A Reading List
And personalized book recommendations
Hello friends,
Hope your week is going well. We have a date for the Online Book Club, and some new exciting announcements, but first…
A little good book news to start things off today. Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer-Prize winning book Demon Copperhead has helped her fulfil a dream of giving back to her community and to make a difference for people struggling with the disease of addiction in her region. She announced this week that she has opened the Higher Ground Women’s Recovery Residence in the mountains of rural Southwest Virginia for “women turning their lives around, repairing their families and communities” - the house that Demon built. Kingsolver was able to use the proceeds from Demon Copperhead to make her dream a reality.
“If you bought and read Demon Copperhead, you’ve already contributed to our project. And you understand that for all the real kids like Demon, a little support can make the difference between salvation or being orphaned.” - Barbara Kingsolver
Books can do amazing things. (Here’s a throw back to a story about a bookstore in a small town who sold 250 copies of Demon Copperhead in just one month to win an event with Barbara Kingsolver.)
February is off to a great start with lots of books to dive into this month so let’s get to it.
First off, we’re celebrating Black History Month with these must-read classics, and with this great list of book club picks.
And we’ll add 3 of our own picks to read for Black History Month:
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler: This acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel of hope and terror from an award-winning author "pairs well with 1984 or The Handmaid's Tale"
all about love by bell hooks: Reveals what causes a polarized society, and how to heal the divisions that cause suffering. Here is the truth about love, and inspiration to help us instill caring, compassion, and strength in our homes, schools, and workplaces.
James by Percival Everett: A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.
Here are 5 books we’re currently talking about in the pink shop:
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight: A witty, warm and brilliantly told debut that is at once a love story, a story of female friendship and motherhood, and an irresistible mystery surrounding an extraordinary British family.
We Do Not Part by Han Kang: The new novel from the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, Han Kang’s most revelatory book since The Vegetarian, We Do Not Part tells the story of a friendship between two women while powerfully reckoning with a hidden chapter in Korean history.
How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love and Plenty by Bonny Reichert: A moving culinary memoir about the relationship between food and family—and sustenance and survival—from a chef, award-winning Canadian journalist, and daughter of a Holocaust survivor. **Look for an interview with author Bonny Reichert in our next special weekend edition of the newsletter**
Aflame: Learning from Silence by Pico Iyer: Radiant, intimate, and gripping, Aflame offers ageless counsel about the power of silence and what it can teach us about how to live, how to love, and, ultimately, how to die.
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen: The first history of the notebook, a simple invention that changed the way the world thinks.
And I must tell you about a book I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s one of my personal favourites, a little literary gem that might be new to you:
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
I first came across this book a few years ago during the height of the pandemic. It brought me much joy and comfort.
84, Charing Cross Road is a heartwarming love story about people who love books for readers who love books.
This funny, poignant, classic love story unfolds through a series of letters between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a charming, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books.
Helene Hanff and Frank Doel, the chief buyer at antiquarian bookstore Marks & Co, corresponded for over 20 years, the majority of their letter exchange occurred in the years following World War II. 84, Charing Cross is a collection of their letter exchange published after Frank’s death. It tells the beautiful story of an enduring friendship that developed over a mutual love of literature, and shows us that small gestures of kindness can impact and change us.
I’ll be rereading this book again while I continue to winter.
Apparently there’s an excellent film adaptation on Netflix of 84, Charing Cross Road starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins that I need to add to my Must Watch list.
Has anyone seen it?
Follow up 84, Charing Cross Road with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.
Which takes me to a few exciting announcements. I’ve been inspired by 84, Charing Cross Road, and our mutual love of books, to start something new here on the Substack, to engage more directly with you, fellow readers, and to connect over books.
Introducing: Personalized Book Recommendations
As an added perk for all Paid Subscribers, you will receive detailed personalized book recommendations four times a year, a highly-curated list based on your reading preferences. You’ll receive a Spring list, a a Summer list, a Fall list, and a Winter list. This is in addition to, and to complement, your free book gift. The titles will be a mix of forthcoming, highly-anticipated books, as well as a few literary gems from the backlist. Titles you may have missed along the way. As a bookseller I love talking about books, and 84, Charing
How it works?
First, I’ll send you an initial short reading assessment to learn about your preferred genres, books you loved (and didn’t!), favourite authors, and reading habits. Then I’ll send you a list of 3 to 5 books at the beginning of every month that I think you’ll enjoy, and why I think you’ll love them. And based on your feedback as we go, the list will continue to be highly curated to your tastes.
And there are additional perks for Founding Members.
Now, Founding Members will enjoy the benefits of also being a Member at the pink shop: Curiosity House Books. You will receive 10% off all books, collect loyalty reward points, and receive a free ticket to our Beer & Books author series or online Zoom author events.
And Members of Curiosity House Books will now be Founding Members to Stories from the Pink House. You will receive personalized book recommendations, a free book four times a year, and added content for paid subscribers.
Feel free to email with any questions.
And don’t forget to sign up for the Short Story Club - a new online book club taking a deep dive into the world of short stories. Our first book is Best American Short Stories, edited by Lauren Groff.
Here’s a Kirkus Review of the book, click here.
“All hits and no skips is a tall order, but this strong, solid compilation is well worth a short story lover’s time.” - Kirkus Reviews
The online book club will meet on Wednesday March 26th at 7pm.
Send me an email and I’ll send you the link.
I’ve started a chat over here about books, and I’ll add a new thread for the book club if anyone has any questions.
*Watch out for our Special Weekend Edition - interviews with author Bonny Reichert on how her new memoir How to Share an Egg came to be, and publisher Marc Côté of Cormorant Books on the state of publishing today.
Have a great rest of the week, and I hope you’re enjoying a good book.
Thanks for the recommendations! I forgot about 84 Charing Cross Road -- I loved that book way back when and will have to revisit it! Also I have probably bought 10 copies of Demon Copperhead for people, glad to know it's done some good in the world beyond just the excellent read!