Well, now you can, all without even needing to shell out the money for a plane ticket. With these eight books, you’ll feel like Malaysia’s a second home, and you won’t even need to leave your bed.

Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint

Following Singaporean Inspector Singh, a portly, lovable protagonist, as he’s sent to Kuala Lumpur to clear the name of a former model accused of killing her Malaysian husband, this book is just good fun.

The story has all the clichés and wonder of a classic whodunnit story but with the political context of the rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore, as well as some truly brilliantly written characters. Those looking for a fun, intriguing mystery will revel in the Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder.

The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw

A bizarre yet brilliant multi-narrative story, this novel follows the life of Johnny Lim, a character whose reputation is brutally destroyed for the reader, only to be built back up, destroyed again, and presented as completely misguided.

Aw has created a beguiling, unreliable narrative that explores a time of high political conflict in what used to be Malaya. The characters are at the core of the novel, but for those who want to learn more about how Malaysia came to be, and the strife that the colonial era put the inhabitants of the country through (as well as an interesting story), then this is the Malaysian novel for you.

The Casuarina Tree by William Somerset Maugham

This book is a collection of short stories, all published in 1926 and set in the 1920s. They’re set in what was once called the Federated Malay States, in the British Community.

The stories are all, in some way or another, about the contradictory human desire to seek both change and familiarity. They contain mediations on changes in British society and identity, as well as highlighting British behaviors during the time of the empire. Once again, a great pick for those who wish to know the history of Malaysia, but also want to see and experience the nature of the country.

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

Connected to the novel above, in The House of Doors, Tan Twan Eng has imagined the life of W. Somerset Maugham, a prolific author. Bringing him back to life in this story set in Penang, Malaysia, in 1921. It sees W. Somerset Maugham, or Willie, meet Lesley, who begrudgingly lets him stay at her house.

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

The Gift of Rain follows an older man, Philip, who is half Chinese and half British, living in Penang. In his early seventies, he is the lone resident of a large house that has been in his family for generations.

The story begins when a Japanese woman named Michiko arrives at Philip’s house. She shares a mutual friend with him, and when she arrives with presents and tales of the past, a story unfolds of an old man’s life in Malaysia during the war.

The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

The most fantastical book on this list, The Ghost Bride, is a wonderful combination of Malaysian history, scenery, characters, Chinese folklore, and romance.

The story is set in 1890s Malacca and follows the daughter of a bankrupt family, whose hand in marriage has been requested by none other than the son of the rich Lim family. The only issue? He’s dead. What continues is an exploration of love, adventure, death, and everything in between, all in the beautiful Malaysian backdrop.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

We’re in Malaya in the 1930s in this story, following Ren, a young houseboy serving a foreign doctor. His previous master died, but he cannot rest until his severed thumb is returned to his body.

At the same time, we’re also following Ji Lin, a dressmaker’s apprentice who dreams of becoming a doctor. As a tiger roams the village, and people start to die, can the two young people come together to save the people of Malaya and put a soul to rest?

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

Set in the heart of Malaya following the Japanese invasion, this story is hard to endure at times, but it is worth the read.

It follows Teoh Yun Ling, who was held for three years in a brutal camp with her sister and ended up as the sole survivor. The story is of Yun Ling at seventy, a retired Supreme Court judge, suffering from an incurable illness that affects her memory.

She travels back to the garden of Yugiri, where she had once been an apprentice. There, the narrator tells the story of her life, her love, and everything else.

The post These 8 Books That Will Transport You to Malaysia appeared first on Magazine.

More authors are publishing their work than ever before, as self-publishing becomes increasingly accessible. This means more books of every genre are available, waiting to be chosen by readers all over the world. And with so many places to buy them—online or in-store—where should you shop?

With Independent Bookstore Day celebrated annually in the last week of April—falling this year on April 26, 2025—it’s the perfect time to turn to a timeless option: independent bookstores.

Here’s why.

Where You Spend Your Money Matters

You might have heard it said before, but it really is true. Where you spend your money matters in a lot of ways.

If you choose to spend your money at a small, local independent bookstore, you’re supporting a business that reinvests in the local economy. By paying their employees, renting storefronts, purchasing supplies, and paying taxes, small independent bookstores contribute to the community in ways that larger corporations simply don’t.

When you buy books from a multi-million-dollar company like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, you’re simply adding more pennies to already overflowing pockets.

