Books about books: Bookish Fiction

The Uncommon Reader

by Alan Bennett

When an unnamed (but not well-disguised) Queen goes for a walk, her corgis stray into a bookmobile library parked near the Palace, so she feels obligated to take a book to be polite. The Queen finds a newfound obsession with reading—so much so that she begins to neglect her duties as monarch. You can read this one in a few hours, but the power of reading to transform even the most uncommon of lives and the numerous book recommendations (from Jean Genet to Ivy Compton-Burnett to the classics) will stay with you much longer.

Hell of a Book

by Jason Mott

Hard to describe but gripping to read: this urgent, poignant, and stylish novel is both timely and timeless. The story unfolds in two strands, the first featuring an African-American author on a book tour for his bestselling novel Hell of a Book. No matter what city he goes to, someone wants to know what he thinks about the most recent tragic police shooting on the news. But the author is afraid of saying the wrong thing. It’s not just that he wants to keep the focus on book sales (though he does), but also because he experiences daydreams so vivid he can’t always tell the difference between imagination and reality. His story converges with that of a young Black boy called The Kid who is invisible to everyone but the author, setting up one hell of an ending.

The Reading List: A Novel

by Sara Nisha Adams

Our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club members selected this as our December 2022 read. A story of how books intersect with our lives in unexpected ways, and occasionally lead to unexpected friendships, as well. Thanks to a handwritten list of books found between the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird, teen library worker Aleisha connects with Mukesh, a widower who wants a better relationship with his avid reader granddaughter. Aleisha shares the list she found, and the two lonely readers find solace in reading and discussing each title. Deeply moving, sad and sweet, this literary tale serves as a reminder of the power of books to heal, empower, and connect us to one another. Content warnings apply.

Books about books: Bookish Fiction

The Uncommon Reader

Hell of a Book

The Reading List: A Novel

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations
for every mood

Books about books: Bookish Fiction

The Uncommon Reader

Hell of a Book

The Reading List: A Novel

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations for every mood

100 Book recommendations
for every mood