reading unlocks new worlds and brings joy to the person turning the pages. Regardless of what you read, you will always be changed in some way after finishing a book. I love to think of all the books that have shaped and inspired and comforted me over the years, and have made me the person I am now.
November 13, 2020
4.5/5. This was delightful!
February 25, 2022
This nonfiction book was an ode to loving books and living a reading life. I think it’s brilliant for readers and book lovers. While it is a book about books, I don’t think it majorly spoils any of the books it mentions. It does, however, sometimes refer to specific scenes in books and give synopses. I loved how much it applauded the creativity, imagination and freedom of books. And how we can bring all those things into our real lives to help us along too. It started off referring to a lot of classic works but it gradually becomes more contemporary as she grows up. She also has book lists recommending types of books for different stages in her life. I loved hearing and learning about the ins and outs of being a bookseller, teaching illiterate adults to read and writing too. She’s experienced so much as a reader and writer. It was a lovely one sitting read for me.
November 16, 2021
this memoir was an absolute delight to read! I think I read it at the exact perfect time in my life and found so much comfort in knowing the author had been through similar experiences! (4.5)
January 23, 2022
Αυτό το βιβλίο με εξέπληξε
Τούτο εδώ το βιβλιαράκι το πήρα από ένα αγγλόφωνο βιβλιοπωλείο της Βουδαπέστης τον Νοέμβριο. Δεν ήθελα να πάρω αυτό, αλλά ήθελα να πάρω κάτι και τούτο μου φάνηκε σαν κάτι που θα ήθελα να διαβάσω ίσως, αν και η ιστορία μου με αυτά τα βιβλία έχει δείξει πως δε μου ταιριάζουν.
Την Cathy Rentzenbrink δεν την ήξερα και συνήθως βιβλία αυτού του στυλ μου δημιουργούν μια αποστροφή και μια ανατριχίλα, αφού μιλούν για την ανάγνωση λες και οι συγγραφείς τους βρισκόταν σε θρησκευτικό παραλήρημα όταν τα γράφανε, αντιμετωπίζοντας τα βιβλία ως μέγιστο φετίχ. Είχα λοιπόν χαμηλές προσδοκίες και τη βεβαιότητα πως κάπου εκεί μέσα θα μου γυρίσουν τα έντερα.
Και διαψεύστηκα!
Το Dear Reader είναι ουσιαστικά τα απομνημονεύματα της, με τα βιβλία να αποτελούν το σημαντικότερο κομμάτι της ζωής της. ξεκίνησε να εργάζεται στο Waterstones του Harrods, μετά σε άλλα βιβλιοπωλεία, έγινε βιβλιομπλόγκερ, εργάστηκε στο φιλανθρωπικό Quick Reads, έγινε κριτικός βιβλίων, απέκτησε το δικό της podcast στο Bookseller, μιλά συχνότατα για βιβλία σε τηλεόραση και ραδιόφωνο, έχει γενικά μια φοβερή καριέρα γύρω από τη λογοτεχνία, φτου φτου, μπράβο της.
Στο βιβλίο μιλάει για όλα αυτά, για τα παρασκήνια των μεγάλων βιβλιοπωλείων του Λονδίνου, για το πώς εξελίχθηκε η καριέρα της, για πολλά, πολλά βιβλία και το πώς αυτά μπλέκονται με μεγάλα και μικρά γεγονότα της ζωής της, την αρρώστια της μητέρας της, τη γέννηση του παιδιού της, όλα όσα συνέβησαν τα χρόνια που προσπαθούσε να βρει τα πατήματά της.
Η αγάπη για την ανάγνωση ξεχυλίζει μέσα στο βιβλίο, αλλά χωρίς αυτό να γίνεται γλυκερό ή ενοχλητικό. φυσιολογικά πράγματα δηλαδή, όχι φιοριτούρες.
Ανάμεσα στα κεφάλαια των απομνημονευμάτων της υπάρχουν σύντομες λίστες με βιβλία που έχουν κοινά μεταξύ τους αλλά και με τα όσα συμβαίνουν στη ζωή της, ωραίο touch και υπάρχουν εκεί μέσα αρκετά βιβλία με έντονο βρετανικό χαρακτήρα που δεν είχα ακούσει ποτέ.