These corporations do not reinvest in the local economy unless they have a factory or warehouse nearby. Even then, the wages they pay won’t match the overall contribution of a local bookstore!

There are a few local bookstores across the world that are trying to bring attention to this, and to the benefit that they have over these massive multi-million-dollar corporations, like Salted Books Lisbon, which started using these bags for their books.

For a More Diverse Selection

Local bookstores are generally run by people who live in the area and understand the local community. This gives them an advantage, allowing them to curate a stock of books that suits local interests and readers.

Often, this means that they’ll have a much more diverse selection of books. They might carry works by authors from a variety of unique backgrounds and feature many local and independently published writers. But you’re almost guaranteed to find titles in an independent bookstore that won’t be on display at your local chain.

To Get a More Personalized Approach

When you visit any bookstore, the booksellers should be able to offer you help and advice, just like any store. However, at an independent bookstore, you’ll often find that the people running it are there because they genuinely love books and stories. As a result, they tend to have extensive knowledge of the books they carry.

Not only that, but independent bookstores carefully handpick their stock, operate with smaller teams, and have fewer books than larger stores. Because of this, the staff often know the store like the back of their hand and can provide personal recommendations rather than relying solely on a book’s blurb or genre.

This is great for people who don’t know what they want to read next, or for people who are trying to get into reading. It’s also just a nicer experience than what can often be a cold, quick checkout in a chain store.

To Build and Be Part of a Community

Many independent bookstores offer additional amenities like coffee shops or seating areas. They also frequently host community events, such as Drag Story Time or children’s reading sessions. These are great ways to meet new people in your community and are a real lifeline for those who are looking to communicate and make friends.

By supporting independent bookstores, you are also supporting these events and the people who make them happen, which in turn means you’re investing in your local community. On the other hand, by buying online from a chain or a big store, you’re just supporting the millionaire who owns it.

In today’s world, community has never been more important. Getting to know your neighbors and supporting one another, even in small ways, like choosing to shop locally and independently, can make a huge difference. By choosing to shop at an independent bookstore, you could be the reason someone keeps their job. You could even be the reason someone meets their future partner at the next event, all because that bookstore was able to stay open.

To Preserve Real-Life Stores

A lot of book buying and selling now happens online, as is the case with many other products. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with a bookstore having a website, some large chain websites can afford to undercut prices, making them cheaper and more appealing, and beating out competitors. This makes it harder for independent stores to sell their diverse and unique selections online.

By keeping physical bookstores alive, not only are you making sure that authors and booksellers are earning a decent wage, but you’re helping to keep a part of culture alive. Book culture and physical media matter. Independent bookstores are a huge part of the former, and they deserve our support and appreciation!

The post Why We Should All Buy More from Independent Bookstores appeared first on Magazine.

There is No Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away,

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human soul –

There is an intensity to Emily Dickinson’s work, but there is a beauty too. We can find both in this poem, as the poet engages with the power of books. Books can, after all, transport us to new lands more effectively than any other type of vehicle.

There Is a Land by Leland B. Jacobs

There is a land –

A marvelous land –

Where trolls and giants dwell;

Where witches

With their bitter brew

Can cast a magic spell;

Where mermaids sing,

Where carpets fly,

Where, in the midst of night,

Brownies dance

To cricket tunes;

And ghosts, all shivery and white,

Prowl and moan.

There is a land

Of magic folks and deeds,

And anyone

Can visit there

Who reads and reads and reads.

In There is a Land, Leland B. Jacobs explores similar ground to Emily Dickinson. Only, rather than a mode of transport, Jacobs is talking about the land itself, the very terrain upon which the reader treads.

The melding of fantasy and accessibility makes this poem truly special. Jacobs describes flying carpets and mermaids, and ghosts and giants, and then, right at the end, opens the door to us all.

The Secret by Denise Levertov

Two girls discover

the secret of life

in a sudden line of

poetry.

I who don’t know the

secret wrote

the line. They

told me

(through a third person)

they had found it

but not what it was

not even

what line it was. No doubt

by now, more than a week

later, they have forgotten

the secret,

the line, the name of

the poem. I love them

for finding what

I can’t find,

and for loving me

for the line I wrote,

and for forgetting it

so that

a thousand times, till death

finds them, they may

discover it again, in other

lines

in other

happenings.

And for

wanting to know it,

for

assuming there is

such a secret, yes,

for that

most of all.

