Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Dear Reader
Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books | Cathy Rentzenbrink
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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
MittenGirlPeach
post image

What a terrific box, @Deblovestoread ! You nailed it. You found a beautiful tea towel I‘d never seen before; so lovely. The candle (reading & rain!), mug, and treats are perfect, and the book choices are splendid. I haven‘t read any of them, and the two not on my list sound particularly delightful. How did I miss The Reader? Can‘t wait to read them all. Thanks again, and what a wonderful swap, @wanderinglynn ! I love Litsy. 🧡 #HHS

Deblovestoread Yay! So glad you like everything! Enjoy! 5mo
wanderinglynn Love it! 🎃🖤👻🧡 5mo
Gissy Yes, beautiful tea towel and mug😍 5mo
26 likes3 comments
review
Deblovestoread
post image
Pickpick

#SummerEndReadathon

Littens know all the ways books and reading enrich our lives so this book was preaching to the choir but was a quick enjoyable read nonetheless. Thanks to @KT1432 for including it in my last years #FallingforFallswap box.

TheSpineView Well done! 6mo
KT1432 Awww yayyy glad you enjoyed it! 🤗 6mo
50 likes2 comments
blurb
merelybookish
post image

Had to wait until after work to open my #muglove23 parcel. But it was worth the wait!
Thank you Renee for the heartwarming gifts. I absolutely love that you personalized my mug. ❤️ And the book looks like the perfect cozy read. ☕ @StayCurious
Thanks for a great swap @Cinfhen @TheKidUpstairs

Cinfhen Oh ….this package captures my heart ❤️ Fantastic 13mo
StayCurious So glad you like it! 13mo
LeahBergen Cute mug! I loved this book. ❤️ 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Chelsea.Poole Lovely mug! 💐 13mo
TheKidUpstairs All the cool kids ARE reading! So true :) Love the personalized touch! 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Awesome mug!! 13mo
71 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Nicki_K
post image
Pickpick

A must read for book lovers! This book reminded me of how books can help change how you view the world, expand your horizons, you outlook on life and even sometimes help us with difficult decisions we have to make. I also loved getting to see how her reading taste has changed as she has changed as a person- as all of our reading tastes change over time. Such a delightful read, I cannot recommend it highly enough. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

review
squirrelbrain
post image
Pickpick

Oh, I just adored this book! The author is only a few months older than me, and grew up reading EXACTLY the same books as me. (Malory Towers, Chalet School, then onto Agatha Christie, Catherine Cookson and, of course, Riders! ☺️)

Like her, I don‘t recall learning to read; it was just always there. And like her I have the Yorkshire pronunciation of glass and bath. It‘s not spelt barth is it?!

⬇️

squirrelbrain I‘ve only ordered one book (tagged) so far as a result, which is quite restrained for me! Most of the others I‘ve already read though! I‘m quite intrigued by the Cazalet Chronicles though…. 🤔 2y
TrishB It‘s definitely not barth…. 2y
LeahBergen I loved this book, too. I especially liked her time working in the Harrod‘s book department. 😆 2y
See All 8 Comments
LeeRHarry I second @TrishB also I really enjoyed The Cazalet Chronicles and who didn‘t read Jilly Cooper in their teens? 🤷🏼‍♀️😆 2y
CarolynM Sounds like my reading life too😆 2y
BarbaraBB I don‘t know any of the books mentioned. That‘s weird isn‘t it? A language thing probably! 2y
squirrelbrain I wish I could work in Harrod‘s book department @LeahBergen although not sure I could be polite to all the posh people! 🤣 2y
squirrelbrain It must be a language / UK thing @BarbaraBB 🤷‍♀️ 2y
63 likes8 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
post image

Took some books back to the library and *fully intended* to come away with nothing, due to groaning TBR shelves at home…. and all of these are #blameitonlitsy!

The Glass Hotel was discussed by @Megabooks and @Cinfhen , amongst other Littens, in reviews of the author‘s latest.

Thanks to @JillR for the Lahiri recommendation.

