Bookish, Lately
January's Book Recommendations + Commonplace Book Quotes
The Walking Book Club
The Walking Book Club (TWBC) met the last Friday of January for our discussion of the following books:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, published in 1847
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim, published in 1922
The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery, published in 1926
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, published in 1930
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, published in 1932
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, published in 1814
We met at one of our regular spots along the bay. Even though we’ve had some chilly weather, Friday was warmish and beautiful.
We listened to all of these titles, otherwise there would probably be only one book on the list for me. I enjoy audiobooks because I can listen as I drive, walk or work on rote tasks.
Now for the January books I recommend in order of my personal favorites. I’m only recommending my top three of the January books.
#1 The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim - I wrote about this delightful book in my last note to you. To thoroughly enjoy and explore the themes and symbolism, I do recommend listening to The Literary Life Podcast in their discussions of the book. See the post I linked above for all the details I previously shared.
As a point of interest, I started a new commonplace book, in order to make bookish notes. My last commonplace book contained three years worth of notes and bits of information, art sketches, written prayers, original poetry, etc., that I wanted to record in one journal. I didn’t keep a commonplace book in 2025 and I’ve really missed the practice! New to the idea of a commonplace book? Here is a good source to learn more. Another informative post here and here.
Each book I read in January has a designated page. I include title, author, publication date and quotes from the book as well as artwork.
#2 Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, published in 1814 - At first I thought this book was a tad boring but when I began listening to The Literary Life Podcast’s discussion of it…wow. That was a game changer. I now view—rightly or wrongly—the book as a demonstration of character traits and morals, rather than a story about a group of people. Perhaps the main characters are Temperance and Temptation and, ultimately, which character will rule the day and which will rue the day.
Temperance - defined as the practice of moderation and restraint against excesses of any sort.
#3 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, published first in 1847 under her pen name, Currer Bell - This is a gothic novel with a dark mystery, supernatural elements and intense emotions. I see the heroine, Fanny Price of Mansfield Park, and Jane Eyre as very similar in their constancy of high moral character and temperance.
Commonplace Book Quotes
The Enchanted April
“And then they were arrived; and it was San Salvatore; and their suit-cases were waiting for them; and they were not murdered.” (I laughed out loud at this line because it speaks so well of my own travel anxiety!)
“Beauty made you love and love made you beautiful.”
Mansfield Park
“The charm is broken; my eyes are opened.”
“I was quiet but I was not blind.”
“Let us have the luxury of silence.”
Jane Eyre
“There is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort.”
“We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel His presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us; and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence.”
Have I enticed you to read any of my favorites from January? I hope so. Now, kind readers, do you have a book recommendation for The Walking Book Club?
By the way, I noticed that Audible has a free month’s trial. Cancel before your 30 days has expired or you will be charged the regular monthly rate. But, I’ll add that I also listened to some of the books for free on my Spotify account. You just have to search for the title and look for books in the “public domain” to find the free audiobook versions.
Yay! I actually sent another happy-mail before the end of the month (by the skin of my teeth)!
Keep Creative (and cozy),
Melanie