This Book Made Me Think of You(99)

These are just some of the adventures that I have had because of books.

The books I have read have inspired me to visit new places, have challenged me to try new things, and have taught me to think in new ways.

I am writing this from the Greek island of Kefalonia, where I have been following in the footsteps of one of my favorite books, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The setting of the novel left a lasting impression on me when I first read it many years ago. Even when the intricacies of the story faded from my memory, the sense of place remained. Some literary locations just have that impact on you, like the streets of Florence as depicted in A Room with a View or the snowy wonderland of Narnia that I can still imagine clearly if I close my eyes, conjuring glittering ice and the smell of Turkish delight.

While I unfortunately cannot visit Narnia, it struck me recently that I could visit Florence and Kefalonia. So I did. I went in search of the locations from the stories I had read, but also sought to build my own impression of these places.

In this literary column with a difference, I will be sharing my book reviews but also the experiences and journeys that have been sparked by the books I have read.

Reading has brought me a sense of escape through some of the hardest times in my life, something that I imagine might resonate with many of you. So, I hope that this column will inspire you to read. But more than that, I hope it will inspire you to live.

Because as transporting as books can be, there is a big world out there that cannot be fully contained within the pages of a book. The real magic of books is when turning the final page doesn’t mean an ending but a beginning—a beginning that only you can write. When a book sends you to a place you’ve never been or encourages you to do something new or simply to live with a little more empathy or curiosity because of the characters you have met.

I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life.

I hope you’ll join me as I share some of those journeys with you. And perhaps after reading, you might feel inspired to go to your local bookshop or library.

Look around you. Take in the sight of all the stories, all the possible versions of yourself sitting there on the shelves. If you feel a bit lost, ask for guidance. I’m sure you’ll find another bookish soul eager to help steer you on your way.

Then choose a book. Hold it close. Your own adventures are waiting for you. It’s time to turn the page.





Postcard Pinned to the Noticeboard of Book Lane


Dear Prudence, Blue, and Georgette,

Kefalonia is beautiful—the postcard doesn’t do it justice. Hope everything is well in the bookshop. Can’t wait to see you soon and tell you all about our adventures.

Lots of love, Tilly and Alfie xx





Acknowledgments


Writing and publishing a book is a real team effort, so there are many people I need to thank for helping bring this one to life. Thank you firstly to my agent, Robert Caskie, for believing in me from my very first book. It’s been quite a journey since then, and I feel very grateful to have you at my side and for everything you’ve done for me.

Thank you to the entire team at Viking for giving me a new publishing home in the UK. Especial thanks to Vikki Moynes and Harriet Bourton; also to Alice Johnstone, Amelia Evans, Monique Corless, Ellie Smith, Charlotte Faber, Georgia Taylor, Chloe Davies, Sam Fanaken, Lucy Keeler, Autumn Evans, Caitlin Knight, and Emily Cornell. Thank you to Holly Ovenden and Richard Bravery for the beautiful cover design.

A big thank-you to everyone at Berkley, my new home in North America. Thank you to Kate Seaver, Amanda Maurer, Jessica Mangicaro, Kim-Salina I, Danielle Kier, Chelsea Pascoe, Lindsey Tulloch, Christine Ball, Claire Zion, Amanda Bergeron, Jeanne-Marie Hudson, and Craig Burke. Thank you to Kelly Wagner for the beautiful cover art and Rita Frangie Batour for the cover design.

Thank you to my friends and family for all your support and for continuing to read my books (I promise I’ll still love you even if you don’t read them!). A particularly big thank-you to my husband, Bruno, for putting up with me talking nonstop about this book while I was writing it. Thank you for your suggestion of the airport scene, which is now one of my favorites. Thank you also for all you do to take care of me and our little boy, and all the ways you carve out space for me. I feel very lucky to be doing life with you.

Thank you to the friends who came along with me on research trips while I was writing this book: to Kim for learning how to make pasta with me and to Juliette for a very special trip to New York. Thank you to Harriet for your recollections of your time in Bali that helped bring that section to life (even if I really would have rather gone there myself!), and to the Nicholsons for all the trips to Italy that I drew on for the Tuscan scenes, bringing back such happy memories.

This is wholeheartedly a bookish book, so a big thank-you to all the authors whose books inspired me. It was such a treat choosing the books that would form part of Tilly’s journey. The books featured here helped Tilly heal, but reading them helped me in countless ways too. An extra special thank-you to Elizabeth Gilbert for your book Big Magic, which helps Tilly find her magic but has helped me find mine too. My copy is falling apart from being read so many times, which I take as the sign of a beloved book.

Thank you to Louise Dean, Alice Kuipers, Emylia Hall, and the rest of the Novelry gang. I have learned so much from you all and feel very grateful to have such a talented, creative, and kind bunch of people as colleagues. To the writers I coach: You have all taught me so much too. Thank you for letting me share in your own writing journeys.