Book Lovers Chat - October 2024
“A book is a gift you can open again, and again” - Garrison Keillor
This voiceover is an audio version of my Book Lovers Chat below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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Welcome back to another Slow Sunday Letter! I hope you have had a slow and gentle week.
In this month’s Book Lover’s Chat, I want to talk about your favourite books. Those books whose characters feel like old friends, books you can slip into and find comfort in the familiar words every single time. I want to celebrate those stories, and think about why we are drawn to them. Do you have a book you re read every year? Or have you never re read a book?
As usual, read on for reviews of all my September reading (it was a wonderful month of reading) and my video catch up with you all! Ready? Let’s get started, grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s settle down for a read together…
The Magic of Re-Reading Books
“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.” — Robertson Davies
You settle down to re read a book - it is the same story, characters, words. You know it well. The book is unchanged, everything is the same - except you - the reader.
The magic of re-reading books is plentiful, and you can tap into it simply by opening up a book you have read before.
To return to the same book at different points of your life, and take the time to recognise the different ways you experience, and consume the same story offers so many opportunities to get to know yourself on a deeper level.
Opening up a treasured story more than once provides a real sense of nostalgia and comfort. Returning to stories and characters you have loved like, Jo in Little Women or Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird, feels like visiting old friends. Old friends who have something new to teach you each time you see them again.
You get swept up in memories and feelings as you reconnect with the words on the page. I remember what the story and characters meant to me the last time I was with them, and I love that as I grow and change even old favourites can take on a whole new meaning.
Revisiting older reads can provide such a gift, and an opportunity to uncover new layers, not just of the story but yourself too.
My Most Re-Read Books
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Sophie’s World - Jostein Gaarder
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Re-Read Challenge
I challenge you to re-read a book ! But to help a little, I’ve put together some tips to help you uncover your next re-read.
Choose a book that had a big influence on you - or one that you remember vividly.
Write a list of your favourite books from your childhood, choose one to re-read.
Take some time to think over books you have read over the past few years - which ones stand out to you?
A tougher challenge - think of a book that stayed with you long after you closed the book - you can’t say you loved it, but you didn’t hate it - give it another go!
Are there any books that always make you smile when you think about them, or books you often recommend to others? New or old - maybe treat yourself to a revisit?
I’d love to know what your frequently re-read books are? Or what books could you see yourself returning to?
My September Reads
(all my summaries and reviews will be spoiler free)
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
4 STARS
On a trip to the South of France, our shy heroine falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow.
My Thoughts:
It has been such a long time since I so vividly saw the story unfold as I read. Reading Rebecca truly felt like an out of body experience. From the first few pages I was there, I could see Manderley, I could feel the cold eyes of Mrs Danver’s on me and I could feel Rebecca’s spirit haunting me through the pages. This is such a wonderful book - so atmospheric, totally engrossing and gave me all the chills!
Verity - Colleen Hoover
3 STARS
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night their family was forever altered.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already-grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her . . .
My Thoughts
This was my first ever Colleen Hoover book, I read this for the thriller and the ‘twists’ I’d heard about. It was a quick read, I got through it in a couple of days. There were parts of the books that genuinely gave me chills, and were quite scary - not least because of some of the subject matter. I read this after Rebecca, and maybe because I was in that ‘haunted’ head space - but I found the over bearing presence of Verity throughout so effective. I, like others - found the ending lacking - but without any spoilers… you may have to read this one to find out more… and then drop me a message so we can discuss!!!
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
3 STARS
We follow Dorian Gray who, enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his depravity.
My Thoughts
I knew the story of Dorian Gray, having seen the movie years ago - and this has remained on my TBR list for quite some time. I found it compelling and thought-provoking. There were so many quotable passages - my Kindle highlights is full to the brim! It is a dark story- of passion, obsession, deceit and betrayal. The character’s are all fairly unlikeable, with the exception of Dorian’s friend Basil who tries to protect him from the dark life Lord Henry is exposing and drawing him into. Dorian descends into a life of sin, hedonism and narcissism. It really is a fascinating novel, which makes you question identity, vanity and mortality.
The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides
3 STARS
The story of the five Lisbon sisters – beautiful, eccentric, and obsessively watched by the entire neighbourhood.
The boys that once loved them from afar, are now grown men, determined to understand a tragedy that has always defied explanation. For still, the question remains – why did all five of the Lisbon girls take their own lives?
My Thoughts
Once I got used to the first person plural narrative (which took me a good chapter or two) I was hooked. This story is almost hypnotic, diving deep into love, obsession, pain and death. I had watched the film many years ago, and I found that did distract in a way, as I couldn’t help picturing the film throughout. I wish I had read the book first… so if you haven’t seen the movie, I urge you to add this to your TBR list. A dark coming-of-age story unlike anything I’ve read before.
New On My Book Shelf
This month I have added these books to my bookshelf… (bit of a Neil Gaiman haul! Please let me know if you have read any Gaiman before, I’d love to hear your thoughts).
The Outsider - Stephen King
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman
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Next Up on my TBR List
You all know how excited I have been for my Autumn Reading list (if you missed last month’s Book Lover’s Chat - click here to discover my Autumn reading list) so I am excited for October. As the weather, here in the UK get’s a little darker and moodier - so will my reading …
Next up on my TBR list are:
Dracul - Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker (library book!)
All That Remains - Patricia Cornwell
The Shining - Stephen King
I also leave some space for spontaneous choices, and library visits!
Do join me again next month for all my reading in October …
Bookish Substacks I’ve enjoyed this month…
"Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are" is true enough, but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread.” — François Mauriac
I hope you have enjoyed this months Book Lovers Chat! I honestly have the best fun putting this together! If you would like to see anything at all featured in Book Lovers Chat, please let me know as we grow this community together. I’ll be back at the beginning of next month with even more reading inspiration!
Please do share in the comments what your treasured stories are, the books you return to again and again, or a book you have recently read you KNOW you will pick up again…
As always, I’d love to know if you have read any of the books we have discussed here, or if you have any recommendations this month to share!
Thank you for being here,
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I haven’t read Little Women since I was a girl, but now I want to reread it! I’m sure my library will have a copy so I’ll check it out. Seems like a perfect autumnal read!
The books I reread over and over again are by Agatha Christie. She is my all time favorite mystery writer, her books are just so good.
Thanks for mentioning my post Emily! Happy Sunday to you 🤗🥰
I’m a huge re-reader! Absolutely love to revisit books, especially ones that specifically remind me of a season. Each fall I reread the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, each winter Flight by Lynn Steger Strong, and so on. I also love rereading Emily St. John Mandel’s book, she is my favorite author and every time I reread I notice a character or plot line that is an echo between her various works. So much to discover!
I’m definitely on the same wavelength with you for my October reading, immersing myself in all the spooky reads! Just finished a Shirley Jackson book and the Shining is on my list as well.