Why you should read Elizabeth Goudge’s Torminsterbooks for Advent and Christmastide:
Wonderful atmospheric depiction of a small Cathedral town in the beginning of the 20th century, partly inspired by the authors own childhood; (Torminster is technically Wells, Somerset)
the first book is a very soft and gentle adult novel, about all kinds of love, redemption, and the way literature and art can bring people together;
the sequels are two children’s novellas about a wonderful girl named Henrietta, who is already an important character in the first book, and who will grow up to be a great painter;
one sequel is set at Christmas and has a wonderful message, the other is set at high summer, but so magical it still feels right for this season;
the first book is set over the span of more than one year, and has absolutely gorgeous Christmas chapters;
the prose is lovely and evocative, the descriptions full of detail, the wide cast of characters endearing, and the various relationships and kinds of love (romantic, platonic, familial, and more than that) simply beautiful;
it is a book about art, artists, and the appreciation of art and its value: there is a bookshop, a poet, an actress, a very imaginative child, but there are also depictions of numerous other ways people use their creative ability as a means to communicate and to enrich but also understand the world around us;
the setting is lovely, a tiny town within a lovely landscape, and within the town the microcosm of the Cathedral Close;
soft, cosy, warm; lots of tea and treats, and Little Things;
there is a dog called Mixed Biscuits: “Front elevation collie, rear elevation pomeranian. The man I bought him from said he was a spaniel, but I think myself that there’s a dash of dachshund about the legs.” And there are even more dogs in the sequel: Keeper and Mee-Too.
All three books were very rare and usually out of print for a long while, especially the two sequels, but are currently in print or at least widely available. A City of Bells is the first book, and originally a stand-alone; Sister of the Angels was published before Henrietta’s House (published in the US as The Blue Hills), but is set later. The first is an adult novel, but suitable for all ages, if it should interest a younger reader, whereas the other two are children’s books of the kind that are just as appealing for adult readers. All books are ideally read together, but all of them can be read separately.
As in all of Goudge’s books, there are themes of religion and spirituality, mental illness and disability, and societal values and problems, but they are a bit gentler than in her other books – certainly there, but lighter, as the focus is rather on art and the individual, making them very soft and gentle, but nonetheless thoughtful reads for the season.
Goudge has a great gift of evoking a sense of time and place, so one does feelthe town and also its seasons and celebrations very much when reading. Places in Goudge novels are very much characters on their own, and Torminster, the bookshop, the blue hills, and especially the Cathedral are very tangible, and in a way, also very independent. They are not fantasy books (except, maybe, Henrietta’s House) but they do have more than just a touch of magic.
Read if you like books about books and booklovers, the language of art, orphans finding loving homes, cute dogs, eccentric townsfolk, detailed descriptions of places and festivities and food, and very gentle romantic sub-plots. (As well as old novels that fit very vaguely into a dark academia or cottagecore aesthetic, if that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for.)
Read them especiallyif you love (or maybe need) a story about unusual relationships, platonic love and romantic friendship, second chances and redemption, hope and healing, compassion and forgiveness, everyday mysteries and the magic of the ordinary, the extraordinary effects of human kindness, and the beauty of hard, yet right choices.
We are dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and supporting our Asian American and Pacific Islander creators, readers, and community. Below, check out some incredible books by our AAPI creators to read all year round!
Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
In this Pride & Prejudice retelling, Leela is ALWAYS #1 in speech and debate competitions. But when she meets Firoze Darcy, more than just her winning streak is at stake…her heart is, too.
Freedom Swimmer by Wai Chim
Inspired by a true story, two friends risk everything in a daring attempt to escape the poverty and oppression of mainland China during the Cultural Revolution.
Zara Hossain is Here by Sabina Khan
Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant Zara Hossain’s family has waited years for their visa process to be finalized so that they can officially become US citizens. But it only takes one moment for that dream to come crashing down around them.
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
Rukhsana is finding it impossible to live up to her conservative Muslim parents’ expectations. Luckily, it’s only a few more months until her new life at Caltech. But when her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend, all of Rukhsana’s plans fall apart.