The Highsmith is for next month‘s #authoramonth @Soubhiville and Dear Reader is ‘just because‘!

squirrelbrain So now we can #buddyread The Glass Hotel @Caroline2 - no rush as it‘s a 3 month loan anyway, so we could either replace May‘s choice or wait until June… 2y
Cinfhen Well done!!! 2y
RaeLovesToRead Strangers on a train is amazing! And I also have the glass hotel, so will be watching out for your reviews @squirrelbrain @Caroline2 2y
See All 18 Comments
squirrelbrain Why not join in with our #buddyread? @RaeLovesToRead - we‘d love you to! We can pick a time that suits all of us. 2y
Megabooks Great haul! The Namesake is fantastic too. 2y
RaeLovesToRead I would definitely join in, but be warned, I'm a slow reader!!!! So you'll probably get my review a bit later on 😅😅 2y
LeahBergen I really enjoyed Dear Reader. 🙂 2y
squirrelbrain Don‘t worry @RaeLovesToRead - I usually read several books at once, so can stretch it out over a longer time. When suits both of you to start? @Caroline2 2y
BarbaraBB I enjoyed the Lahiri and The Glass Hotel! And I am curious to hear your thoughts on another Highsmith! Great library haul 👌🏽 2y
Caroline2 Ohh I‘m looking forward to Glass hotel now after the article. Shall we replace May? 😃 👍 2y
Caroline2 @RaeLovesToRead Yes! Join us! It normally takes me a week or two to read a book but it a very easy going buddy read, we tend to start/finish when we start/finish. No pressure or deadlines etc. 👍 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Caroline2 @squirrelbrain I can do whenever (except for next week!) 😊 2y
squirrelbrain Shall we say we‘ll start on 1st May then? @Caroline2 @RaeLovesToRead Thats the Sunday before BH Monday too, so we might get to read more! 2y
RaeLovesToRead Perfect! 😁👍 2y
Caroline2 Perfect for me to. 👍 2y
LeeRHarry I enjoyed both The Glass Hotel and The Namesake - happy reading! 😊 2y
rmaclean4 The Namesake is wonderful. Hope you enjoy. 2y
JillR I really hope you enjoy The Namesake! I also enjoyed The Glass Hotel. Happy Easter reading! 🐣 2y
65 likes18 comments
review
IuliaC
post image
Pickpick

This memoir is a little treasure for book lovers; chapters in the author's life are entangled with references to books that have educated, shaped, amazed, supported and uplifted her in tremendous ways in good and in bad times.

"Every book holds a memory. When you hold a book in your hand, you access not only the contents of that book but fragments of the previous selves that you were when you read it."

The_Penniless_Author I've been meaning to ask you, how are things in your part of Romania? Have you gotten a big influx of people leaving Ukraine? 2y
IuliaC @The_Penniless_Author I'm in Bucharest and although quite far from all borders with Ukraine, we still got a lot of people from Ukraine here too. In the first weeks of March almost everyone I know has been involved in a way or another in assembling donations, hosting refugees etc. I still can't believe something like this happened in 2022 and hope it ends soon. I now value peace in a whole new way... 2y
The_Penniless_Author @IuliaC Agreed. My wife is from Bulgaria, and even though they haven't seen the same numbers Romania has, there have still been a lot of refugees passing through. I hope it ends soon, but unfortunately I don't see an easy way out of things at the moment. 2y
IuliaC @The_Penniless_Author I totally agree with you 2y
68 likes2 stack adds4 comments
quote
IuliaC
post image

⭐️ “I will make piles of my most treasured books and read through them, taking comfort not only in each book itself but also in the reassuring knowledge that there are many more to come.“

⭐️ “When the bite of real life is too brutal, I retreat into made-up worlds and tread well-worn paths.“

⭐️ “Reading built me and always has the power to put me back together again.“

DivineDiana Beautiful quotes! ❤️ 2y
IuliaC @DivineDiana it's a very "quotable" book ? 2y
60 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
megnews
post image
Pickpick

I adore this reflection on the author‘s reading life, how reading got her through tough times and opened a bigger world to her. So many relatable emotions about reading. This 4 hour audio is packed with recommendations so fair warning your tbr may grow.

58 likes2 stack adds
quote
megnews
post image

❤️

quote
megnews
post image

Guilty 😂

quote
megnews
post image

So many of us can relate.

blurb
kspenmoll
post image

#weeklyforecast

Murder at the Manor is a compilation of short mysteries set in English country manors. I am enjoying just picking one out to read when the mood strikes me.
Dear Reader is a book about books- what not to like?
Murder at Mykonos allows me to travel to that island; the settings‘ description make me feel like I am there-vivid blue & white, stone, hills, beaches.
The Tenant is a police procedural with a fascinating unique plot.

