Recent comments in /f/books

ImpressionableGuasta t1_je2tky0 wrote

I always pop into Daunt Books and London Review Bookshop when in London.

I also like Libreria, Word on the Water, Primrose Hill Books, Belgravia Books, Lutyens and Rubinstein, Nomad Books, Hatchards, and Walden.

British Library, of course. The book selection at the Tate used to be great too. Also, the National Poetry Library, though small, is worth a visit.

You might also find these links useful, three listicles and a (somewhat dated but still helpful) article about indie bookshops.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/how-londons-independent-bookshops-are-shaping-its-literary-culture/ (Oct 2019)

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/the-7-best-second-hand-bookshops-in-london/ (March 2021)

https://www.timeout.com/london/books/londons-best-bookshops (June 2022)

https://secretldn.com/london-bookshops-beautiful/ (Jan 2023)

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LittleSillyBee t1_je2tkeb wrote

You can also track each story individually. Often the stories exist as their own entities. Numbers will be higher, but you will track each you read. (Source - in the middle of reading 'Midwinter Murder' short stories and in same boat ;) )

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MetaI t1_je2t9nf wrote

It’s totally up to you of course. And it depends on what for and why you’re tracking the number of books you read. It’s not like reading challenges are this sacred, centralized idea that you can meaningfully ‘cheat’ on.

It sounds self-evident, but if you are tracking books you’ve read every word of, don’t count it. If you’re tracking books you feel done with, count it. If you’re using it just as a log to track what you’ve read in a given year, count it. If you’re doing a fun challenge with friends, ask them, or count it, or don’t.

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LivingFile6731 t1_je2t1p1 wrote

It's a taste thing for sure but for me something that looks classic/elegant/not too busy is great. I don't like the books they would usually have in grocery stores for this reason. too busy and gaudy

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GeeksOnTrial t1_je2t0hp wrote

Normally, I'd say when you've actually read through 100% of it, but a collection of stories is a little different. If you have valid reasons for not reading every story, I say go ahead and mark it "read" in your mind, no point forcing yourself to endure something you don't enjoy.

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FortuneTellingBoobs t1_je2syz0 wrote

I support you marking it as read. There are die-hards who will insist skipped pages or late DNFs don't count, but just like a relationship-- if you gave it your best go and just couldn't commit, it's still a notch on the bed post IMO.

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littleone327 t1_je2scoo wrote

Sadly my 11 year old does not share my love of reading and I completely think it's linked to accelerated reading goals. They have to read at what their grade level is and get tested on every book and you are supposed to have so many points each quarter. You talk about a surefire way to suck the fun out of it. So I applaud you on your success here 👏 💜

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ziggycoco385 t1_je2s8nv wrote

I feel like the title more than the cover art is a grab for me. I routinely browse for new authors and stories. I do read the synopsis and appreciate if the synopsis matches the cover art. I found The Expanse by random browsing and the cover art is beautiful and matches the story in a subtle elegant way.

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rubyrose1209 t1_je2rj5k wrote

Absolutely. I’m one of those people who doesn’t read the synopsis of the book and 100% goes based off covers/titles.

I can’t say what attracts but what doesn’t attract me is seeing real people in the cover, unless it’s a memoir

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SarniaLife t1_je2rask wrote

I have read the book but it was a long time ago. I in fact have a signed copy by Shaffers niece who completed the book. I meet her at an event on the island to celebrate the book. I have seen the movie much more recently and it’s tainted my memory.

I don’t dislike the book and it does have more to it than the movie. It’s just one of those things that if you brought it up with any group of people of here you’d get a range of feelings, but everyone would have something to say!

Overall I’m just glad that there are lots more people in the world that won’t give me blank stares when I say I’m from Guernsey. Now I get oh the potato book was from there!

I think you’ve inspired me to pick the book back up and have another read through.

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DevilsAdvocate0189 t1_je2r4e7 wrote

Use it or lose it. When most people 'read', they merely run their eyes over pages, getting little more than fleeting feelings of happiness when they find ideas that they agree with. Even those few people who try to digest every tidbit of information in a book seldom apply what they learn on a daily basis. So they quickly forget much of the information. For most people, including you it seems, reading is a diversion - nothing more.

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carrotwhirl OP t1_je2nqp0 wrote

Thank you for this perspective as a person from Guernsey. I understand that Mary Ann Shaffer's interest in Guernsey began, as you said, in an airport bookstore. I also think your point of the scars of the occupation still visible and painful is a very valid one, and I am sorry.

However the book is not only a romance novel — the characters often describe the horrors of the occupation and of course we have Remy, who staggers in emaciated from a long struggle in Ravensbruck. The film fails to include this, and is much more lighthearted than the book, focusing mainly on the romance between Juliet and Dawsey. This was one of the reasons I disliked the film.

The book shows a broken, but healing Guernsey in the aftermath of the war. It also gives glimmers of hope in the future and emphasises how loved ones and chosen family can be the seed of healing.

I'm glad to hear that in Guernsey you have remembrances and celebrate the liberation of the island. I think to properly appreciate the book as more than a happy romance is to face and see the grim reality of it and not adorn it with glitter and ribbons, so to speak.

Again, thank you so much for your reply. It means a lot to me as a student of history; I'm especially passionate about WW2 and the Cold War. My best wishes to you.

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