Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill is a lovely book devoted to the pleasures of reading. I enjoyed how very English it is, although, often as not that made feel stupid. I think of myself as adoring English literature but there is so much I have missed. Most pressing is Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens. I read a lot of Dickens in high school and Bleak House some time in the last decade. How come I don't even recognize the title of Our Mutual Friend? Especially, considering that Susan Hill selected it as a top pick.

There is a lot of name dropping which would probably be more fun to people who recognize the names. But it's not just about the names but the relationships between authors, a pre-blog look at the places and times those authors connected over coffee and discussed books, and plays, and music.

This is a cozy look at reading, perfect for this time of year.