Review: The Innocent Reader: Reflections on Reading and Writing

Title: The Innocent Reader: Reflections on Reading and Writing

Author: Debra Adelaide

Publisher: 24th September 2019 by Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 272 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: nonfiction, essays, biography, memoir

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Books are impractical companions and housemates: they are heavy when you are travelling, and in the home take up a lot of space, are hard to keep clean, and harbour insects. It is not a matter of the physical book, it is the deep emotional connection that stretches back to my early years. Living without them is unimaginable.

These collected essays share a joyous and plaintive glimpse into the reading and writing life of novelist, editor and teacher of creative writing Debra Adelaide.

Every book I have read becomes part of me, and discarding any is like tearing out a page from my own life.

With immediate wit and intimacy, Adelaide explores what shapes us as readers, how books inform, console and broaden our senses of self, and the constant conversation of authors and readers with the rest of their libraries. Drawing from her experiences in the publishing industry, the academic world, her own life and the literary and critical communities, she paints a vibrant portrait of a life lived in and by books, perfect for any student, bibliophile, editor, or simply: reader.

My Thoughts

‘Every book I have read becomes part of me, and discarding any is like tearing out a page from my own life.’

Debra Adelaide’s book, ‘The Innocent Reader’ is a collection of essays about reading rather than a straight out story of a literary life. The range of essays are divided into three sections - reading, writing and then the two combined - in which she describes the importance of books in shaping her (and inadvertently, other avid readers) life. 

‘Only in recent years have I come to understand that reading fiction is not a matter of escaping from the so-called real world: fiction for me is the real world, and when I read, what I feel, think and experience is as real as anything else in my life.’

Overall, these essays share the joy of reading and writing and from the perspective of all Debra has achieved as a reader, writer, editor and teacher of creative writing. There is much to both relate to and appreciate in her reflections and musings as Debra explores what shapes us as readers; how books achieve so much through informing, entertaining and ultimately broadening our sense of self. With essays drawn from her own life experiences and the broader literary community, Debra paints a picture for all bibliophiles to appreciate. 

‘During this time, reading made sense, not because any of the books explained anything or revealed information or elucidated mysteries, but in and of itself. The process was all. I became the words, I became the book, and so escaped myself.’

Not being a writer, I found the first and third sections more enjoyable as Debra clearly portrays the life of an avid bookworm and our obsession with the fictional world and how it allows both escapism and immersion into alternate realities. If you are a writer, or desire to write, I am sure the second section will provide interesting thoughts on the writing process. 

‘I invariably open a new book with no other expectation than that I will be transported to a wonderful new world. I often feel that a book I particularly admire or love is written for me alone, that the author has somehow peered straight into my heart and articulated my deepest thoughts, given voice to my most private desires, and that I am as dear to the author as she or he is to me.’

All up I found this book to be a soothing balm to a readers soul, indeed a vindication for all the many hours we have lost ourselves to the art of reading. Throughout many parts of the readings, Debra valiantly captures what it is to be in love with books and reading. 

‘Retiring at night with a favourite book is the most romantic and thrilling date. Throughout the day, while in a meeting, or when waiting at the bus stop, or queuing for coffee at lunchtime, you remember that at the end of the day, when all is done that has to be done, there awaiting is your bed and your book.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Shelf Respect

Title: Shelf Respect

Author: Annie Austen

Publisher: 24th October 2019 by Hachette Australia/Sphere

Pages: 192 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: books about books

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

There's no such thing as too many books, simply not enough places to put them

Decluttering is all the rage, but what do you do when your preferred interior decor is miles of overstuffed bookshelves? If you can't bring yourself to clear your collection, SHELF RESPECT will validate your life choices.

Do you alphabetise your books or organise by genre... or (heaven forbid) colour? Have you merged your collection with your other half's? (And do you write your name inside the cover, just in case?) Do you keep all the books you've read, or only the most cherished? Is there such a thing as too many books? (No.)

Bound to provoke (good-natured) debate between Bibliophiles, SHELF RESPECT is a charmingly illustrated book in defence of towering TBR piles and overflowing shelves... no matter how you choose to organise them.

My Thoughts

"Your bookshelves are not just a place where you keep your books. They are a physical manifestation of the inner you. Your library is also your autobiography.”

It is without doubt that a bibliophile loves everything about books. So it was with great delight that I got my hands on this wonderful little gem. Annie Austen has put together such a range of interesting facts and humourous musings to entice any book lover to open this cover.

From chapters ranging on what your books say about you, to great non/fictional collections around the world, to ‘death by bookcase’ there is sure to be something for everyone. I appreciated the wide coverage of topics discussed pertaining to all things bookish: bookshelves, book facts, books in film - the list is long and inviting. Interspersed throughout are sketches and quotes that bring variety of style to the overall pleasure that is ‘Shelf Respect’.

