Five of my favourite ‘books about books’!

Hey guys,

Hope you’re all doing well and staying safe! Today’s post is a good old fashioned recommendation post, and all of these are some great reads which are book related in nature. Whether it features a bookshop, has books within the wider plot or has generally bookish vibes – this list has them all. I hope you find a new favourite amongst these five books and really enjoy them if you decide to check them out – trust me they’re great! I’m not biased at all, really…well maybe just a bit. So sit back, grab a warm drink and enjoy this post full of great bookish reads, ideal for cozying up with in autumn.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the ‘Cemetery of Lost Books’, a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles that have long gone out of print. To this library, a man brings his 10-year-old son Daniel one cold morning in 1945. Daniel is allowed to choose one book from the shelves and pulls out ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Julian Carax.

But as he grows up, several people seem inordinately interested in his find.

Then, one night, as he is wandering the old streets once more, Daniel is approached by a figure who reminds him of a character from the book, a character who turns out to be the devil. This man is tracking down every last copy of Carax’s work in order to burn them.

What begins as a case of literary curiosity turns into a race to find out the truth behind the life and death of Julian Carax and to save those he left behind…

– Reasons to check this book out –

• The writing is beyond beautiful, addictive in nature almost and there are so many incredible quotes, you’ll be sure to find a line or two that resonates with you.
• The setting itself – the way that Zafón depicts Barcelona – or at least, his version of it – in the late 19th century is so atmospheric and adds a whole other dimension to the novel, which totally transports you there.
• A compelling literary mystery with plenty of twists and turns + loveable characters.
• A labyrinthine library full of forgotten books is at the core of it all – I mean, that pretty much speaks for itself there but it’s an utterly fascinating concept, right?

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

On an unnamed island off an unnamed coast, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses—until things become much more serious. Most of the island’s inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few imbued with the power to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten.

When a young woman who is struggling to maintain her career as a novelist discovers that her editor is in danger from the Memory Police, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards. As fear and loss close in around them, they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past.

-Reasons to check this book out –

• Haunting and mysterious, the entire concept of this novel is just so intriguing that you’ll find yourself unable to stop reading.
• Part Dystopian / Surrealist novel, part meditative or introspective story, it will make you think deeper and it has quietly beautiful prose.
• Touches upon the power of memory and the act of writing and reading + how books can be instrumental in leaving your story and preserve it, lest it be lost.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can’t seem to heal through literature is himself; he’s still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

After Perdu is finally tempted to read the letter, he hauls anchor and departs on a mission to the south of France, hoping to make peace with his loss and discover the end of the story. Joined by a bestselling but blocked author and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu travels along the country’s rivers, dispensing his wisdom and his books, showing that the literary world can take the human soul on a journey to heal itself.

– Reasons to check this book out –

• The entire idea of a literary apothecary sounds absolutely wonderful and I wish this was a real thing, don’t you? I’m a big believer in the right book finding the right reader and it all being destined in a sense so this was so up my street.
• Nina George writes Paris and the French countryside in such a romantic way, you can’t help but fall in love with it all. This will give you serious wanderlust, as travelling far and wide is pretty much impossible right now, this book is the ideal remedy to satiate your inner travel bug.
• Touching, funny at times and also realistic musings on life, love and friendship. This is definitely a feel good book, which I think would make a great film.

The Binding by Bridget Collins

Emmett Farmer is working in the fields when a letter arrives summoning him to begin an apprenticeship. He will work for a Bookbinder, a vocation that arouses fear, superstition and prejudice – but one neither he nor his parents can afford to refuse.

He will learn to hand-craft beautiful volumes, and within each he will capture something unique and extraordinary: a memory. If there’s something you want to forget, he can assist. Your past will be stored safely in a book, and you will never remember your secret, however terrible.

In a vault under under his mentor’s workshop, row upon row of books – and memories – are meticulously stored and recorded.

Then one day Emmett makes an astonishing discovery: one of them has his name on it.

– Reasons to check this book out –

• Deeply atmospheric and captivating, Bridget Collins writing is descriptive and enthralling and will bring the world of the book into life vividly.
• The concept of Binding is fascinating to read about and makes you think of what it would be like if this art form was real.
• A number of different story threads and interwoven mysteries which keeps the story interesting – ideal for a reader who enjoys a slower paced, immersive novel.
• A touching love story at the core of the book, I cried so much but the pain is worth it. Trust me on this one.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn, and when a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. She begins to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop—provided the women’s best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

– Reasons to check this book out –

• This book is so wholesome and sweet, it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom and this book is the ideal pick if you want something a bit more up-lifting.
• Will make you want to either fulfil a bookworms lifelong dream of working in a bookshop or go and spend time in your favourite bookshop immediately. Also a great reminder to support your local indie bookshop!

Hope you enjoyed this post and found a couple, or even one new book to add to that ever expanding TBR!

If you’ve read any of these books, I’d love to chat and see what you thought! & Also let me know in the comments if you think there are any other ‘books about books’ that I simply have to read next!

Until next time,

Rums x