Cathy Rentzenbrink's memoir The Last Act of Love is a must-read for anyone who's ever lost someone. Books have been an important force in Cathy's life, since being a bookseller and then working for the magazine of the same name, while realising that she could become a writer too. Dear Reader isn't the same sort of book, but it does dwell on grief and how books can be a supporting force during times of loss.

One to dip in and out of, especially if you trust Rentzenbrink's taste, which I absolutely do; though I do wonder if a list of people's favourite books is always going to have limited appeal and something like this may be better as an app or website that people could contribute to - destroying the point of all the book-love, I know, but it feels as though something may be missing here that Rentzenbrink's knowledge of books and the book market might have helped to bridge, rather than dwelling mainly on emotional connections (I mean, who doesn't like Adrian Mole)?

This was such an interesting read as someone who considers themselves a big reader. It really made me think about how reading has helped me throughout my life,.

I am never going to say no to a bibliomemoir. And a bibliomemoir with the thesis of exploring the comfort and joy of books only holds extra appeal. The only issue that I tend to have with the genre is that I always have my own thoughts which I am dying to share and then it feels like a conversation where I am stuck on one side of the glass, unable to get a word in but with so many opinions. Basically, I have never read a bibliomemoir which did not make me want to take its author out for coffee and talk their face off and Dear Reader was no exception. Bookseller and bookworm Cathy Rentzenbrink has become a well-known commentator on books and publishing in recent years. In this book, she details her life in books both from her childhood as a reader through to her career in bookshops, starting off at the Waterstone's stand in Harrods and up through the chain and beyond. Rentzenbrink is emphatic about the restorative power of books and how reading can foster connections. In this warm-hearted and deeply personal memoir, she explains how books have put her back together following serious grief and beyond.

For those already aware of Rentzenbrink's background from her previous memoir The Last Act of Love, the early section of the book feels like a slight  retread. She does not dwell on the tragic circumstances around her younger brother Matty's tragic accident, eight years in a coma and final death, but the agony of it is obvious. As with so many bibliomemoirs, the early section introducing her reader credentials feels very familiar. It's hard to really jazz this up though as we all have the same origin story. Bookworms all love books before they can read, read on the playground and are socially awkward to a greater or lesser degree. Cathy Rentzenbrink is definitely one of us. The book gathers steam though as it moves towards her career as a bookseller, shining the mechanics of shop work and the career trajectory through the sector. Rentzenbrink describes how she worked  to champion books from the shop floor to becoming involved with Quick Reads and The Bookseller. Scattered through the book are various lists of book recommendations ranging from pubs in books (Rentzenbrink is the child of a publican), orphans in books to the more prosaic 'series books'.

The strength of Dear Reader comes from Rentzenbrink's clear warmth as a person. She is a good person trying desperately to keep it together after a devastating loss and she is using books to heal. I had utter and complete respect for that. But for someone who was clearly a skilled and experienced bookseller, I found her lists of book recommendations rather disappointing. While I could wholeheartedly agree with the running thread which sees her champion Penelope Lively's Moon Tiger, others felt less inspired. It feels disappointingly 'obvious' to recommend Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia. From someone with her depth of knowledge in the industry, I expected greater originality. While she may have been trying to go for mass appeal for a general audience, this feels unnecessary given that she is writing a bibliomemoir. You can safely assume that your readership do not require plot summaries for Harry Potter or The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We're all readers here.

When I think of the best bookseller recommendations that I have ever had, I think of the bookseller in Broadhursts in Southport who encouraged me to try Rivers of London. And while that series may be more mainstream now, it really wasn't back in 2011. I remember my first visit to Mr B's Emporium where they strongly pushed The Missing, a truly fantastic read which I had never heard of before. For me, giving books is one of my love languages and it has been hard for me to grow up and realise that not everybody wants books and even if they do, they may not enjoy the same books that I do. Learning how to think up the right book for someone has been a journey but when I actually get it right and make a hit, it is one of the best feelings in the world. Recently, I had a brainwave and realised that my godmother would be well-suited to Death and the Penguin and to my delight, I was correct. Matchmaking between reader and book takes thought but Dear Reader never really seems to steer off the beaten track.

