Wednesday, December 26, 2018

A bookish gem...

Title & Author:  The Lost For Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
Setting: York, England

First paragraph: A book is a match in the smoking second between strike and flame. Archie says books are our best lovers and our most provoking friends. He's right, but I'm right, too. Books can really hurt you.

Main Character:  Loveday Cardew--an introvert who "isn't very social" but who loves books and has the first lines from several of her favorite novels tattooed on her body. She's also a poet who's guarded, fiercely independent ...and a bit fragile, too, especially when it comes to opening up and trusting others.

My thoughts:  I love Butland's writing and how she weaves together the pieces of Loveday's past and present into one magical, unputdownable story. Nathan, the magician/poet Loveday meets at the bookshop is one of my favorite characters; I love how he interacts with Loveday, and how their relationship slowly grows over time. There's a bit of an intriguing mystery, too, regarding Loveday and how books from her past keep showing up at the Lost For Words Bookshop. It was unexpected and added to the fun. All in all, I really loved this book. It's one I could happily read again....and again.

Happy Reading!






22 comments:

  1. This is very likely my favourite book of 2018 (it's always hard to pick just one, but this one definitely made a huge impression on me!). I loved it to bits and see myself re-reading it for comfort in the future. It also gave me lots of ideas for other books I want to read some time. I have also read Butlands 'Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae' - which is lovely, too, but 'Lost for Words' (I got the British edition with this original title) touched me even more. I look forward to reading more by Butland... - I'm so glad you loved this amazing book, too. Happy reading :-)

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    1. This is one of my favorite reads this year, too. Not the top, but close. :) But then, I love books that have bookshop settings. :D

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  2. Ooh, this sounds like such a delightful read! That's such a great opening and I just love that cover! :)

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    1. It's a great one! Definitely put in on your 2019 reading list. :)

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  3. I must add this one to my TBR list. Bookstores, poets and a love story? What's not to love!

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  4. What a unique name - Loveday. I love books with books so I may have to look into this one soon. Great review.

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  5. I love that cover- it just makes me want to walk into a quaint old bookstore! Sounds like a great read too, and I like the sound of the mystery too.

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    1. I wish I had a bookstore like that near me. I'd visit it every week! :)

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  6. Books that have a bookish theme always intrigue me. :)

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  7. I love books about bookshops, and not just because I've always wanted to work in one! Add an element of magic, and I'm doubly intrigued.

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    1. I've always been drawn to bookshop books, too. :)

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  8. Anything that happens in a bookshop is magical! Loveday is an interesting name for the MC.

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    1. Isn't Loveday a great name? And I agree about bookshops in any form being magical. :)

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  9. This sounds absolutely wonderful! And I adore that first para!

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    1. I'm always hooked by great first lines and this book hooked me right away. :)

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  10. I really liked this one, too! And I agree, it is one of the few books I would enjoy reading again. :)

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