All in all, πολύ επιτυχημένη αγορά, μπράβο μου. χτυπάει τον εαυτό του στην πλάτη
Τούτο εδώ το βιβλιαράκι το πήρα από ένα αγγλόφωνο βιβλιοπωλείο της Βουδαπέστης τον Νοέμβριο. Δεν ήθελα να πάρω αυτό, αλλά ήθελα να πάρω κάτι και τούτο μου φάνηκε σαν κάτι που θα ήθελα να διαβάσω ίσως, αν και η ιστορία μου με αυτά τα βιβλία έχει δείξει πως δε μου ταιριάζουν.
Την Cathy Rentzenbrink δεν την ήξερα και συνήθως βιβλία αυτού του στυλ μου δημιουργούν μια αποστροφή και μια ανατριχίλα, αφού μιλούν για την ανάγνωση λες και οι συγγραφείς τους βρισκόταν σε θρησκευτικό παραλήρημα όταν τα γράφανε, αντιμετωπίζοντας τα βιβλία ως μέγιστο φετίχ. Είχα λοιπόν χαμηλές προσδοκίες και τη βεβαιότητα πως κάπου εκεί μέσα θα μου γυρίσουν τα έντερα.
Και διαψεύστηκα!
Το Dear Reader είναι ουσιαστικά τα απομνημονεύματα της, με τα βιβλία να αποτελούν το σημαντικότερο κομμάτι της ζωής της. ξεκίνησε να εργάζεται στο Waterstones του Harrods, μετά σε άλλα βιβλιοπωλεία, έγινε βιβλιομπλόγκερ, εργάστηκε στο φιλανθρωπικό Quick Reads, έγινε κριτικός βιβλίων, απέκτησε το δικό της podcast στο Bookseller, μιλά συχνότατα για βιβλία σε τηλεόραση και ραδιόφωνο, έχει γενικά μια φοβερή καριέρα γύρω από τη λογοτεχνία, φτου φτου, μπράβο της.
Στο βιβλίο μιλάει για όλα αυτά, για τα παρασκήνια των μεγάλων βιβλιοπωλείων του Λονδίνου, για το πώς εξελίχθηκε η καριέρα της, για πολλά, πολλά βιβλία και το πώς αυτά μπλέκονται με μεγάλα και μικρά γεγονότα της ζωής της, την αρρώστια της μητέρας της, τη γέννηση του παιδιού της, όλα όσα συνέβησαν τα χρόνια που προσπαθούσε να βρει τα πατήματά της.
Η αγάπη για την ανάγνωση ξεχυλίζει μέσα στο βιβλίο, αλλά χωρίς αυτό να γίνεται γλυκερό ή ενοχλητικό. φυσιολογικά πράγματα δηλαδή, όχι φιοριτούρες.
Ανάμεσα στα κεφάλαια των απομνημονευμάτων της υπάρχουν σύντομες λίστες με βιβλία που έχουν κοινά μεταξύ τους αλλά και με τα όσα συμβαίνουν στη ζωή της, ωραίο touch και υπάρχουν εκεί μέσα αρκετά βιβλία με έντονο βρετανικό χαρακτήρα που δεν είχα ακούσει ποτέ.
All in all, πολύ επιτυχημένη αγορά, μπράβο μου. χτυπάει τον εαυτό του στην πλάτη
October 10, 2022
This is a really nice, meditative sort of book written by a book lover, for other book lovers. I warmed to it straightaway because one of the first books mentioned is Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca, which is one of my favourite novels. If fact, I found I shared a similar taste in books to the author, and as a result of reading this, I’ve added about ten more novels to my TBR pile.
It is a memoir, but the author’s life story is wrapped around the books she has read from childhood to the present day, picking out those which brought her comfort or joy. And Rentzenbrink has certainly read a lot of books. She reads at an amazing speed, which I envy, but she has also spent her life in the book industry - first as a bookseller in Harrods, then a bookshop manager, before moving on to promoting literacy in prisons and she is now an author in her own right.