When Denise Levertov writes about “a secret,” she’s writing about something universal. There is a secret contained in all books and in the act of reading. It’s a secret that can sustain us throughout our whole lives, as we gain a more profound understanding of the world around us with every line we lead.

But there’s even more to Levertov’s wonderful poem than this. “No doubt/ by now, more than a week/ later, they have forgotten/ the secret,” she writes. And then, “a thousand times, till death/ finds them, they may/ discover it again, in other/ lines.”

With this, Levertov captures the transient, yet transformative, nature of reading and literature.

Book-Lover by Ralph Bergengren

My Pop is always buying books;

So that Mom says his study looks

Just like an old book store.

The book shelves are so full and tall

They hide the paper on the wall,

And there are books just everywhere,

On table, window seat, and chair,

And books right on the floor.

And every little while he buys

More books, and brings them home and tries

To find a place where they will fit,

And has an awful time of it.

Once when I asked him why he got

So many books, he said, “Why not?”

I’ve puzzled over that a lot.

Ralph Bergengren’s work was characterized by a smart, gentle, sly wit. And we can see this wit represented here, in the poet’s examination of an age-old problem – just what do we do about all those books?

Well, these days, just like we did in Bergengren’s time, and in times before, we pile them up. We surround ourselves with books that “hide the paper on the wall”… “on the table, window seat, and chair.”

And maybe, if we’re lucky, we might even get the chance to read them.

Picture-Books in Winter by Robert Louis Stevenson

Summer fading, winter comes—

Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,

Window robins, winter rooks,

And the picture story-books.

Water now is turned to stone

Nurse and I can walk upon;

Still we find the flowing brooks

In the picture story-books.

All the pretty things put by,

Wait upon the children’s eye,

Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,

In the picture story-books.

We may see how all things are,

Seas and cities, near and far,

And the flying fairies’ looks,

In the picture story-books.

How am I to sing your praise,

Happy chimney-corner days,

Sitting safe in nursery nooks,

Reading picture story-books?

Here, the Treasure Island novelist presents us with memories that will be familiar to many – the memory of youth, of changing seasons, and a measured retreat into the world of books and literature.

As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, those same pleasures remain. When the weather just gets too inhospitable, books can be our saviors.

A Rich Treasure Trove of Poetry

Choosing only five poems about books and literature is an almost impossible task. There are countless other examples that I’ve missed, and I’ve probably overlooked some of your favorites too. This is such a rich area of subject matter for poets, and there is simply so much to be said on the topic of book literature – I’ve no doubt there will be plenty more great works in this area in the future.

The post 5 Beautiful Poems Exploring the Magic of Books appeared first on Magazine.

While the list is dominated by non-fiction, there are also novels woven into its fabric. Through fiction, we have the opportunity to get a little closer to the emotional and sensory aspects of history, stepping outside of academia and study and engaging with real lives from times gone by.

Prehistory

Let’s start at the very beginning, or even before the beginning. These five books cover the foundations of language, of belief, of culture, and of humanity, as we take our steps into the prehistorical world.

1. The Language Puzzle: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved by Steven Mithen
2. Ancestors: A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials by Alice Roberts
3. Mother Earth, Father Sky by Sue Harrison
4. Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art by Rebecca Wragg Sykes
5. Inside the Neolithic Mind: Consciousness, Cosmos, and the Realm of the Gods by David Lewis-Williams and David Pearce

Ancient History

As we explore the ancient world, we use graphic works to engage with Ancient China and epic poetry to connect with Ancient Greece. We’re looking at both the canonical wonders of the ancient world and also at those civilizations sometimes unfairly ignored by history textbooks.

1. The Other Ancient Civilisations: Decoding Archaeology’s Less Celebrated Cultures by Raven Todd DaSilva
2. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes
3. Odyssey by Homer
4. Foundations of Chinese Civilization: The Yellow Emperor to the Han Dynasty (2697 BCE – 220 CE) by Liu Jing
5. The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple

Medieval History

The themes of travel and migration are strong as we step into the medieval world, following in the footsteps of Ibn Battuta, the maritime Polynesians, and the trade corridors connecting Europe and Asia. We’re also examining how mythology and disease shaped societies.

1. The Rihla by Ibn Battuta
2. The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan
3. Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs
4. Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
5. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly

Early Modern History

In the Early Modern Period, Caroline Dodds Pennock subverts common understandings of the exploration age, telling the remarkable stories of the first Indigenous Americans in Europe. Empires rise and fall, and age-old cultures and civilizations are imperiled by an age of tumult and change.