Cinfhen Ohh, they all sound good 😊 2y
59 likes1 comment
quote
kspenmoll
post image

#thecomfortandjoyofbooks #readerscompanion
#booksmatter

Just started this little gem with my morning coffee.📚☕️

vivastory I read this over the holidays and thought it was wonderful 2y
kspenmoll @vivastory So happy to hear that; I am literally on page 4. 2y
60 likes2 stack adds2 comments
quote
rather_be_reading
post image

Book 40

53 likes1 stack add
review
quietjenn
post image
Pickpick

I loved this one, even though it's added oodles of books to the tbr pile. Part memoir, part meditation, part recommended reading lists - Rentenbrink's writing is so warm, chatty, and honest. Would love to sit with her over a coffee!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty cover 📚💙 2y
AmyG I like your book rug. My most favorite kind of bookmark! 2y
vivastory I really enjoyed this one. 2y
See All 8 Comments
BookBabe Sounds nice! 🙂 2y
quietjenn @AmyG mine too! I got my first one a few months ago and have slowly been adding different patterns to my collection. 2y
quietjenn @vivastory I remember you reading it around the same time my copy came in the mail! It's so very relatable 🙂 2y
vivastory It really is! A cozy quick read. I can definitely see myself reading it again. 2y
LeahBergen I loved this book. 👏 2y
86 likes5 stack adds8 comments
review
vivastory
post image
Pickpick

“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 am a reader.'“
Cathy Rentzenbrink's book is a hybrid of grief memoir, bookseller recollections & above all an autobiography of the numerous ways that books have shaped her life & consoled her. I recently checked this out from the library & decided to save it for the👇

vivastory holidays. This was a wise decision as numerous passages are descriptions of reading books on holiday or selling books around the holidays (mulled wine & mince pie for the Xmas Customer Evenings at Waterstones? Yes, please). Interspersed throughout the book are short lists of recommended books (Books About Books, Books Set in Pubs etc) This book was absolutely delightful & is a useful reminder that when as Wordsworth once said, 2y
vivastory “The world is too much with us“ set your phone aside & mentally recharge with a book. 2y
LeahBergen Great review! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 2y
vivastory @LeahBergen Same here. I expected for it to take longer to read, but I flew through it. 2y
Hooked_on_books Sounds wonderful! I love when I read a book at just the right time. 2y
86 likes4 stack adds5 comments
quote
vivastory
post image

I would buy a book with that description on the staff recommendation card. 📚📚

TrishB Me too 😁 Hebden Bridge is near where my dad was from. 2y
Reggie Totally. Lol 2y
vivastory @TrishB Hebden Bridge sounds like a wonderful town. It looks like there's a lot of independently owned businesses there. 2y
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen I liked this Harrod‘s section of the book. 😆 2y
vivastory @LeahBergen When she wrote a recommendation card about a book that was so absorbing that she almost walked into a car 😂 2y
TrishB It‘s a lovely place 😁 2y
55 likes1 stack add6 comments
quote
vivastory
post image

kplovesbooks Oh. My. THIS. ♥️📚 2y
TrishB Awesome description ❤️ 2y
Reggie Oof. My journey of horror since the summer of 2020 until now. 2y
LeahBergen Yes! 2y
51 likes1 stack add4 comments
quote
Branwen
post image

"Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult time. It is not always bad to avoid feelings of distress by burying ourselves in reading. If life takes a dark turn, if we are struck by the storm of grief, then there are worse things to do then read to get us through the long nights." ❤?❤

I love this quote! ?

#catsoflitsy #littenkitten #rumpel

vivastory What a wonderful quote 📚📚📚 2y
Branwen @vivastory Isn't it fantastic?! Have you started reading it yet? 2y
vivastory @Branwen Not yet. I plan on starting it in a couple of days. I think it will be the perfect book over the holidays 2y
TrishB So true. 2y
48 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
jlhammar
post image

Very much enjoying my Oh Reader subscription. Great article @rachelsbrittain

BookBosomed1 Whoa! I‘m checking out this mag 2y
19 likes1 comment
blurb
Branwen
post image

Jazz and I both agree that this book has one of the prettiest covers we've ever seen! 😻📖❤ #catsoflitsy #littenkitten #jupiterjazz

vivastory I'm looking forward to your thoughts on this one. I have it checked out from the library right now. It's a great cover, BTW the book I just finished featured a bookstore in Detroit. I know that you're in MI but I don't know if you've visited it before. They featured John K King's Books (edited) 2y
Branwen @vivastory I'm only a couple chapters in, but I'm really enjoying it so far! I love books like this! OOOOOH I have been to the John King's bookstore before, but only once! Now I want to read that book you mentioned and go there again! It's fairly close by! 😃❤📖 2y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Lissa00
post image

I‘ve been looking forward to this book since I received it. Finally time to sit down and dive in!

review
readingjedi
post image
Pickpick

This is basically a biography with books. And it was a true pleasure to read. The author is a true booklover & it shines out from every page. She details her relationship with books & reading & how it has affected/influenced her whole life. I love the range of books that she talks about - there's lots of recommendations! Her enthusiasm is just infectious & joyous, her writing style relaxing & she seems like the perfect person to buy a book from!