At 230 pages, this a relatively short read, but recommend for a quiet afternoon. And if you enjoy this, I also recommend, ‘The Clothing of Books’ by Jhumpa Lahiri, which is another slim volume for people who love being around books.
It is a memoir, but the author’s life story is wrapped around the books she has read from childhood to the present day, picking out those which brought her comfort or joy. And Rentzenbrink has certainly read a lot of books. She reads at an amazing speed, which I envy, but she has also spent her life in the book industry - first as a bookseller in Harrods, then a bookshop manager, before moving on to promoting literacy in prisons and she is now an author in her own right.
At 230 pages, this a relatively short read, but recommend for a quiet afternoon. And if you enjoy this, I also recommend, ‘The Clothing of Books’ by Jhumpa Lahiri, which is another slim volume for people who love being around books.
July 8, 2020
"Last night I dreamt I went to Narnia again"
A wonderful memoir of life as a bookworm. We track her life through the books she reads, a lot of the books she read as a child were familiar to me, though I have never read the Adrian Mole books. I began to feel I should remedy this.
When tragedy strikes she talks very honestly about how books helped her deal with grief. She goes to work for Waterstones and talk of bookselling with such warmth, I thought that would be my perfect job.
A warm and very easy read about a love of books that had me looking up many of the titles to add to a teetering TBR pile.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
A wonderful memoir of life as a bookworm. We track her life through the books she reads, a lot of the books she read as a child were familiar to me, though I have never read the Adrian Mole books. I began to feel I should remedy this.
When tragedy strikes she talks very honestly about how books helped her deal with grief. She goes to work for Waterstones and talk of bookselling with such warmth, I thought that would be my perfect job.
A warm and very easy read about a love of books that had me looking up many of the titles to add to a teetering TBR pile.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
August 20, 2021
“We are all in the gutter, but books allow us to see the stars.”
Rentzenbrink’s memoir, told through the books that filled her life, was a delight. I whizzed through it this evening, smiling often at passages that felt so familiar. I am a fellow bookworm and could identify with some of her life experiences - for instance, reading through the night, or wanting to speak to perfect strangers about books. That is quite something since I am an introvert, but as soon as I see someone reading something I like, I forget I am shy :0)
Dear Reader will appeal to voracious readers but I hope it will find its way to people who might appreciate a helping hand in choosing stories they will enjoy.
Rentzenbrink’s memoir, told through the books that filled her life, was a delight. I whizzed through it this evening, smiling often at passages that felt so familiar. I am a fellow bookworm and could identify with some of her life experiences - for instance, reading through the night, or wanting to speak to perfect strangers about books. That is quite something since I am an introvert, but as soon as I see someone reading something I like, I forget I am shy :0)
Dear Reader will appeal to voracious readers but I hope it will find its way to people who might appreciate a helping hand in choosing stories they will enjoy.
August 17, 2020
I understand all the glowing reviews - it is in a way a very heartwarming book - but despite liking it, I didn't love it... I really enjoyed reading about the author's experience as a bookseller in various shops, including Harrods and big names around Charing Cross, but I felt despite the interesting comments on books that shaped her life at different stages, at times it felt like reading a listicle or a catalogue. It's a shame because I liked the content, and the writing was... nice. I just ended up not liking the format that much.
(Free ARC from Netgalley)
(Free ARC from Netgalley)
June 7, 2021
If you have been a reader for a long time, this is exactly the kind of book to reconnect you with books from your past. Cathy Rentzenbrink takes you through her life and the books that she has connected with as she's lived her life. Turns out she's been reading many of the same books as I have. It is lovely to have these books that I've loved show up in anothers life, to have been meaningful for her as they have been for me.
I read a library copy of this book, but I'm going to need my own. I want the booklists to consult with, I want to revisit it at a more leisurely pace and I want to indulge in this meditation on reading and what it means to someone who feels a bit like me again.
I read a library copy of this book, but I'm going to need my own. I want the booklists to consult with, I want to revisit it at a more leisurely pace and I want to indulge in this meditation on reading and what it means to someone who feels a bit like me again.