1. On Savage Shores: How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe by Caroline Dodds Pennock
2. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
3. The Ottoman Empire, the Classical Age by Halil Inalcik
4. An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
5. Memory of Fire: Genesis by Eduardo Galeano

Modern History

Said, Fanon, and Baldwin help us to better understand the complex dynamics of the modern period, while Salman Rushdie’s fiction casts a magical-realist light upon the birth of a new nation. Meanwhile, Simon Sebag Montefiore tells us the story of one of the most remarkable dynasties in history.

1. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
2. Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore
3. Orientalism by Edward Said
4. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
5. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The Digital Age

History continues to unfold, and we stand on the cusp of a new era. Environmentalism, cultural identity, data science, philosophy, and humanity itself, intersect as we try to understand our role in a dynamic new world. Closing out the list is a staggering work of science fiction by Arthur C. Clarke, which contextualizes humanity’s position in the vast ocean of the cosmos.

1. We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
2. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari
3. The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene by Mark Maslin and Simon L. Lewis
4. Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

Personal Explorations in the Richness of History

As I said right at the beginning, this is in no way an exhaustive list. It simply could not be so – the scope of human history is just too vast, and the number of books written on the subject is just too great, to cover everything.

But hopefully, I’ve provided a valuable starting point – a foundation upon which you can build your own reading list. There are cultures and histories that do not appear in the list at all, and this is regrettable, but unfortunately, this is the nature of creating a compilation of this type.

With this in mind, I urge you to build on this list. Add more books, more writers, more voices. Leave no stone unturned as you engage with humanity’s history. By understanding those who went before us, we better understand ourselves. And by better understanding ourselves, we better understand each other. And if the world needs one thing right now, it’s a better mutual understanding.

The post Travelling Through History With 30 Incredible Books appeared first on Magazine.

Little Free Library

Founded in 2009, Little Free Library is a nonprofit that builds and promotes neighborhood book exchanges where community members can donate, swap, and take home books for free. At its core, Little Free Library is committed to providing a global network of book-sharing in every community.

Since its inception, Little Free Library has established book exchanges in 128 countries. In March 2025, they celebrated their 200,000th book box, marking a significant milestone for the nonprofit. They maintain a particular commitment to “underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities” where access to books is much less likely.

The Study

In November 2024, the Pier Partners consultancy group, in collaboration with The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), led a multi-site observation of 768 children in Baltimore County, Maryland, to assess the impact of Little Free Library in their neighborhoods. The schools of Baltimore County are diverse in population and economic status.

Out of the 11 schools included in the survey, eight were considered low-income, six were majority BIPOC student body, and three had 20% or more English language learners or 15% of the special education population.

The key findings of the study concluded:

• 92% of children had greater access to books with Little Free Library in their community
• An uptick in reading frequency with access to Little Free Library. Children living near the book exchange read, on average, 1.1 days per week — a 49% increase
• 88% of children reported keeping more books at home
• 90% of students found higher-quality books to bring home

Why It Matters

The world, and the U.S. in particular, is facing a literacy crisis. According to data from Reading Is Fundamental, 61% of U.S. children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home, while 25 million children in the U.S. do not meet reading proficiency standards. In areas with high poverty rates, access to quality learning materials and books can be hard to come by, often taking a back seat to objects of necessity.

Organizations like Little Free Library are committed to serving communities and providing free access to books with proven positive impacts — a right we all deserve.

The post How The Little Free Library Movement Helps Local Communities appeared first on Magazine.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

Told from the perspective of Paige Mahoney, a young woman living in London who works for a criminal syndicate, using her clairvoyant abilities to commit illegal acts, The Bone Season is the first book in a planned series.

Paige’s world is turned upside down when she is captured by an otherworldly race called the Rephaim, who have come from another dimension. With control, resistance, and blurred lines between good and evil, this novel blends elements of urban fantasy, dystopia, and supernatural intrigue.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

The first book in the Sevenwaters series, Daughter of the Forest, is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Ireland. This retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale, The Six Swans, follows Sorcha, the youngest child of the powerful and respected family of Sevenwaters.

When Sorcha’s father, Lord Colum, is cursed by a jealous and vengeful sorceress, her six brothers are turned into swans, unable to return to their human forms. To break the curse, Sorcha must remain silent for six years. Throughout the story, she embodies courage and determination while navigating magic, danger, and love.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

A historical fantasy novel set in an alternate 19th-century Britain, Babel follows Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton who is taken to Britain by the mysterious Professor Richard Lovell after his mother dies.

