"This would be a much-loved and treasured gift for bookworms! From fact and fiction, to letters and diaries, be greeted by the beauty of the written word. "
Discover a message of joy on every night of the year in this simply stunning collection celebrating the literary world. Jane McMorland Hunter is the most thoughtful editor of anthologies, I have loved her previous collections, including Bedside Companion for Gardeners, but have to say that this is perhaps my favourite. Her introduction will strike a chord with book lovers: “I grew up in a house full of books, have worked in bookshops for most of my adult life and now live in a house where the books regularly threaten to take over”. She admits to being daunted with the limit of only 366 selections, and has included extracts from books, on reading, writing, bookshops, libraries, and items of historical interest. The source is always included, so if your interest is piqued you can go on a further adventure. On the 6 of May I found a message to the Booksellers of America by Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Books can not be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man and no force can abolish memory… In this war, we know, books are weapons. And it is a part of your dedication always to make them weapons for man’s freedom”. Goosebumps skitter-scattered down my arms on reading this, and a number of other extracts. I greeted old friends, and made new ones as I read, I felt safe in her hands, in her choices, and simply adored the 31 December. So, I can highly recommend the very beautiful Bedside Companion for Book Lovers. It has been chosen as a LoveReading Star Book and would of course make most wonderful present for anyone who loves writing, reading, and all things literary.
A glorious treasury of literary curiosities for every night of the year. Bedside Companion for Book Lovers contains an eclectic mix of fact and fiction, letters, diaries, essays and dedications, all suffused with the joys of books and reading. The perfect gift for the bibliophile in your life, it contains snippets from some of the greatest writers and book collectors from throughout history, including: Charles Dickens on the smell of books Maya Angelou on the pleasures of reading aloud Virginia Woolf on finding space for writing Nick Hornby on reading for pure enjoyment and much more. Along the way, you'll find advice on how to look after your most precious volumes, what to do when books start taking over your home, and where to find the most atmospheric libraries and bookshops around the world. Keep this beautifully illustrated book by your bedside and wander into a magical world of books every night of the year.
Jane McMorland Hunter is a passionate lover of the written word who works at Hatchards bookshop when not writing. She has written and edited several poetry and prose collections, including A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year, Friends: A Poem for Every Day of the Year, A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year, Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year and Bedside Companion for Gardeners. She lives in London.
