I’ve been on a small literary tour of England.

Anna-Claire and I dined at Sketch (it counts – the menu is more of a book, and it is rather literary indeed), toured the London Library, and journeyed to the Brontë Parsonage in Yorkshire.

A literary tour wouldn’t be a literary tour without books, and lots of down time in tearooms, on lawns, and across train journeys to read them. This is what I read.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

ONE WORD DESCRIPTION: 

Fabulous

HOW I HEARD ABOUT IT: 

I heard about the movie first, then kept seeing the book around. 

WHERE I GOT MY COPY:

When I visited Anna-Claire in Virginia I made her loan me her copy, which she received as a gift. I had to finish it in time to give it back to her when she came to the UK.

WHEN TO READ: 

This is such an excellent travel read; it’s an infectious page turner. It might not be the best thing to read while flying economy, reading about private jets. Fortunately I wasn’t on that part while reading it on EasyJet.

WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY COPY: 

As mentioned, I do not own this book, but stole it from AC. I did give it back to her. I also hear good things about the audiobook, so I will try that for book 2!

Hera Lindsay Bird by Hera Lindsay Bird

ONE WORD DESCRIPTION: 

whimsy

HOW I HEARD ABOUT IT: 

AC had read some of the poems. She picked it up off the shelf and said I should read it. 

WHERE I GOT MY COPY:

Browsing the London Review Bookshop after finishing Crazy Rich Asians, in urgent need of a new book.

WHEN TO READ: 

Lying on the grass in the summer. Or anywhere really. It’s so easy to read and fantastic and true.

WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY COPY: 

I loaned it to AC who read it cover to cover in less than an hour. It’s earned a permanent place on my shelf at home, to lend to more friends I’m sure.

The Night Is Darkening Round Me by Emily Brontë

ONE WORD DESCRIPTION: 

Huh

HOW I HEARD ABOUT IT: 

I’ve read the author’s novel. It’s a slim copy of selected poems by Emily (one perhaps by Charlotte). 

WHERE I GOT MY COPY:

At the Brontë Parsonage. Once again I’d run out of books, and Hera Lindsay Bird had put me in a poetry mood. 

WHEN TO READ: 

On the train home after the Brontë Parsonage was a good time to read it, really. When you’re in a particularly Emily Brontë mood. It’s so aptly titled.

WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY COPY: 

Halfway through I was going to pass it on, but I decided to keep it. I wrote my comments in the margins, and want to circulate it to friends and get their commentary too. I loved some of the poems, but most of all it was amusing to me, knowing Emily. It mad me go “Oh Emily…” 

Love Poems by Carol Ann Duffy

ONE WORD DESCRIPTION: 

Lovely

HOW I HEARD ABOUT IT: 

I’d read Rapture per Golden Hare Books’s recommendation, and it became an instant favourite. 

WHERE I GOT MY COPY:

My local library was giving out copies for free! It’s from World Book Night 2016. 

WHEN TO READ: 

I read it in the pool at the spa and that was nice. It’s a nice slim volume to carry around and read here and there when you have a moment. It’s easy to get swept up in these poems right away.

WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY COPY: 

It says “THIS BOOK IS A GIFT” on the cover and I’d like to keep up with the tradition. I’ll leave it somewhere for someone to discover.

What have you been reading lately? Fill out the survey with your own answers in the comments :)