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georgilvsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I mean it can’t get any better when your reading a book about books!
I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Thanks to Cathy, my TBR will have more books added to it!
This is the perfect read for bibliophiles!
I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Thanks to Cathy, my TBR will have more books added to it!
This is the perfect read for bibliophiles!
its_me_mar_p's review against another edition
4.0
A sort of memoir via books. I enjoyed her book 'A Manual for Heartache' very much and this was enjoyable also. A star taken off because her love of Harry Potter was a bit much for me.
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
4.0
While the memoir element of this meant nearly nothing to me due to having no idea who this author is, the fact that it's about books and reading gave me a connection and the reason why I wanted to read this as an avid, life-long book worm. Also, there are some beautiful quotes in here.
"Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult situation."
"Every book holds a memory. When you hold a book in your hand, you access not only the contents of the book, but the fragments of the previous selves that you were when you read it."
"Reading has saved my life, again and again, and has held my hand through every difficult situation."
"Every book holds a memory. When you hold a book in your hand, you access not only the contents of the book, but the fragments of the previous selves that you were when you read it."
immarit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
scandysandy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
portybelle's review against another edition
5.0
"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'."
As soon as I read the above quotation, I knew this was a book for me, could be a book about me!
The book began as a real trip down memory lane for me from reading about familiar children's books to graduating to the 'grown-ups' section of the library. I remember being allowed to upgrade my library tickets earlier than I should have because I'd either read or outgrown everything in the children's section.
There are chapters on diverse topics such as first appearances by fictional detectives, books written in diary form, pubs which feature in books, favourite series and unsurprisingly, books set in bookshops. What was surprising to me was that I'd only read one of them (and didn't actually like it) so I'll need to check out the others.
However, this isn't just a list of the author's favourite reads. It's also about finding comfort in book characters going through similar experiences to her at difficult or happy times in her life. "When the bite of real life is too brutal, I retreat into made-up worlds and tread well-worn paths. I... look for solace in the familiar."
I particularly liked this part: "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." This is something I strongly agree with. I hate when people talk about having 'guilty pleasures' when it comes to reading. If you enjoy reading something then in my opinion there's nothing to feel guilty about. Read what you want, what makes you feel happy, what brings you joy!
In Dear Reader we find a life shaped by books from hungrily reading them, to working in bookshops, to talking about books, to writing about them, to working in the publishing industry and finally to actually writing books.
Dear Reader, I loved it!
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved books. She still does. She always will."
As soon as I read the above quotation, I knew this was a book for me, could be a book about me!
The book began as a real trip down memory lane for me from reading about familiar children's books to graduating to the 'grown-ups' section of the library. I remember being allowed to upgrade my library tickets earlier than I should have because I'd either read or outgrown everything in the children's section.
There are chapters on diverse topics such as first appearances by fictional detectives, books written in diary form, pubs which feature in books, favourite series and unsurprisingly, books set in bookshops. What was surprising to me was that I'd only read one of them (and didn't actually like it) so I'll need to check out the others.
However, this isn't just a list of the author's favourite reads. It's also about finding comfort in book characters going through similar experiences to her at difficult or happy times in her life. "When the bite of real life is too brutal, I retreat into made-up worlds and tread well-worn paths. I... look for solace in the familiar."
I particularly liked this part: "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." This is something I strongly agree with. I hate when people talk about having 'guilty pleasures' when it comes to reading. If you enjoy reading something then in my opinion there's nothing to feel guilty about. Read what you want, what makes you feel happy, what brings you joy!
In Dear Reader we find a life shaped by books from hungrily reading them, to working in bookshops, to talking about books, to writing about them, to working in the publishing industry and finally to actually writing books.
Dear Reader, I loved it!
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved books. She still does. She always will."
seraphljfh's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent unique memoir told through the books she has read. Very enjoyable and has added lots of books to my tbr.
hiking_pages's review against another edition
5.0
Goodness me, if there was ever comfort to be found within pages it’s in this book.
Cathy Rentzenbrink carefully chooses her favourite books and how they have shaped her life in memoirs. I loved it from the first page - from Narnia to Hogwarts she details everything that bookworms like me know, love and cherish about the art of reading.
Beautifully written, joyous and moving!
Cathy Rentzenbrink carefully chooses her favourite books and how they have shaped her life in memoirs. I loved it from the first page - from Narnia to Hogwarts she details everything that bookworms like me know, love and cherish about the art of reading.
Beautifully written, joyous and moving!