Lovell raises Robin in preparation for entrance into Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, known as Babel. After a series of betrayals and violent conflicts, Robin and his friends take drastic action to dismantle Babel’s power.

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Joan Chang-Hunt is a sixteen-year-old girl spending the summer with her grandmother’s family in London when she discovers that her heritage is full of dark secrets, like the fact that they’re monsters who can steal time from humans to travel through it.

Her powers awaken when the boy she has a crush on reveals himself to be a legendary monster hunter. Ultimately, Joan faces a heartbreaking decision: save the ones she loves or prevent the catastrophic cycle of violence between monsters and hunters.

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

A dark urban fantasy set in a dystopian New York City where humans and supernatural creatures coexist, this story follows Kierse, a skilled and fearless thief navigating a world transformed after monsters emerged over a decade ago, leading to a devastating war.

To maintain peace, a Monster Treaty was established. However, when Kierse accepts a job to steal a ring from the Holly Library, she puts her life at risk, as her intrusion violates the treaty. Throughout her journey, Kierse uncovers hidden truths about her own identity and abilities.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Rose Bargain transports readers to reimagined 1840s England, where every citizen is granted one bargain with the immortal fae queen, Moryen. High-society girls often trade personal attributes or even memories for qualities that make them appear more desirable for marriage.

In an attempt to save her sister and restore her family’s honor, Ivy Benton enters a competition where the winner will receive Queen Moryen’s son’s hand in marriage.

North is the Night by Emily Rath

Book one in the Tuonela Duet, a dark fantasy series heavily influenced by Finnish folklore, this novel intertwines the fates of two young women, Siiri and Aina. In the Finnish wilderness, their lives are disrupted by land-hungry Swedes, a zealous Christian priest, and mysterious disappearances.

Eventually, Aina is abducted by a death goddess, and Siiri must embark on a journey to rescue her. If you’re looking for adventure, mythology, and the enduring power of friendship, then look no further.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Set in 1920s Shanghai, the city is caught in a bloody feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. Juliette Cai, the fiery heir to the Scarlet Gang, has returned to reclaim her place, but Roma Montagov, the heir to the White Flowers, harbors a painful past with her.

As tensions rise, a strange contagion begins to spread, leaving victims clawing their own throats out. Juliette and Roma are forced into an uneasy alliance to uncover the source of the deadly disease in this story that blends historical fiction, romance, and fantasy.

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

The first book in the Great Cities trilogy, The City We Became is a contemporary fantasy novel set in New York City. After undergoing a magical “birthing” process—a moment when the city awakens and gains a living consciousness through a human avatar—the Primary Avatar becomes the living embodiment of the city. However, he soon falls into a coma, leaving New York vulnerable to attack.

Now, it’s up to five avatars, each representing a borough of New York, to emerge and protect the city from the mysterious Woman in White.

The post 9 Epic Fantasy Books That Take Place in Our Own World appeared first on Magazine.

What Is International Children’s Book Day?

International Children’s Book Day is designed to fall as close to Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday as possible, if not on the day. It was started in 1967 and is typically celebrated by schools and local organizations setting up events like writing competitions, book awards, giveaways, author signings, readings, and the like.

Every year, a different nation has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of the International Children’s Book Day. The country can pick a theme and invite a prominent author from that country to write a message for kids across the world. Along with work from a well-known illustrator, this work will be formatted into a poster and used across the world to promote reading and literacy.

What Are the Most Famous Children’s Books?

For those of us who have read since we were young, it might be easy to remember our favorite book from when we were a child, but what other books were there? What are some of the biggest children’s books of all time? Which books would we have read as children that parents are still sharing with their little ones all these years later?

According to the BBC, the top ten children’s books of all time include Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Pretty much all of these books are still being read to children across the world. One of them, in particular, though, is still being reprinted and has recently gained traction in the world of adult fiction, too.

The Little Prince, the French children’s story, has recently received a wave of praise for its depth, making it a popular choice for parents and their children. Even though it was written over 60 years ago — in fact, 82 years ago on April 6th!

Why Should Adults Care About Children’s Books?

Children’s books are designed to provide their readers with two things: the opportunity to explore the unknown and the impossible, and the chance to understand the equally impossible world around us. To children, this is invaluable. But to adults, it can be just as helpful.

