Do you keep a reading journal?
A Sunday round-up of latest reads and lovely things
Inspired by some wonderful examples I’ve seen on Instagram, I’ve decided to start a reading journal.
It’s something I wish I’d started years ago. I have a friend who has been writing down the titles of all the books she’s read in a little notebook since she was sixteen. How I wish I’d done the same! It’s one of the things that has put me off starting one when the idea has come to me over recent years: what’s the point in starting now when I’ll be missing out the hundreds of books I’ve already read? But as my husband said to me recently - in ten year’s time I could be saying ‘I wish I’d started that reading journal ten years ago’.
I don’t know about you, but I’m quite forgetful when it comes to books. I often forget having read a book only to pick it up and get half way through before realising I know how it’s going to end. And while I can always remember if I enjoyed a book, even a week after finishing it I probably couldn’t name any of the main characters.
So that’s why I’d like to start a reading journal. To document the books I read, what I loved about them and maybe including a couple of my favourite quotes. It’s also a nice excuse to buy a new notebook, some fun stickers and to do something vaguely creative.
I used to have a lot of creative hobbies (drawing, sewing, scrapbooking, calligraphy…) but since having my son they’ve all fallen away, drawers in my writing room filled with unused paints and rolls of fabric.
A reading journal feels like a manageable creative outlet. I’m thinking of maybe drawing the covers of the books and generally bringing the books and my thoughts about them to life in a visual way.
I’d love to know - do you keep a reading journal? What do you include in yours? Maybe next time I’ll share how I’m getting on with mine…
What I’ve been reading
I am a big Emily Henry fan so was extremely excited to dive into her latest novel, Happy Place. I’ve read some reviews from readers saying they didn’t love this book as much as her others but I have to disagree! I might even love it as much as Book Lovers. It is true that it’s different in tone to her other novels as it deals with a couple who have just broken up and feels achingly sad in parts. But I actually really enjoyed this shift. And ultimately, it’s still a lovely, uplifting love story with lots of laughter as well as bittersweet parts. I especially enjoyed this one for how it also focused on the love between a group of friends.
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld is one of those books I’ve seen everywhere and has been on my list since it came out. It took me a little while to get into it, I think because the start of the novel focuses a lot on the production of a fictitious TV show in the vein of Saturday Night Live, where the protagonist is a writer. It’s a world that isn’t familiar to me so it took a while to immerse myself. But once I was there I ended up really enjoying it. At its heart is a really sweet love story that’s funny and heartwarming. And I fell for the down-to-earth pop star of a romantic lead - dreamy!
I’ve enjoyed all of Nina Stibbe’s novels but hadn’t yet read One Day I Shall Astonish The World, so picked it up from my local library when I was there for a browse. I wouldn’t say I loved it as much as her other novels (my favourites are Love, Nina and Man at the Helm) but it was still really compelling and I read it in about a day and a half despite it not having the paciest plot. The characters really pull you in, especially the main character’s eccentric friend Norma.
I’m currently reading Darling by India Knight, a modern retelling of The Pursuit of Love which may have one of my favourite book covers of all time? It’s so beautiful. The writing is beautiful too, as is the setting in remote Norfolk. I would say that so far (I’m about a third of the way in) it doesn’t feel like a particularly modern modern retelling as the characters and their lives are all so old-fashioned, but this may change as the book progresses. And I’m certainly enjoying the writing enough to want to keep reading!
Next up on my list is Wild Things by Laura Kay which I must admit is another book I was drawn to by a beautiful cover but then found the blurb just as compelling. And having just returned from a trip to Cornwall, I’m excited to start The Shell House Detectives, a Cornish cosy crime novel by one of my fellow writing coaches at The Novelry, Emylia Hall.
You can see all the books I’ve been enjoying so far this year here.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? I’d love to hear!
Things I’m loving
On a recent visit to beautiful Fowey I was immediately drawn to the colourful window of Pink Lemons Boutique (actually, my toddler who had been wandering about pointed at the shop and said ‘Mama’ and rushed inside, me following behind. That boy clearly knows what I like!). It turns out they are a sustainable fashion brand and I left with this gorgeous gingham summer dress, which is insanely comfy, a sunshine yellow shirt with a deliciously ostentatious frilly collar, and a pair of cornflower blue sailor trousers which feel wonderful to wear.
Back home in Somerset, one of my favourite local independent shops is Deadly is the Female, which specialises in vintage-inspired dresses (and formed part of the inspiration for the shop in my novel, The Vintage Shop of Second Chances). When I saw this Seamstress of Bloomsbury red polka dot dress in the window I had to have it. Their dresses feel wonderful to wear - they just sit so well and the fabrics are so lovely. I have one of their sailor dresses that I also adore.
It was recently my birthday and one of the gifts I was lucky enough to receive was this multicoloured polka dot jumpsuit (OK, I may have dropped serious hints). They also have a dress version which looks lovely too. And on the colourful theme, several friends have sent me links to this Collectif rainbow dress which I adore. There’s also a matching bikini which might be one of the most fun things I’ve ever seen? If you hadn’t guessed by now, I am a big fan of dressing in bright colours, something that very much provided inspiration for my latest book.
I don’t just embrace bright colours in my own wardrobe - I love dressing my toddler like a little rainbow while he’s still too little to have an opinion as to what I put him in! I am very excited by this collab between Clarks and Frugi and wish they did a pair of these rainbow hi-tops in my size. I recently bought my son this rainbow towelling poncho for the beach and would equally like a big one for after my cold water swims.
Other birthday gifts that I’ve been enjoying are the Feel Good Food cookbook by Joe Wicks and One by Jamie Oliver. The Joe Wicks is probably my favourite - I find his recipes brilliant (more flavoursome than Jamie’s, I’d have to say).
Upcoming events
On 5th June at 6:30 pm, I’ll be doing a free online event with Havering Library to talk about my latest novel The Vintage Shop of Second Chances. To come along, email Libraryevents@Havering.gov.uk
And on the 8th June at 7 pm I’ll be in Sturminster Newton, as part of the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival doing an event that will be followed by a vintage fashion show.
Have a lovely Sunday! The sun is shining here in Somerset and I plan to get outside for a walk and maybe curl up in the garden later with a book.
I have kept one since 1986 Libby...it’s like an old friend. Funny to see how tastes develop and yet fundamentally still the same girl who would buy the new Jilly Cooper the minute it came out. Never too late to start a journal - you could add a backlist, why not - it’s your journal after all. Recently started adding audiobooks to mine. Not sure why I hadn’t before. x
I keep a reading journal because when an author has written quite a few, I like to check I haven’t already read it! Ive kept it for 11 years and love it. I love seeing how many books I read in a year, and also it’s really handy when thinking about buying a gift for a friend, I can look back to see a book I have REALLY loved that year.