September 18, 2020
Cathy Rentzenbrink fell in love with reading at an early age and spent much of her childhood and adolescence with her nose in a book. When her life was upended by tragedy, reading was the raft she clung to. Books helped Cathy find consolation, and eventually led her on a new path - first as a bookseller, and then as an author.
In this moving, funny, comforting and inspiring memoir, Cathy shares the story of her lifelong love-affair with reading and introduces the books that shaped her.
Give me a book about books and love of the written word any day and you'll find, like most bibliophiles, I will devour it and then regret not savouring it more. This part memoir, part homage to the books that shaped her as a girl in her formative years, is a captivating and engrossing read from start to finish. It's beautifully written and relatable as she explains how reading helped her overcome adversity and devastating incidents in her life.
She also gives recommendations based on a particular theme which I found interesting and many of them were added to my already mountainous TBR pile. A perfect escape from the reality happening outside our doors right now, let Cathy whisk you away on an enchanting and immersive journey of quiet contemplation and one full of reflection, nostalgia and soul-searching. This is the ideal gift for a bookworm and reminds us all that in times of crisis, books will always be there to provide relief through the power of their words. Many thanks to Picador for an ARC.
In this moving, funny, comforting and inspiring memoir, Cathy shares the story of her lifelong love-affair with reading and introduces the books that shaped her.
Give me a book about books and love of the written word any day and you'll find, like most bibliophiles, I will devour it and then regret not savouring it more. This part memoir, part homage to the books that shaped her as a girl in her formative years, is a captivating and engrossing read from start to finish. It's beautifully written and relatable as she explains how reading helped her overcome adversity and devastating incidents in her life.
She also gives recommendations based on a particular theme which I found interesting and many of them were added to my already mountainous TBR pile. A perfect escape from the reality happening outside our doors right now, let Cathy whisk you away on an enchanting and immersive journey of quiet contemplation and one full of reflection, nostalgia and soul-searching. This is the ideal gift for a bookworm and reminds us all that in times of crisis, books will always be there to provide relief through the power of their words. Many thanks to Picador for an ARC.
September 21, 2020
A lighthearted read, but not quite what I expected. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't anything mindblowing either. Nevertheless, it was a quick and relaxing read.
January 7, 2021
I've always loved reading but 2020 made me fall out of love with it.
2021 is where Cathy reminded me why I love reading and ignited the fire of love in me again. Thank you!
2021 is where Cathy reminded me why I love reading and ignited the fire of love in me again. Thank you!
September 14, 2022
Reading this book was like reminiscing about my own journey with books and reading and I loved it so much!
No one in my family loves books as much as I do so I totally relate to the young Cathy who got lost in the pages of a book and made up excuses to not go out and even forgot about other things she was supposed to keep an eye on when she was distracted by an engaging story! All of this is so familiar.
The want to carry home loads of books from the library, settling down with the whole stack and tearing through them all is one of my favourite memories from childhood. Though I have adapted to ebooks and audiobooks and Kindle, this is one thing I miss doing now! Reading as a way to get past tough situations and just escape into another world for a little while is so precious. Experiencing what the characters in a book go through as though they were happening to me is part of the enjoyment of the experience!
The author has mentioned many of her favourite books and my memories of reading those were refreshed. It was particularly wonderful to see Little women, the book I have read the most number of times and can never tire of, included!
Ultimately this book was like having a discussion with a bookish friend..a total delight!
Some lines that I want to share from the book..
"The very way that fiction works – the process of conflict and resolution at the heart of every story – means that novels are full of people encountering challenging situations and, usually, surviving them. Books are a masterclass in how to carry on."
"Often people can be a bit snooty at the idea of books as a form of escapism, but I believe this is one of the great powers of literature: to comfort, to console, to allow a tiny oasis of – not exactly pleasure, but perhaps we could think of it as respite, when we feel we might otherwise drown in a sea of pain. I was reading for distraction rather than life lessons"
"When the bite of real life is too brutal, I retreat into made-up worlds and tread well-worn paths. I don’t crave the new when I feel like this, but look for solace in the familiar. It is as though in re-encountering my most-loved fictional characters, I can also reconnect with my previous selves and come out feeling less fragmented. Reading built me and always has the power to put me back together again."