Despite my quibbles about the execution, I still felt huge affection for this book. I really strongly related to Rentzenbrink's description of rebuilding herself through books. At the darkest and bleakest times of my life, reading has always been the light that guided me through. My books have been my shield, my bunker, my place to hide. I remember being very tearful during the extremely early days with one of our babies and my partner ordered me to go lie down and read for half an hour because he knew I needed it. One line in Dear Reader struck a particular chord, "It is the most central aspect of my identity; the truest thing I could say about myself is, ‘I am a reader.’" When I read a bibliomemoir, it always feels like hearing from another member of the tribe.

I was also fascinated by Rentzenbrink's remark that, 'Anyone who has read The Last Act of Love knows me far better than someone who knows me in real life but hasn’t.’ I’m far more truthful in writing than in person'. I found myself wondering whether that was also true for me. Certainly there are things on this site that I have discussed here but almost never in real life. I have wrestled with my relationship with my absent father, I have meditated on heartbreak, I have discussed deep personal trauma. But yet I also hold up a veil in certain areas, not least because I had a disturbing incident where someone clearly did think that reading my blog meant that he had some privileged knowledge of my real life. The result there was a spooky few weeks of wondering whether every older middle aged man I saw in the street could be him and then taking a deep breath and managing to shut the whole thing down hard. I am always surprised by the notion that real people actually read what I have written. I remember being at a meet up of a club that I used to attend and an acquaintance made a remark to me based on something I had recently posted on here. This was not creepy but it did surprise me. Do blog readers know me better than people in real life who have never looked at it once? I really don't know. But the question has intrigued me.

What I loved most about Dear Reader though was how Rentzenbrink championed reading for oneself. Not for improvement, not for bragging points, not for any sense of accomplishment but just as an activity to bring yourself comfort and happiness. While I have never read anything by Jilly Cooper, I understood completely that sense of recognising the possible flaws of a book and just not caring because it is fun anyway. In times of stress, I have read books lacking any kind of literary merit because they actually make me happy rather than musing on the futile of existence. It can be hard as a recovering literature student to remind yourself that it is ok to read something for pleasure rather than to analyse it. Rentzenbrink has become a powerful voice in the book world celebrating open access to reading and this hymn to reading enjoyment feels incredibly important. It can be so hurtful when people turn up their noses at the books you have loved and Rentzenbrink's words shine like a beacon, 'Don’t allow anything to dent your reading pleasure. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you like isn’t proper, that what brings comfort and ease to your soul isn’t good enough'.

Dear Reader is a warm book written by someone who loves reading and who has worked hard to help other people to love it too. I should also mention that reading Rentzenbrink's recommendation of it inspired me to finally get Elizabeth Jane Howard's memoir Slipstream down from the shelf and actually read it and that turned into one of my favourite reads of last year. Definitely a book best enjoyed by a bibliophile, Dear Reader is a highly welcome addition to the bibliomemoir shelf. 'Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved books. She still does. She always will'. Words to live by.

Like a big hug! This exploration of life through books had me scribbling down the recommendations! Part memoir, part love letter to a life of reading, Dear Reader is a really lovely, open hearted book.

Dear Reader is Cathy Rentzenbrink's ode to the power, joy, and comfort of reading. Cathy has always been an avid reader. Like many people, reading has helped Cathy through many of life's ups and downs including her brother Matty's accident, her career as a bookseller, and her life as an author.

Dear Reader is written with a warmth and humour that makes it feel like your simply chatting to Cathy over coffee about books.

I liked this book a lot. It's such a pleasant road down memory lane not only of many books I have also read (and many that I look forward to reading in the future). but also a foray into the author's life, the events that have brought her where she is today and how the various books that have accompanied her throughout fit into that. Very nicely done and beautifully narrated.

Thank you to the editor and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

A hearwarming thought provoking read. thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

I've since read this twice, a beautiful book that reminds me of the reasons I love books and reading, through the various throws of life. Recommend to any lover of reading and / or books!

Unable to send comments due to judging responsibilities. Stars reflect opinion which highlight how joyous, comforting and a treasure of a book this is for dipping into and keeping close by

I just love Cathy's writing - lyrical, understated, filled with meaning. This was a total joy from start to finish.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

This is the perfect book for a book lover, examining her love for books and the stories they tell. It was beautifully written and I really enjoyed it!

