Today is World Book Day. I can't imagine being without books. I have to be reading a book and have books around me. It's good to escape into the pages of a book especially in troubled times. By books I mean any means of reading them. On line, on an e-reader, cloud library, audio book or a physical book from the library or book shop. I do struggle with font size nowadays so some of the favourite books I've pulled off our bookshelves would probably not now be read as they stand but I still have them and wouldn't want to be without them.
I've read lots of wonderful books over the years but the ones I've photographed are enduring favourites.
Two other favourite books I can't find at the moment, perhaps they are in a box somewhere or maybe I loaned them to someone and they never came back. Anyway they are 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain and 'Katherine' by Anya Seaton. Winifred Holtby who wrote South Riding was a friend of Vera Brittain and the preface of my copy was written by Vera's daughter Shirley Williams.
I did find both copies of a book that introduced me to Georgette Heyer whilst I was still at school in the 1960s. I read the older version from 1946 from my Mum and Dad's bookshelves and then must have later bought a copy for myself. It cost three shillings and sixpence.
Many of these books are old, much faded with browned pages but somehow I can't part with them, they are old friends.
I haven't even touched on favourite classics or non-fiction. Perhaps they will be for another day.
Right, I'm off to sit in my comfy chair, with a mug of tea and a good book. Do share your favourites, it would be lovely to hear your choices. I expect they will all be very different.
Take care.
I like Nevil Shute and Miss Reed as I can return to them after a while. I have read and enjoyed A Child of the Forest. Reading does definitely take you away from all the problems
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean, it's good when you find authors you like and can return to again and again. We certainly need diversions at the moment:)
DeleteI've still got all my Mum's Georgette Heyer books and also have the Winifred Foley ones. Miss Read is another favourite. Other authors I like are Cathy Kelly, Patricia Scanlan and Marcia Willett. When we moved a lot of the boxes were books! Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Gill, I read all the Georgette Heyer books in my teens, I couldn't get enough of them, also read Jean Plaidy, Margaret Irwin and Anya Seaton. I was into historical fiction then, I tend towards crime fiction now, like you we have so many books, it's always hard to part with them:)
DeleteHow lovely to see some of your favourite books. Some I’ve read some clearly I need to read. Anya Seton’s Katherine was reread only a short time ago. I too have read many wonderful books. I would definitely recommend Donna Leon’s detective series set in Venice for beautiful writing. My most recent read Still Life by Sarah Winman is high on my list too. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you B. I always enjoy Dona Leon's Commissario Brunetti books, I have a stand alone novel by her on my Kindle yet to read. I have reserved Still Life at the library after I read about it on your blog:)
DeleteThere are some classics there and some for me to hunt down although it's difficult to find older books in the library these days. I like to hold a book rather than use something electronic, it seems part of the enjoyment experience. I love Jon Mcgregor's books, I wish he'd write a new one! 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK, yes some of the titles are very old, I assume some have been reprinted over the years. I do love to hold a book but lately with changes in vision a kindle helps with font size or larger print from the library. I too have enjoyed Jon McGregor's books, haven't heard of a new one, I think the last one I read was Reservoir 13:)
DeleteWhat a wonderful post Rosie. I couldn't be without my books either!!! I loved a Month in the Country and Enchanted April. I have read the latter many times since being a teenager. I used to love Georgette Heyer but must admit I haven't read any of hers for years. Today I tend to read crime/mysteries but when I was younger I loved Susan Howatch, Daphnne du Maurier and Iris Murdoch. Then of course there were the Duncton Wood books and the Poldark series. Pride and Prejudice I must have read a dozen times! Oh dear I could ramble on all morning :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, like you I loved Georgette Heyer as a teenager but haven't read any for ages. I remember reading the Poldark novels when it was on television in the 70s. My first Austen book was Sense and Sensibility, then Persuasion. There is always so much to talk about with books, I've read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre a few times mainly for study, we did it at school, then again for A level at night school and then again for Open University. Take care:)
DeleteWhat a lovely post! I, too, have books that I re-read and would not want to be without. It's comforting to pull a familiar book from the shelf and read just a little bit of a wonderful story. Some of your favourites are ones I've read, and there are others I'd like to look up.
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