by Kerry Chaput
Books.
The crinkle of a spine, the smell of fresh paper and ink. Words with the potential to change your life. They are friends to soothe the loneliness and guides to navigate you through an escape. Books are magic.
Gilmore Girls fans, remember Rory’s graduation speech?
I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina and strolled down Swann’s Way.
Readers know the power of books. It’s identifiable. Visceral, even. When we come across books about books, it’s double the connection. We know that love deep in our bones. When writing about books, it’s an easy transition to suspend belief and jump through a portal to a magical land where books hold secrets to something profound. We already know they do, because reading can soothe a weary soul.
We’ve compiled a list of books about books, from the fantastical to the emotional. Enjoy!
Books about books that use fantasy:
In The Midnight Library, books become symbols for lives that could have been and how we choose our own happiness. This story begs the question, can we let go of all that could have been?
The Echo of Old Books blends mystery and romance and a touch of magic to discuss the idea that people who own books leave whispers of themselves that stay within the pages.
The Lost Bookshop suggests that our everyday lives could be as magical as the ones we read about. We get to travel to a secret bookshop with vines and roots and individual secrets for each patron.
Books about books and the power of words:
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society takes a deep look at what makes a family. In this story, books unite people across space and time as Europe attempts to recover from the damage caused by WWII. Using letters, we see how language can heal broken families and broken hearts.
The Book of Lost Names follows the brave few who worked to save Jewish children in WWII. One woman made it her mission to record the birth names of who they really were. This story celebrates the power of a name. Of remembrance and identity.
Dictionary of Lost Words uses the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary to discuss the erasure of women’s stories. It’s about class and gender, and the power imbalance that decides whose words get memorialized.
Books about books bringing people together:
Travel back to 1930s Kentucky, where the Packhorse Librarians deliver books to rural families who need something to believe in. The Giver of Stars speaks to women friendships, crossing societal barriers, and how we can change lives by giving people access to books.
The Wishing Game unites fans of a children’s book series for a little game sponsored by the eccentric, reclusive author. In this charming tale, readers guess riddles and examine how books can become family, changing our lives forever.
City of Books is an ode to indie bookstores and the people who make them feel like home. It’s about community and fighting for things you love.
What’s your favorite book about books?