No one in my family loves books as much as I do so I totally relate to the young Cathy who got lost in the pages of a book and made up excuses to not go out and even forgot about other things she was supposed to keep an eye on when she was distracted by an engaging story! All of this is so familiar.
The want to carry home loads of books from the library, settling down with the whole stack and tearing through them all is one of my favourite memories from childhood. Though I have adapted to ebooks and audiobooks and Kindle, this is one thing I miss doing now! Reading as a way to get past tough situations and just escape into another world for a little while is so precious. Experiencing what the characters in a book go through as though they were happening to me is part of the enjoyment of the experience!
The author has mentioned many of her favourite books and my memories of reading those were refreshed. It was particularly wonderful to see Little women, the book I have read the most number of times and can never tire of, included!
Ultimately this book was like having a discussion with a bookish friend..a total delight!
Some lines that I want to share from the book..
"The very way that fiction works – the process of conflict and resolution at the heart of every story – means that novels are full of people encountering challenging situations and, usually, surviving them. Books are a masterclass in how to carry on."
"Often people can be a bit snooty at the idea of books as a form of escapism, but I believe this is one of the great powers of literature: to comfort, to console, to allow a tiny oasis of – not exactly pleasure, but perhaps we could think of it as respite, when we feel we might otherwise drown in a sea of pain. I was reading for distraction rather than life lessons"
"When the bite of real life is too brutal, I retreat into made-up worlds and tread well-worn paths. I don’t crave the new when I feel like this, but look for solace in the familiar. It is as though in re-encountering my most-loved fictional characters, I can also reconnect with my previous selves and come out feeling less fragmented. Reading built me and always has the power to put me back together again."
May 15, 2020
A love letter to books- I can think of nothing nicer to read on a dreary afternoon. While I didn't glean many recommendations (not that I need more, as my TBR is already scandalously bloated) I did manage to feel the absolute love that the author has for books and reading. The warmth in this book was palpable, and I felt an instant kinship with the writer as it was so wonderfully parallel to the way so many of us find books. The way that she managed to deal with the vicissitudes of life by turning to well-loved and well-worn pages is such a common thread for so many of us, and I don't doubt that any constant reader will find absolute delight in this book.
I have two very small complaints- one is that I wish it were longer, the second that perhaps a list of all recommended titles appear at the end (maybe with a few more put in there for good measure- I'm always on the lookout for more to add!). With that being said, this book is something I am sure any reader will find a lot of love in it and love it for that reason alone.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
I have two very small complaints- one is that I wish it were longer, the second that perhaps a list of all recommended titles appear at the end (maybe with a few more put in there for good measure- I'm always on the lookout for more to add!). With that being said, this book is something I am sure any reader will find a lot of love in it and love it for that reason alone.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
November 13, 2021
Wow! This book exceeded my expectations. Written along the same lines as Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading, this book was more memoir and less a recounting of books that impacted Rentzenbrink's life. There were some books sprinkled in throughout the book but this book was more about Rentzenbrink's life as a reader and her journey through the book world. I enjoyed this book but I wish there were more mentions of books that impacted her life. Overall, this was a good read.
December 22, 2022
What a lovely warm hug of a book this is...comfort and joy, indeed. Rentzebrink has penned a wonderful book about books — one of the best I've read, especially for a direct memoir (i.e., I've been sitting around thinking about the books I've read over my lifetime and what they've meant to me).
Rentzenbrink begins with setting a scene of unpacking, being surrounded by boxes and finding relief for her sore back by lying flat on the floor with a book beneath her head like a pillow. Books for the weary. She then takes the reader along for a ride back through the important touchstones of books and reading in and around her life. From the loss of her brother, her mother, and a pregnancy through miscarriage to the late-in-life joy reading has meant for her father, Rentzenbrink brings along the special touch only a bookworm, booklover, bookseller, and author / writer can provide.