I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
When Kimi visits her grandparents in Japan, she is relieved to escape her problems back home. But soon the trip becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.
Caster & Spell Starter by Elsie Chapman
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister. But to save the legacy of their family teahouse, she enters an underground casting tournament and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
K-Pop Revolution and K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
In this romantic coming-of-age duology, a Korean American girl travels to Seoul in hopes of debuting in a girl group at the same K-pop company behind the most popular boy band on the planet.
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
When Anna’s not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father’s restaurant, she’s taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. When her mother finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as her mother’s condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other.
The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond
Jo Linden was born into a world where wars are won with giant mechanical soldiers and the nuclear bomb was never invented. Yet the Cold War still rages, and international rivalries between democracy and communism are now fought at the Pax Games, an Olympic-style competition that pits young pilots of mechas against each other. In a global arms race between superpowers, playing out in violent games that only humanity could create, comes a chilling story of clashing titans, ruthless competition, freedom, and the girl caught in the middle of it all.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen
When Viola Li returns from a trip, she develops an extreme case of photosensitivity. But Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh.
Upcoming Reads by Asian American and Pacific Islander Creators!
Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan (On Sale 8/2)
Mira must decide whether to re-connect with the woman who placed her for adoption…but isn’t sure she’s ready for what she might learn. Told in dual perspectives, this novel follows Mira and her mother eighteen years apart.
Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey (On Sale 10/18)
After Pearl Harbor, Sam documents the bigotry she sees towards Japanese Americans. When the US announces that those of Japanese descent will be sent to “relocation camps,” Sam must act or lose her voice forever.
Celebrate Black History Month this February with these incredible books by Black authors centering Black characters!
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson
When Toni and Olivia arrive at Farmland Music and Arts Festival in Rise to the Sun, the last thing they expect is to realize that they’ll need to join forces in order to get what they’re searching for out of the weekend. As they work together, the festival becomes so much more complicated than they bargained for. Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined. Start reading!
Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
InSimone Breaks All the Rules, Simone is shaking things up by making a bucket list of everything she hasn’t been able to do thanks to her strict Haitian immigrant parents. But which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak? Start reading!
Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles
InThings We Couldn’t Say, just as Gio is owning his bisexual identity, he must also face the return of the mother who abandoned his preacher family when he was nine. He’ll soon find that there are no easy answers to love – whether it’s family love or friend love or romantic love. Start reading!
Muted by Tami Charles
MUTED by Tami Charles is a ripped-from-the-headlines novel of ambition, music, and innocence lost. When Denver sings her way into stardom, the painful sacrifices and lies she has to tell are all worth it…until they’re not. Denver begins to realize that she’s trapped in this world, struggling to hold on to her own voice. As the dream turns into a nightmare, she must make a choice: lose her big break, or get broken. Start reading!
The Life I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
THE LIFE I’M IN by Sharon G. Flake is the powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I’m In, Sharon G. Flake’s bestselling modern classic. It presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking. Flake offers readers another timely and radical story of a girl on the brink and how her choices will lead her to either fall, or fly. Start reading!
Lethal Lit: A Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum
Lethal Lit: A Murder of Crows follows Tig Torres, a Cuban American teen detective, in her hometown of Hollow Falls. In season one of the hit podcast, Tig used her smarts and fearlessness to track down the infamous “Lit Killer,” a serial killer who staged his murders after death scenes from famous books. But there’s no rest for courageous, mystery-solving teens in a place like Hollow Falls, and though the Lit Killer is now behind bars, his protégé, Tig’s classmate and crush Oly, has disappeared. Start reading!
Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone
SHURI by Nic Stone is a Black Panther novel featuring everyone’s favorite genius, princess, and superhero: Shuri! It’s up to Shuri to travel from Wakanda in order to discover what is killing the Heart-Shaped Herb in order to save it, and her people, from destruction. Start reading!
