A Bookish Atmosphere

This place has atmosphere, different from a bookshop with just new books. In here you sense the weight of time stretching way back to the past.

Michiko Aoyama, What You Are Looking For is in The Library

I’ve always found that for both writing and reading, atmosphere is important to me. Now, this is not to say that I can only read or write in a specific location. Only that to fully focus my creative mind, I need to feel comfortable in my surroundings.

When we first saw the house we now call home, back in January, it was not initially what I thought we had been looking for. Most of the houses we had looked at leading up to this one had been just out of town with at least an acre of land (one actually had 5!) They were my vision of an oasis of tranquility where we could escape just a little from the frantic pace of modern life.

Having looked at all these beautiful country homes, we decided to check this one out for a very specific reason. I had grown up only a 5-minute walk from my elementary school and I remember truly loving being so close…especially as someone who has never been a morning person and for whom mornings were less than tranquil. This house would give the girls the same experience growing up but it was far from the secluded country retreat I had been dreaming about. Regardless, it seemed to be perfectly situated for the kids on a quiet cul-de-sac close to not only their school but also the walking path, fair grounds and library. And that meant something.

Surprisingly, the moment we entered the house, the long list of what I had presumed were must-haves suddenly seemed insignificant. We walked into the sun-bathed living room and the space immediately embraced us in such warmth (yes, even in January!) that I knew we had found our forever home.

We moved in on March 3rd and by the end of that week we had our place mapped out and largely unpacked. The best part? Almost every room had a cozy reading area. Each with its own distinct atmospheric qualities but all of them warm, inviting and filled with light. And the extraordinary thing? These spaces have worked magic. Not only am I reading an unbelievable amount again but I’m writing more regularly as well.

However, I can’t credit the atmosphere alone with my current reading streak. After all, I’ve meet my reading goal every year since 2022 and even crushed it completely in 2023 and both of those were long before this beautiful house welcomed us into its story.

That being said, this year I’m sitting at 16 out of a 25-book-goal and its only April so…something has clearly shifted.

My goodness have I ever waxed poetically for ages when I haven’t even gotten to what was supposed to be the point of this post.

See, as much as external atmosphere is crucial to inspire me to immerse myself in the world of words…with reading, the atmosphere within the book itself is also incredibly important. This doesn’t just mean the location and scenery, though that certainly plays a role, but it’s down to the way the author uses words to paint an world in which I want to lose myself.

It’s how I find my quotes that start each post. No matter how many books I read, I never tire of marvelling in how some authors are able to make words truly sing.

And it was this kind of writing that helped me break my dry reading spell that has lasted from the end of my Master’s to 2022 – almost a decade!

So, after that long-winded introduction, I thought I would introduce you, dear readers, to the 5 books that not only helped get me back into reading but which relit the fire within me that requires beautiful words to keep burning.

#5 – Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

It started with the first book in October of 2021 and quickly snowballed to me crushing the entire series. Perhaps listening to them as audiobooks helped but from the very first one I was hooked. Crazy thing? I think I’ve owned the first one since high school and it took me over a decade to read it. But thank goodness I did. If you like richly built worlds involving hidden magical communities (think Harry Potter)…this one is for you!

Favourite Quote: Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had somehow got it into their heads that each fairy lugged around a pot of gold with him wherever he went. While it was true that LEP had a ransom fund, because of its officers’ high-risk occupation, no human had ever taken a chunk of it yet. This didn’t stop the Irish population in general from skulking around rainbows, hoping to win the supernatural lottery.

#4 – Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

I read this duology in late 2022/early 2023 and it was such an important reminder to me of how much I adore fantasy as a genre. The world-building was fascinating, the plot compelling and the characters complex. It truly hit all the right notes for me. And the fact that it involves dragons? Prescient. If you like unique worlds where dark secrets lead to political turmoil and a necessary quest to right all the resultant wrongs, check this one out. Oh, and the villain? Fantastically twisted.

Favourite Quote: That’s the secret to performance: conviction. The right note played tentatively still misses its mark, but play boldly and no one will question you. If one believes there is truth in art – and I do – then it’s troubling how similar the skill of performing is to lying. Maybe lying is itself a kind of art. I think about that more than I should.

#3 – Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

This book, read at the end of 2022, was like a warm hug that also reignited my love for homecooked food. Stanley describes his favourite meals in delectable detail to the point where you can almost taste everything he writes about. And the fact that he includes recipes? I really need a physical copy. If you’re a food lover looking to up your game in the kitchen or just reconnect to the healing power of food – give the one a read.

Favourite Quote: When my parents are no longer alive, I will always be able to put their teachings and all the love they gave me into a bowl and present it to someone who sadly will never have had the good fortune of knowing them. But by eating that food, they will come to know them, if even just a little.

#2 – Fable by Adrienne Young

Strong female characters. Especially ones not solely defined by romantic attachment. I had somehow forgotten how much more enjoyable they make books for me. Now that I think about it, it might be why I truly didn’t mind the changes Peter Jackson and his team made to the female characters in the Lord of the Rings (enhancing them) and even The Hobbit (creating a new one). As much as I will forever adore the world Tolkien created, he wasn’t the best at including women in the adventure aspects of his stories (aside from Eowyn who was always a badass). The stronger and more complex a female character, the better as far as I’m concerned. So, all that to say, if you’re looking for a gritty world in which the plot is driven by a fierce heroine’s desire to survive while she excavates her past, this one is definitely worth your time. Even better? It has a sequel. And a prequel. Equally as good.

Favourite Quote: We both know that surviving means sometimes doing things that haunt you.

#1 The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

Bookish books, books about love of books, books about running a bookshop – these rarely fail to make me smile. This one was no exception and helped me to remember that there’s nothing wrong with an enjoyable read that is a balm to the soul. While there was certainly some conflict in the book and the typical 3rd act breakup, overall it was incredibly comforting and left me feeling relaxes and completely at ease. If you want a cozy read, especially as an important break between heavier ones, add this one to your list.

Favourite Quote: And then another thought floated in there, sneaking in while I was feeling so open to wonders and marvels and possibilities: maybe that means there’s a path for me too, a plan that won’t fail, and I just haven’t found it yet.

Honourable Mentions

• Frogkisser by Garth Nix: A book that makes me laugh out loud? Yes please.
• The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna: A reminder that I can handle dark and gory in books better than in any other medium. Especially when the story is this good.
• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: Cozy mysteries are a necessity in life. Why do I always forget?
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn: Reimagined versions of the court of King Arthur? I will read them all.
• And, finally, Fourth Wing (followed quickly by Iron Flame and Onyx Storm). I told you dragons were prescient. And I’m shocked it took me this long to get into Romantasy

So there we have it. The incredibly atmospheric books that reignited by love of reading. Each of these reminded me of another reason why I need beautiful words in my life.

And you know what? The cozy surroundings we’ve crafted in our new home are only going to help me continue rediscovering the magic of reading. Rather than the weight of time, diving back into books is bringing me back to lighter days when entire afternoons were spent curled up with a good read. Before screens big and small devoured so much of my time.

Maybe stretching all the way back to the past is not such a bad thing afterall.

Also, if you check out any of the reads mentioned in this post, let me know what you thought in the comments below.

Finally, even when the weight of time feels heavy and either your external or internal atmosphere feels off, remember…

Life is Beautiful

xo Erin