Along the way, as she takes you through her book-loving life, Rentzenbrink sorts by topic (after chronology) and at the end of each segment gives the dear reader of the title a list of books, along with a quick summary, that she'd recommend for the topic she's just covered.
This was just such a delight — I haven't had a book about books that was this joyful (and not schmaltzy) in a long time. Plus, it knew itself and never overstayed its welcome.
Audiobook, as read by the author: Such perfect narration can only be had by an author who is also a good reader...not always the case, but definitely so here with Rentzenbrink. I felt the intimacy and confidences shared immediately and throughout. She has a warm and emotive voice, perfect for reading any book, most especially her own.
"Reading built me and always has the power to put me back together again."
Rentzenbrink begins with setting a scene of unpacking, being surrounded by boxes and finding relief for her sore back by lying flat on the floor with a book beneath her head like a pillow. Books for the weary. She then takes the reader along for a ride back through the important touchstones of books and reading in and around her life. From the loss of her brother, her mother, and a pregnancy through miscarriage to the late-in-life joy reading has meant for her father, Rentzenbrink brings along the special touch only a bookworm, booklover, bookseller, and author / writer can provide.
Along the way, as she takes you through her book-loving life, Rentzenbrink sorts by topic (after chronology) and at the end of each segment gives the dear reader of the title a list of books, along with a quick summary, that she'd recommend for the topic she's just covered.
This was just such a delight — I haven't had a book about books that was this joyful (and not schmaltzy) in a long time. Plus, it knew itself and never overstayed its welcome.
Audiobook, as read by the author: Such perfect narration can only be had by an author who is also a good reader...not always the case, but definitely so here with Rentzenbrink. I felt the intimacy and confidences shared immediately and throughout. She has a warm and emotive voice, perfect for reading any book, most especially her own.
October 19, 2024
This book has been on my shelves for a while. Simply because I wanted to savour the anticipation of reading it. And when I spotted it on BorrowBox and had the opportunity of listening to it (narrated by the author) and reading parts of it, I knew it was time.
Dear Reader is quite simply, a love letter to books. Just like the author, I was born a reader and I will die a reader. I feel sorry for all the non readers out there, never to have experienced the joy, magic and emotion I’ve felt through the power of books. And it was absolutely heartwarming to read this book and realise that the author (and all the rest of the book lovers in the world no doubt) feels the same.
I found myself laughing and smiling and nodding in agreement through so many chapters. Long forgotten childhood and teenage memories involving books resurfaced; forging my mother’s signature to borrow Judy Blume’s Forever from the library (IYKYK), working in an ice cream van age 16 desperately trying to read Stephen King’s IT & raging over customers interrupting me, books have just always been there, right beside me through every step of my life and this book confirms their importance.
Dear Reader also reveals other events of the author’s life; childhood, career, highs and lows, births and deaths to name a few. With books and dreams of writing always present alongside these moments. There are also book recommendations interspersed throughout the chapters (warning, this does not help your TBR)
This is a book I will keep and treasure. It is an ode to me, a love letter to books and an exquisite and triumphant celebration of what it is to be lucky enough to be a reader.
Dear Reader is quite simply, a love letter to books. Just like the author, I was born a reader and I will die a reader. I feel sorry for all the non readers out there, never to have experienced the joy, magic and emotion I’ve felt through the power of books. And it was absolutely heartwarming to read this book and realise that the author (and all the rest of the book lovers in the world no doubt) feels the same.
I found myself laughing and smiling and nodding in agreement through so many chapters. Long forgotten childhood and teenage memories involving books resurfaced; forging my mother’s signature to borrow Judy Blume’s Forever from the library (IYKYK), working in an ice cream van age 16 desperately trying to read Stephen King’s IT & raging over customers interrupting me, books have just always been there, right beside me through every step of my life and this book confirms their importance.
Dear Reader also reveals other events of the author’s life; childhood, career, highs and lows, births and deaths to name a few. With books and dreams of writing always present alongside these moments. There are also book recommendations interspersed throughout the chapters (warning, this does not help your TBR)
This is a book I will keep and treasure. It is an ode to me, a love letter to books and an exquisite and triumphant celebration of what it is to be lucky enough to be a reader.
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