Does anyone else love reading books about bibliophiles? There are so many books out there centred around books, and bookshops and libraries that we’re spoiled for choice. I absolutely loved The Book Thief, and Inkeart too, there’s just something about having a character that loves reading as much as I do!
So partly for my own reading pile, and for yours too I asked you guys to name your favourite books about books, and you certainly offered plenty of suggestions. I have added all these up, and here we have for you 33 books about books that you loved.
84 Charing Cross Road
By a very long way your favourite book about books is 84 Charing Cross Road, the eponymous address of the bookshop in the story. The book features a twenty year correspondence between the bookshop owner, and the author.
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is a truly beautiful book about a young German girl, Liesel who has the dangerous hobby of loving literature during World War II.
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Part of a trilogy set in Barcelona following the Spanish Civil War, the Shadow of the Wind features the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a huge library of old, forgotten titles.
The Neverending Story – Michael Ende
The Neverending Story is a German novel about Bastian Balthazar Bux who finds the book in an antiquarian book shop. In the UK and US the movie is more popular and this is possibly due to the fact that it was not translated from German until the movie release.
The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco
This historical novel is Umberto Eco’s most famous work; a murder mystery set in an Italian monastery combining fiction, biblical analysis and literary theory.
The Storied Life of A. J Fikry – Gabrielle Zevin
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an enchanting novel that acts as a love letter to the world of books and booksellers and you guys have put it in the top ten!
The Storied Life of A. J Fikry US
The Storied Life of A. J Fikry UK
Inkheart – Cornelia Funke
The Inkheart Trilogy is one of the most magical children’s stories ever written and I say that as an adult. Meggie loves reading so much, she reads the characters right off the pages. If you like to dive right into the story, you’ll love this.
Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore – Robin Sloan
In this technological world books are easily forgotten but when the protagonist is laid off from silicone valley he finds himself working at a dusty old bookstore and the magic begins.
Mr Penumbra’s 24hr Bookstore US
Mr Penumbra’s 24hr Bookstore UK
Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare
Who doesn’t love protagonists who are bibliophiles? This one may not feature bookshops or libraries but it does feature two protagonists who fall in love over their love of books.
Thursday Next Series – Jasper Fforde
Thursday Next, Literary Detective is all you need if you’re looking for literary loveliness and a whacky story following Thursday through the literary classics.
11. The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
12. The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova
15. Matilda – Roald Dahl
16. If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler – Italo Calvino
17. The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George (Review)
18. The Bookman’s Tale – Charlie Lovett
19. When Books Went to War – Molly Guptill Manning
20. The Bibliophile Mystery Series – Kate Carlisle
And after the featured top 20, here we take the list to the full 32 books:
Bookman Series – John Dunning
The City of Dreaming Books – Walter Moers
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society – Annie Barrows
The Jane Austen Book Club – Karen Joy Fowler
Reading Lolita in Tehran – Azar Nafisi
The Bookshop Book – Jen Campbell
Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops – Jen Campbell
The Mystery Man – Colin Bateman
The Little Shop of Happy Ever After – Jenny Colgan
The Book of Speculation – Erika Swyler
A Fucked up Life in Books – Anon
Ex Libris – Ann Fadiman
10 of 2024’s Most Anticipated Reads
The For Reading Addicts Book of the Year 2023
Are You Willing to Unite Against Book Bans?
Roald Dahl Censorship Creates Grotesque Versions of Classics
For Reading Addicts Book of the Year 2022
Excellent Recommendations , I have read EIGHT of the Above & also have Them in my Collection. Thanks for such Nice Recommendations Please.