Whether it’s a picture book, an early reader, or young adult fiction, children’s books have more merit than adults often give them. They can provide a break away from the stressful lives we lead and provide us with a new, almost innocent outlook on life that we have, perhaps, long lost.

But beyond just that, reading (and specifically re-reading) children’s books allows us to reconnect with our past selves and our past feelings, remind ourselves of the lessons and the thoughts we had as children, and maybe, just maybe, regain some of that childlike wonder.

Which Children’s Book Should You Reread This International Children’s Book Day?

So, if you’re going to reread a children’s book this International Children’s Book Day, which one should it be?

We’d argue that it should be The Little Prince.

Not only has the story recently picked up traction in a way it hasn’t had before, but it’s also a beautiful story, and lots of people, it seems, are realizing that they never really understood the story when they read it as children.

What Messages Can the Little Prince Give Us?

It might seem ridiculous to say that an 82-year-old novel written in a different language, designed to entertain children, can impact us as adults in the modern world, but nevertheless, it’s true. There are a number of lessons within The Little Prince that plenty of people need to be reminded of on a regular basis, and that if you’re feeling a little lost, could help you feel a little more found. Lessons like:

1. Relationships are what make life worth living. In the story, the Little Prince meets a fox, and the two of them talk about what it would mean for the prince to ‘tame’ the fox. The fox goes on to say: “If you tame me, you and I, we will have created a relationship, and so we will need one another. You will be unique in the world for me… If you were to tame me, my whole life would be so much more fun.”

2. Numbers aren’t all that important. The Little Prince seems befuddled in the story as to why parents are so obsessed with numbers above all else. This is something that changes in us as we get older, it feels. As The Prince says in the story, we go from caring about what someone’s favorite games or hobbies are to caring more about what they earn, how old they are, and what their parents earn. This takes the joy out of the world, stopping us from seeing people for who they are and instead just what they can do for us.

3. That we’re responsible for our own love and who we give it to. Once again, a conversation between The Little Prince and his friendly fox sees the two of them talking about relationships, and the fox says, “You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose”. We’re responsible for putting the effort into our relationships. Taming the fox is one thing, but maintaining it is another thing altogether, and without our effort and our conscious decision to love someone, we can lose those connections.

To find out what other sweet life lessons are woven into the delightful story, pick up a copy of The Little Prince today and give it a re-read (or a read!).

The post Revisiting The Little Prince on International Children’s Book Day appeared first on Magazine.

These bookstores have a staff member unlike all the others: furry, four-legged, and a big fan of curling up in the sun. That’s right — these bookstores all have cats!

Quimby’s Bookstore NYC

Quimby Bookstore is a bookstore that focuses on alternative zines, magazines, and books. Buried in the heart of Brooklyn, the bookstore is a real maze of shelves and stacks, owned by a man called Steven Svymbesky.

Right at the back of Quimby’s bookstore, where you’d expect the stacks to finish, giving way to back rooms and staff rooms, Quimby’s has tarot. And, of course, it doesn’t stop there. As well as stocking a huge range of cards, prints, patches and buttons, Quimby has a kitty.

Quimby’s kitty is a tuxedo cat, with largely white on her front (including all four legs) and a greyish-black saddle mark over her head and torso. She loves to lounge about, and her name is Gracie.

Logos Bookstore NYC

Another NYC independent bookstore, Logos is on York Avenue in the Upper East Side. They advertise themselves as a Judeo-Christian specialty bookstore with a large selection of Bibles — the largest in Manhattan, apparently! It doesn’t stop there, though.

Logos also sells plenty of fiction, children’s books, and your classic best-sellers.

Logos Bookstore also features a load of art from local artists. They’ve got pieces from Sonia Grineva, a Russian artist who lives and paints in both Italy and NYC. She has hosted art shows at Logos. They’ve also worked with Peter G Pereira and Andre Kouznetsov.

But the important thing here is their fluffy friends. Logos has not one but two cats in store: Mr. Boo Boo and Chloe, two stunning tuxedo cats.

Pillow-Cat Books

Pillow-Cat Books, based in the East Village, really sets itself apart from all the other NYC bookstores, but not just because it has a cat. The bookstore itself is animal-themed! Pillow-Cat claims to be the first animal-themed bookstore in New York.

