World Book Day!
Some of my favourite classics, plus two bookstore recommendations
World Book Day is observed in March in the UK and Ireland so that it doesn’t interfere with Easter (that pesky holiday that moves around). However, since I no longer live in the UK, I have started celebrating the international date, which is today!
April 23rd is also the supposed birthday and believed death-day of the poet/playwright and actor OG Shakespeare. And when I say celebrating, it’s more of an excuse to go the library, browse Bookshop.org, or go to a physical shop and buy something. I have my eye on David Nicholl’s new book ‘You Are Here’. Plus, WBD falls one day after my own birthday, so as if I ever needed another excuse to buy books.
Anyway, where was I…?
One of the many joys that I have discovered since I began this newsletter on Substack are the book recommendations shared by other people. Whenever I see a book that interests me, I add it to my READ ME list:
However, in this post, I thought that I would share some of my favourite classic books with you, as well as details about two independent bookstores that I visited on a recent trip to Los Angeles.
Let’s begin with the books…
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
It took me a while to get into Jane Eyre, but once I moved past the heavy start, I fell in love with how Brontë writes about Jane’s world. Okay, so Mr Rochester is a bit of a liar and is emotionally distant, but it all works out in the end.
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
The first time that I read P&P I was a teenager. It is one of the few books that I return to every few years, as well as the BBC TV adaptation (Ehle and Firth forever). I also seek out alternative adaptations of the book in film/TV: Austenland (2013) - surprisingly funny and touching, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) - weird and the actor playing Darcy was just a no from me, and Lost in Austen (2008) - vague but positive memories of this. But perhaps one of my favourite modern retellings of P&P is ‘Eligible’ by Curtis Sittenfeld that I read last year.
Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley
There is a lot of movement and travel in the story (monster chasing man, man chasing monster around the world, or is that the other way around?). At times, the book felt like an entire series of Race Across the World played out across with two people who loathed one another. And while it took my simple brain a while to recognise the symbolism in Shelley’s heavy use of travel in the book, I felt deep empathy for the monster.
The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
I watched the 2009 film adaptation (IMDB *6.2) of TPODG before reading the book. I definitely should have done this the other way round. Either way, there’s a lot going on here - how we think about morality, desire, and the ease at which someone can become corrupted. I still think about this book and the themes presented years later.
And just because I am feeling goofy AND because this book is a true classic…
The Jolly Postman and Other People’s Letters, Janet and Allan Ahlberg
I received this book for my fifth birthday, and I still have the original copy. I was so protective about the contents of the letters (you will know what I mean if you have this/have looked through it) that I wouldn’t allow my friends to touch it. But at least it’s in fantastic condition nearly 40 years on!
I grew up on the Ahlberg’s books (Burglar Bill - what a legend), as well as the Brambly Hedge collection.
And now for the bookstores…
Back in late February/early March, I went on holiday with my husband to the states and we had a night’s stopover in LA. As we were checking into our hotel, the woman at the desk asked what our plans were.
“Griffith Park? Or do you want to visit a beach? Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach are gorgeous.”
I shook my head. “Actually, we don’t have a lot of time but we are hoping to head to a book store. A friend recommended Book Soup, have you heard of it?”
The woman laughed and said that she had, but then her colleague who overheard our conversation added:
“Well, if you are in the market for books, there’s The Last Bookstore in downtown LA.”
I looked at my husband. He nodded. I nodded. A plan was put in motion.
Book Soup
If only we had been staying in LA for one more day then we would have been able to attend a talk at the store with the one and only Dame Joan Collins! My husband had no idea who she was, but he saw my enthusiasm and then half-heartedly suggested that we extend our stay. But doing this would have caused a number of logistical headaches, so I took a picture of the sign, and bought a few books and other bits inside.
I loved it.
The Last Bookstore
The TLB is a bookstore, obviously, but the place also houses an art gallery, a music shop (tons of vinyl), and has the feel of a funky museum. It also sold antique cameras and vintage US postcards upstairs. It was a delight to see people lounging in chunky sofas just reading. And I would have joined them if we didn’t have to check out of the hotel that afternoon.
If you have any classic books (both in the older sense and more recent ones that you consider a classic), please let me know. As I mentioned earlier, I am always looking to add to my reading list 📖
Have a lovely week and see you next Wednesday!
Sarah
I had forgotten about the jolly postman! What an awesome book … i mean p&p and jane eyre too … but there is nothing like a forgotten book from childhood 😊
The last two photos of the TLB bookstore are super cool! Loved the last one Sarah.