To say I’m a bit of a bookworm would be a massive understatement. I always carry a book with me, I average a book a week, my bookshelves are overflowing and I can spend an hour just browsing a bookstore. And I’m pleased to say that I’ve found the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life: I’d Rather Be Reading* by Guinevere De La Mare.
Subtitled ‘a library of art for book lovers’, it’s a gorgeous mini coffee table book, packed full of literary-inspired artwork, quotes and photographs, and peppered with essays by fellow book nerds. My favourite is one by a woman who just about managed to select her top 25 books of all-time but refused to rank them. I know that pain! You might have noticed that I often post about my favourite books and films but god help you (and me!) if you ask me to rank them.
There are so many things to love about the world of books – gorgeous covers, the smell, the feel of posh paper, cracking the spine the first time you open the cover on a new book, pre-ordering the latest title by your favourite writer and having it finally drop through the letterbox… Even with packed bookshelves and piles around the office, I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I have too many.
I’ve been obsessed with books for as long as I can remember, always eager to get hold of more. I don’t think there will ever come a day where I switch to e-books or audio books – although that would certainly make storage a lot easier! I love the act of reading as much as the story itself; holding something in my hands and losing myself in something just in front of me. I also like seeing other people read; I’ve long been fascinated with having a nose at fellow commuters’ titles of choice. Plus how else will you really get to know someone when you go to their house for the first time if you can’t browse their bookshelves? Books are such a vital part of (my) life.
One of my favourite things about I’d Rather Be Reading is the reassurance that there are so many other book nerds out there. Writer Guinevere De La Mare is co-founder of Silent Book Club, which sounds like such an awesome idea that I’m thinking about setting up my own chapter. It’s basically a glorified book club but without the pressure of ‘homework’ – you just meet in a bar, read quietly together and discuss what you’ve been reading. It’s Happy Hour for introverts! Sounds perfect to me.
*I received a copy of this book for review purposes and all nerdy thoughts are my own.