It’s a small, cute, green shop that is absolutely packed to the brim with vintage and antique books in a huge range of languages. They stock books about art, photography, language, fashion, design, comics, and literature, and even children’s books. Their only criteria is that an animal must be present in the book!

Any purchase from Pillow-Cat comes wrapped in special Pillow-Cat wrapping paper and features free complimentary stickers. They’re determined to make every shopping experience worthwhile and memorable!

The resident cat at Pillow-Cat is, of course, called Pillow-Cat. The bookstore took her in about three years ago and has watched her from a spindly little kitten into the fully-grown regal cat that she is today!

Westsider Rare & Used Books

Over on the other side of New York City is Westsider Rare and Used Books. Based in Broadway, the bookstore stocks vintage and used poetry, plays, fiction, literature, children’s books, young adult fiction, cooking, science, mystery novels, science fiction books, religious texts, and even LPs!

The bookstore has gained a sort of local and international acclaim in the years it has been open. The owner, Dorian Thornley, is well-beloved in the community. Although not, perhaps, as well-beloved as his furry assistant, a black cat called Pig.

Pig has lived at the store since about 2019. In the warm months, she basks out by the front desk and will even venture out to guard the $1 books out the front. She never strays far, though, and comes back when she’s ready. The staff of the store love Pig and even play fetch with her through the stacks — when she decides it’s time to play, of course.

In the winter, Pig hides in various little cubby holes that she has made and found throughout the store, including by the radiator on the first floor, which is apparently one of her absolute favorite spots.

According to her owner, if Pig were to be any fictional character from the books in the store, she’d be Baloo from The Jungle Book because he’s “big and warm.”

Other Famous New York City Cats

New York City is known as The Big Apple for a reason. Plenty of people head in search of city life in hopes it’ll help them make a name for themselves. Whether as a Broadway star or in business, New York is known for being a city of dreams. And it seems that applies to cats, too. The cats mentioned above are all big names in their local areas, but they’re not the only ones.

Cat lovers visiting New York should also keep their eyes peeled for all the other shop cats and famous NYC cats, many of whom can be found in the Shop Cats of New York book series and on their Instagram page.

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The post The Most Purr-Fect NYC Bookstores appeared first on Magazine.

Reading the World

Ann Morgan says she once considered herself an experienced reader and a “cosmopolitan” and “cultured” person. Then she reconsidered. If that were the case, why was most of her reading content coming out of the UK and North America? In her TedTalk, Morgan says, “I knew there had to be lots of amazing stories out there by writers working in languages other than English.”

In an interview with Cultural Reads, Morgan says the inspiration for the project came while she was working on another reading project, “A Year of Reading Women.” A friend recommended a male Australian author — he wouldn’t fit the bill for the female-centric project, but what about a new, world-view project? A Year of Reading the World was born.

Conquering Literature

Morgan began compiling a list of books from other countries in order to complete her year-long goal of reading one book from every UN-recognized country in the world. While speaking with The Guardian, Morgan recalls the struggles she faced while choosing her list.

Choosing one book from each country meant forgoing hundreds of others. She came across translation issues and the limited availability of publications from newer or more rural countries. There were political issues she hadn’t considered, like censorship and government-controlled publishing. In the end, Morgan was able to gather 196 books that covered the entire world.

To complete the list in time, Ann kept herself on a tight reading schedule, reading two hours a day and completing around four books a week. In the end, she was able to check all 196 books off her list within the year.

What Came Next

The work didn’t stop there. Ann continued to explore the world for books and shares her story regularly and openly.

Since the end of her project, Ann has published several books recounting her experience, hosted her own TedTalk, and now serves as a “Literary Explorer in Residence” at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Her blog for the project, “A Year of Reading the World,” is still popular thirteen years later and now has another purpose: a home for her monthly book club. Here, she shares new books from around the world, taken from her own research or suggestions by fellow international readers.

Ann’s Favorites

On her blog, Morgan details her reading journey, provides the complete list of books she read and shares some of her favorite books from the project:

• Albania – Ismail Kadare Broken April
• Canada – Nicole Brossard Mauve Desert
• Czech Republic – Bohumil Hrabal Too Loud a Solitude
• Mongolia – Galsan Tschinag The Blue Sky
• Myanmar – Nu Nu Yi Smile as they Bow
• Pakistan – Jamil Ahmad The Wandering Falcon
• Serbia – Srdjan Valjarevic Lake Como (limited availability)
• Sierra Leone – Ismael Beah A Long Way Gone
• Tajikistan – Andrei Volos Hurramabad
• Togo – Tete-Michel Kpomassie An African in Greenland

The Takeaway

Morgan says, “[This project] opened my eyes to many of the stories that I had sort of taken for granted growing up, the ways of looking at the world.” She hopes her experience can help other readers understand what ‘reading the world’ really means.” It helps you to have a more nuanced, richer grasp of the reality that you live, but also how that fits in with other people’s realities.

