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A review by asourceoffiction
Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
Comfort and joy really are in abundance throughout this book if you love reading. The structure is lovely, with autobiography interspersed with a list of book recommendations following a theme from the previous chapter. It's like a warm, bookish hug and I so enjoyed curling up under a blanket with a cup of tea and picking up this beauty.
It also helped that I shared a lot of the same opinions on individual books, like Riders (just as valid reading as a 'classic') or Lady Chatterley's Lover (weird, out of place sex!). And I really identified with the way Rentzenbrink talks about specific books. But even where my opinions differed it took nothing away from the wonderful tone. I frequently found myself stopping to write down a book I know I'll need to read.
What also resonated with me was the fact that nobody should ever be judged for how slowly they read, what they choose or why they read. Reading should be a welcoming hobby regardless of skill or interests. Nowhere is this better highlighted than when Rentzenbrink hands out copies of the same book to inmates at Brixton prison in the morning, and members of the House of Commons in the afternoon!
TW: be aware that Harry Potter is discussed a lot throughout the book; the series forms much of Rentzenbrink's history with books (as a reader and bookseller), and the author is only minimally mentioned, but if this is a trigger for you please read with caution.
It also helped that I shared a lot of the same opinions on individual books, like Riders (just as valid reading as a 'classic') or Lady Chatterley's Lover (weird, out of place sex!). And I really identified with the way Rentzenbrink talks about specific books. But even where my opinions differed it took nothing away from the wonderful tone. I frequently found myself stopping to write down a book I know I'll need to read.
What also resonated with me was the fact that nobody should ever be judged for how slowly they read, what they choose or why they read. Reading should be a welcoming hobby regardless of skill or interests. Nowhere is this better highlighted than when Rentzenbrink hands out copies of the same book to inmates at Brixton prison in the morning, and members of the House of Commons in the afternoon!
TW: be aware that Harry Potter is discussed a lot throughout the book; the series forms much of Rentzenbrink's history with books (as a reader and bookseller), and the author is only minimally mentioned, but if this is a trigger for you please read with caution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Car accident