As an avid reader and bibliophile, I love little more than spending an afternoon curled up with a book or strolling through the stacks of a library or bookstore. Now that the weather is beginning to hint at fall, rather than pumpkin spice lattes, I want to talk about the perfect season for curling up with a favorite book. So what does the ultimate bibliophile need? Here are a few items. (And don’t forget to read to the end for a giveaway!)
A 25th hour in a day. A book lover never has enough time to read all of the books tottering in their to-be read pile or languishing on the online wishlist. So if we’re going to do all the other activities demanded of us, we need another hour to allow us to enjoy a book uninterrupted. Otherwise, we are forced to read while brushing our teeth, blow-drying our hair, in five minute snippets while waiting for our kids, etc. You get the idea. When reading is like oxygen, we will do it. It just won’t be easy.- Bookshelves. Many, many more bookshelves. Remember the towering to-be-read pile? Those books must go somewhere. And somewhere they will go. Under the bed, beneath the car seat, on counters and surfaces all over the house. But this leads to a significant problem: where-on-earth-did-I-hide-that-book? This is disaster when the plot is getting good, and the tension is thick.
- A nice fat savings account for frequent depletions at all manner of bookstores. While some people are addicted to vices, we are addicted to the written word. Many of us love the glow of our Kindle. Or we adore the feel of a paperback. We love the smell of the paper. We delight in the heft of a hardback. It’s a weight-lifting regimen, folks. Trust me, you are lifting weights and building muscle with every time you pick up a book and flip a page. Think of all the calories you are burning. Significant I assure you.
- A ready supply of bookstores. This one can be a real challenge depending on where you live. Some people are known to journey for hours to reach the nearest book oasis. When it is reached, the bibliophile must be enticed from the nirvana state with lattes. Lots and lots of lattes.
An extensive selection of bookmarks. All sizes, colors, shapes. Stashed in multiple locations. When those disappear, a ready supply of post-it notes will suffice because nothing is worse than losing one’s place or dog-earing a page. Books may be underlined, they be written in, they may be doodled in. However, they may not be dog-eared. It is not okay. Never. Ever. Just don’t do it.
What would you add to this list? Well, other than a cat, a comfy blanket, and a fire. Oh, and don’t forget the coffee, lots and lots of coffee. And because every book lover needs more books, here’s a giveaway of Rachel Hauck’s latest The Wedding Shop.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The following two tabs change content below.
An award-winning author of more than 40 books, Cara is a Clinical Associate Professor in business law and ehtics to graduate and undergraduate students at Purdue University. She lives with her husband, four children, a perfect cat, and a sweet yet rambunctious shelter puppy in Indiana.
Latest posts by Cara Putman (see all)
- Book Recommendations in Time for Summer and a Giveaway - May 22, 2025
- Cara’s Favorites - May 18, 2025
- What’s pulling you down? - May 8, 2025
When my sister-in-law was married last year she wanted to have her groom see her in private before taking their pictures which was before the ceremony. Everyone had to leave and the groom waited at the bottom of the church staircase for her to come. It was just the two of them but by the look on the groom’s face it was very romantic.
Your list sounds perfect, Cara, especially when you added a cat and tea (not a coffee drinker)!
This list made me smile, Cara! I think you’ve got it all covered!