The post This Writer Read 196 Books In One Year, One from Every Country appeared first on Magazine.

Us, though? We get it. We understand.

If you want to feel seen as a reader, take a look at these 10 GIFs that we think all readers will relate to. Whether you’re a TBR grower, a DNFer, or someone who loves to quietly cozy up in the evening — we know you.

Me If Buying Books Were a Sport

We’ve all been there, when you walk into a Barnes & Noble and come out with a bag the weight of your head, and a bank account significantly lighter. But what if we celebrated reading instead? What if I could win awards for my book shopping habits, rather than shame?

Me Pretending I’m the Main Character

Ever read a book and just feel like you have found kin with the main character? You just relate so hard, or you love them so much, that they’ve invaded your mind and heart?

Then a few days later, realized that you’ve kind of… absorbed parts of their character? Just us?

I’m Like a Book Dragon, I Hoard…

Listen, some people buy books to read them. Some people buy books because they simply cannot stop. And I’m not saying that I’m the latter, but I am saying my TBR is in triple figures, and I know all the staff at the local bookstore…

When Someone Asks to Borrow a Book

Do I shout about all my favorite books like it’s nobody’s business? Yes. Am I desperate to find people to talk to about books the second I finish reading them? Also yes. Will I willingly give you one of my books so that you can read it? Probably not.

My books are my prized possessions! I’ve spent years of my life curating my bookshelf, finding the books and editions I want, and keeping them safe… If I lend you a book, just know that it means I trust you with my heart and my soul.

That Feeling When You Start a New Book

Is there anything more exciting than opening the first pages of your new book and reading those all important first few lines? Your heart racing, your mind hooked immediately… It’s even better when it’s a book you’ve been waiting to read for a while or one that comes highly recommended.

We feel this the most when it’s a book we’ve been waiting to read, but is something new, something unlike anything we’ve read for a while.

When You Promised You’d Stop Buying Books, But…

It may have only been a promise to yourself, but we both know you never intended to keep it. Were you ever really going to keep out of the local bookstore? What about thrift stores? Second-hand stores? Vinted? Amazon? There are books everywhere! You can’t expect yourself to hold out, really, not when they’re just so easy to buy…

Besides, you’ve been thinking about buying a new bookshelf for a while anyway, right? Or at least, that’s what you’ll tell everyone that asks.

When You Want to Read but Life Gets in the Way

This is genuinely how it feels knowing that all of your books are waiting at home, and you’re stuck outside at work, or in your office. It’s like heartbreak, knowing they’re there, waiting to be read, and you’ve got to… adult? Who invented that! It’s not fair!

If I’m not reading, I’m thinking about reading. Dramatically, like this.

When Your New Book Arrives in the Mail

All packages are good, but is there anything more exciting than book mail? Whether it’s a book you’ve pre-ordered or one you found online and just knew you needed it immediately, this is pretty much exactly the little dance I do when I hear the mailman come by. Cue the running to the door, to the sofa, and ripping the box open as quickly as humanly possible.

Carboard? Thrown on the floor? Bubble wrap? Torn to shreds. Book? In my hands, flicking through the covers and the pages, inhaling that oh-so-perfect new book smell.

The Best Feeling in the World

After a long day or a long week (hell, after a short day too!), there is truly nothing more wonderful than curling up in your book nook. Your drink of choice by your side, the lights just high enough to read, maybe some candles off to the side… Add in some sweet treats, or push the boat out with a tasty glass of your favorite wine, and you’re in for the perfect evening.

When You See Someone Reading One of Your Favorite Books Out in Public

Does anyone else get that little burst of excitement when they’re out in public and they see someone reading one of their all-time favorites out in the real world? Maybe on the subway, or in a cafe, or wherever?

I always feel a need to go and talk to them, to ask them if they’re enjoying the book, to tell them what I think about it. I basically just want to rush over and tell them that we’re friends now. But that’s a bit much… right?

The post 10 GIFs That Only Book Lovers Will Get appeared first on Magazine.