I particularly appreciated the sections on pure book love - whether it be as an individual or as a collective. Problem is, of course, what you treasure, someone else may not. Books truly are a part of your soul and sharing them - literally or figuratively - truly opens you up in what is otherwise a very personal past time. 

" Your stomach goes cold: you know what’s coming. ‘Here, borrow it,’ they say, holding the well-thumbed volume out towards you. ‘I’d love to know what you think.’ There’s a terrible thought swirling round your head: what if I don’t like it? And have I really earned the right to read this? I mean, look at it, this is clearly more than just a book, it’s a piece of a personality, a part of their very soul.  On the other side of the exchange, they watched you walk away carrying this small slab of themselves, this insight into what makes them the joyous, warm human being you’ve identified them to be. ....

 What if you don’t like it?”

All up I highly recommend this little escape to all things bibliophilia ... "the time has come -  indeed it is long overdue - to restore to our literary legacies a bit of shelf respect." For I could not agree more that as a brief portal allowing escapism within alluring pages, to  acquisitions you long to hold and smell as they become a part of you, we are indeed just the ‘custodians’ of all that is the humble book.

“These discoveries serve only to enhance the enjoyment of our bibliophilia, the evidence and realisation that every book has a story separate from the one on its pages and that, for all our often jealously guarded protection of our own books, we are just their temporary custodians.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher Hachette Australia.

Review: The Madwoman Upstairs

Title: The Madwoman Upstairs

Author: Catherine Lowell

Publisher: 8 March 2016 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 407 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction (adult), contemporary, mystery, about books, romance

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Think you know all about Charlotte, Emily and Anne? Think again.

Samantha Whipple - a young American woman - is the last remaining descendant of the famous Brontë family, of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre fame. After losing her father, a brilliant author in his own right, Samantha travels to Oxford in search of a mysterious family inheritance, described to her only as 'The Warnings of Experience'.

While at Oxford, Samantha studies under Dr J. Timothy Orville III, a disarmingly handsome tutor who seems nothing but annoyed by her family heritage. With Orville as her tempestuous sidekick, Samantha sets out on a mission to piece together her family's history - which, it turns out, could also be literature's greatest buried secret.

A witty modern love story that draws from the enduringly popular classics.

My Thoughts

"Do you think that Charlotte Bronte invented the madwoman in Rochester's tower? ... I had an inkling that the madwoman in the attic was not quite as fictional as the world might have hoped."

WOW! What a complete surprise and amazing read. I shall try my best to convey how I was absolutely enraptured with this novel, however suffice to say, if you are a Bronte fan this is a MUST.READ! I did not expect to be so taken with it, but I was, and availed myself of every available opportunity to read. Such fascinating literary discussions - this book nerd was in heaven! I felt like I was back at university highlighting passage after passage, or at the very least, my Year 12 English class having rich literary discussions. Oh joy! 

"... the ones who believed in the sanctity of a text and judged a novel based only on the words on the page ... Dad, to him, books were living breathing things. Once a book left the brain of the author, it took on a life of its own, and served as the only liaison between the reader and the author."

All things said, this really is such an entertaining and witty novel that takes the works of the three Bronte sisters, has an academia backdrop and pursues a literary treasure hunt. The main lead, Samantha has grown up living in the shadows of her Bronte ancestry and now, with her beloved father dead she is off to Oxford to study literature. 

"I once again tipped my hat to my three dead female ancestors. Even in the grave they managed to exert a power I could not."

I really enjoyed Samantha’s character: she was funny yet charming, awkward and a loner. You will love her sarcasm and humour - she is a fabulous lead and this must all be attributed to Lowell and her amazing style. What a debut. Her romance with Orville was very ‘Bronte-ish’.

"I did not ask whether you are literate. I asked why you are studying English literature. What do you imagine it will provide you?"

"Unemployment."

It's been many years since I delved into a Bronte novel and this had me running back to my collection as memories came flooding back. To fully appreciate the inferencing and homage paid to the Brontes' in this book, it would be beneficial to be in some way familiar with Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It will enhance your appreciation of the depth of research and commentary that Lowell has undertaken. However, it is not essential - the book is that good. 

The history of these particular writers was a history of censorship. Their work was defined not by what they wrote, but by what they had been forced to cut out."

Samantha attempts to make sense of what these books mean via the clues left behind by her father. She wants to make sense of these literary works, her legacy, and in doing so reconcile her past in an effort to become her own person. Gosh, I love books about books and I love the Bronte’s novels. 

If you love literature and the Bronte sisters, with a touch of mystery and romance, then this is the novel for you. It is quirky and wonderful, totally compelling as I lost myself in the well written prose. It will give you pause to ponder the reasons why and how we read. 

"We force ourselves to acknowledge what did exist in the Brontes' world: generations of women, who, silent and confined, reined in their passions and lived a life of seclusion."

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.