Spin by Lamar Giles
SPIN by Lamar Giles is a page-turning thriller about rising DJ Paris “ParSec” Secord, who is found dead on her turntables. Her former best friend and current groupie must put aside their differences to find the truth behind her murder before it’s too late. Start reading!
Take the Mic, Edited by Bethany C. Morrow
TAKE THE MIC, edited by Bethany C. Morrow, is an anthology of powerful stories of fictional resistance. It includes stories from Keah Brown, Jason Reynolds, L.D. Lewis, and more, with cover and interior illustrations by Richie Pope. Start reading!
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson is a joyful book about a queer Black girl who runs for Prom Queen to win a college scholarship…but then finds herself falling in love with one of the other girls in the competition! Start reading!
Sorry Not Sorry by Jaime Reed
SORRY NOT SORRY by Jaime Reed! Alyssa and Janelle: friends, then frenemies, then fated to save each other’s lives. Will their bitter past get in the way of their future?Start reading!
Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud
TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud is a swoon-worthy royal romance about a Black girl working to better her community while at a prestigious summer program, and falling for a boy…who might actually be a real-life prince?!Start reading!
Overwatch: The Hero of Numbani by Nicky Drayden
OVERWATCH: THE HERO OF NUMBANI by Nicky Drayden! When the technologically advanced African city of Numbani is threatened, robot inventor Efi Oladele must build her greatest creation yet – a guardian robot to protect the city and save its citizens, before it’s too late! Start reading!
Untwine by Edwidge Danticat
UNTWINE by Edwidge Danticat is a haunting and mesmerizing story about sisterhood, family, love, and loss. When Giselle wakes up in the hospital unable to speak or move, she must revisit her past in order to have the strength to start the path of recovery. Start reading!
Hi, i’m searching for something to read next (or add to my TBR) and i’m all ears if you have suggestions. I’m mostly into classic lit, poetry and fantasy/horror but i’m open to anything. What did you read recently ? What did you enjoyed (or not) ? Please tell me
Also, I swear that every time I make one of these I forget something. This time it was In the Vanishers’ Palaceby Aliette de Bodard. It’s awesome, go read it.
If you want more queer science fiction and fantasy, you can visit my queer SFF database.
I’m not transcribing all the text, but you can find the titles, authors, information on TW, etc beneath the cut.
When possible, I’m linking to my database of queer books. The page for each book includes the synopsis, content warnings under spoiler tags, and links to reviews from queer readers.
Happy Thursday everyone! It’s officially ‘curl up next to the fire with a good book’ season here in the northern hemisphere, and with some people lucky enough to have time off of school or work for the holiday season, they’ll need some books to read.
I’d love everyone to give a recommendation (or two, or three) of the next book people should read and why! Make sure to include author and genre so people know what they’re getting into! This won’t be the last time I do one of these book rec type questions, so don’t worry if you can’t fit all your favorites in this time.
All you have to do is reblog, comment, or send an ask with your book recommendations! Anyone and everyone is free to participate.
Ooo! I can’t wait to go through the other notes and get some more books to read (as if I need more books to read)!
I would recommend basically anything by Robin Hobb. Her Realm of the Elderlings books are fantasy at its finest. To start at the beginning, you read the Farseer Trilogy which starts with Assassin’s Apprentice. It’s the story of an individual, but also of dragons and prophets and people and relationships and love. There are a lot of books in that universe now (I think 16?) but nine are my favorites: a trilogy of trilogies about Fitzchivalry Farseer.
I also highly highly recommend Kate Elliot’s Crossroads Trilogy, which starts with Spirit Gate. I picked the first two books up randomly from a used bookstore and suffered before getting my hands on the third and finally finishing reading the trilogy. (I tell you so you won’t make my mistake.) The world Elliott builds is strange and beautiful and vast but the stories are personal and human. And there are giant eagles. (Thank me later.)
Commission of Raisa ana’Marianna and Lord Hanson Alister
I have so much love for both of these and Han is one of fav characters he’s just amazing and this whole series needs way more love and I need some way to deal with all the emotions this has caused
![[Untitled]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/avatar_8b3b37ea685a_30.png){kind=avatar}