100 likes11 stack adds
blurb
readingjedi
post image

*whispers* I think my NetGalley TBR list heard me complaining about it today as this was the very next thing it threw at me!

Twainy LOL I just got approved for a horror book this morning. YES!! 😁 3y
80 likes1 comment
blurb
TheEllieMo
post image

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 101
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

36 likes1 stack add
blurb
Oryx
post image

This is making me properly nostalgic for bookshops (particularly Waterstones and Hatchards where the author worked).

vivastory I really want to read this one 3y
Cathythoughts Such a lovely cover 💫 3y
Cathythoughts I miss a browse in the bookshops too 😕 3y
Caroline2 Stacked. 😉 3y
68 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
JennyM
post image

I liked the sound of this audiobook and noted that the author was from Yorkshire. Well, dear reader, it turns out that she grew up right where I did and I know the pub her family owned very well! Such a lovely surprise to hear the names of places from back home, especially as we lived in a tiny little place in the middle of nowhere. And it‘s also a really great listen...full of bookish goodness ❤️ 📚

Cathythoughts Oh that‘s so lovely! What a beautiful coincidence.... ❤️❤️❤️ 3y
wanderinglynn How neat! 3y
rockpools How lovely! 3y
See All 8 Comments
JennyM @Cathythoughts @wanderinglynn @rockpools it really is - so lovely and making me feel very nostalgic for my Yorkshire roots x 3y
Chelsea.Poole Awe! 📚 3y
Crazeedi That's just too cool! And sounds like a fun read! 3y
JennyM @Chelsea.Poole @Crazeedi it‘s been so nice to listen to. Reading really is like time travel sometimes! 😊 3y
Rissreads That is very cool! 3y
60 likes4 stack adds8 comments
blurb
vivastory
post image

Well, this sounds delightful. Looks like it'll be published next month in the states.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNvdyu9qvPw

LeahBergen I have this one! It‘s received some really good review. 👍🏻 3y
vivastory @LeahBergen I will definitely be picking it up as soon as it's available here. Love a good book about books 3y
65 likes4 stack adds2 comments
blurb
LeahBergen
post image

Today‘s book mail is this well-reviewed memoir (which has a really pretty cover but my phone‘s camera can‘t do it justice). The author relates which books supported her through the ups and downs of life, from childhood to the loss of a close family member.

I‘m always a sucker for #BooksAboutBooks. 😊

Trashcanman 🖐🏼😶 3y
Leftcoastzen That looks cool! 3y
ShelleyBooksie I love your "books about books" section. Which one was your fav? 3y
See All 11 Comments
rubyslippersreads That cover! 😍 3y
LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie Well, I have about 4 shelves of “books about books”. 😆😆 From this photo, I really recommend The Diary of a Bookseller (a funny memoir about a bookshop owner in Scotland‘s book town). 😊 3y
Reviewsbylola Books like this are so amazing when they‘re done well! 3y
Centique This looks and sounds wonderful 😍 3y
LeahBergen @Reviewsbylola Aren‘t they, though? She is supposedly a good memoirist but I haven‘t read anything else by her. 3y
LeahBergen @Centique It does, doesn‘t it? 😊 3y
100 likes4 stack adds11 comments
blurb
Moray_Reads
post image

TFW you're working but would rather ne reading...

blurb
Mitch
post image
Soubhiville Yes, thank you! 3y
61 likes1 comment
blurb
Lissa00
post image

New “bookish” #bookhaul!!

SW-T Nice! I have Haig on my TBR but thinking I need to add the tagged as well! Have you read 3y
Lissa00 @SW-T It‘s on my shelf but I haven‘t gotten to it yet. I definitely want to read it though! 3y
81 likes5 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Rhondareads
post image

Perfect book to find comfort in as the country is in such turmoil .My happy place is found in the quiet of a good story,Gorgeous cover drew me right in📚💕

RebelReader Oh that lamp!!!! 3y
Rhondareads Thanks💕 3y
12 likes1 stack add2 comments