This is Cathy’s exploration of her life through books and reading.

Dear Reader is a book by a bookworm for bookworms. It really captured the essence and love of books and reading throughout the book. It was wonderfully nostalgic about childhood reading in particular. This aspect really made my book loving heart sing.

Alongside the books and reading Cathy weaves in her own life and in particular her grief for her brother. I found her discussions of working in bookshops really interesting.

This was a lovely, cosy read about books and the joy of reading.

AD - This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you, we featured this in “How to navigate life as a young adult and beyond: a survival guide in 42 brilliant books.”

Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink

For as long as she can remember, Cathy Rentzenbrink has lost and found herself in stories. Growing up, she was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, it was books that kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.

Dear Reader is the ultimate love letter to reading and to finding the comfort and joy in stories.

An absolute beauty of a book - a must read for any lover of books. Through her memories and encounters with books throughout her life, Rentzenbrink allows you to feel like you're sat with a friend, discussing the books that have made us and why reading is such an important part of peoples lives. It is, in itself, a comfort and joy. A perfect wrapped up with a blanket, sipping on a cup of tea read for any lifelong lover of books.

If you like books then you will like this, a deep dive into all things books. An informative read that could introduce new literature to you.

I can never resist a book about books/reading, so snapped this one up as soon as I saw it!

Unlike some others in this genre – Ex Libris, Bookworm – Cathy Rentzenbrink goes into less detail about the books themselves, choosing instead to provide short potted summaries or observations within categorised lists, such as ‘books about reading’, or ‘books about loss’. I really enjoyed the way the books were grouped together and found it very useful in making my own inevitable must-read list as I went along, but I have to admit that I was left longing for more about each book while the author had already skipped on to the next one.

What Rentzenbrink brings that other reading-rapture authors did not, is a fascinating insight into the backstage world of book: the writing, the selling, the editing and the marketing. These are aspects that we don’t get to hear about as much, and as someone who longed to break into publishing from a young age but was put off by repeated assurances that you ‘need to know people’ to do so, I was heartened to follow Cathy’s path from an avid young reader to the successful all-round-literary professional we see today.

There is also a substantial proportion of the book dedicated to the author’s brother, Matty, and her overwhelming grief at his loss. I found these portions of the story incredibly touching, as they are told with a simple, raw honesty and complete openness about the process of dealing with such a tragedy (or, at times, not dealing with it). This intimate tone continues throughout the whole book, giving the sense that you are hearing the thoughts of a close friend on reading, writing and life in general.

Most of all, though, this book is a love song dedicated to books and, as a fervent booklover myself, I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in someone else’s reads for a change and ‘meeting’ a kindred spirit in librophilia. There is nothing better than sharing that #booklove!




'Every book holds a memory. When you hold a book in your hand, you access not only the contents of that book but the fragments of the previous selves that you where when you read it.'

– Cathy Rentzenbrink, Dear Reader


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

As an avid reader and book lover, what else could I do but absolutely love this book? Reading it was like a great big hug ... that I eventually wanted to squirm out of but only so I could go and find the book I'd just rediscovered! The author's love of reading shines out of every page and her enthusiasm is completely infectious. I loved her recommendations which demonstrated the breadth of her reading interests. I loved the insights into working in bookshops. I loved her family history. I loved that she wanted something to do while her baby slept - she managed an entire OU course (and I'm crying because my baby slept once and I folded some towels!) It was joyous and inspiring and exactly the kind of thing that makes bookworms feel all glowy inside. I am going to buy a physical copy for myself and I would also buy for any of my bookish friends as it would make a lovely gift.

Reading this memoir about the role that books and reading have played in the author’s life was wonderful and something I could completely relate to. Cathy writes with passion about how books have helped her through tragedies which was very moving. Interspersing chapters of her life with books that were important at that time or that she now relates with the period gave the book a deeper structure and meaning than some similar books I have read. I hadn’t previously realised that she was also a Waterstones bookseller for several years so it was great for me to read about her experiences with the business.

Many of the books she writes about are ones that I love, but I’ve also added a few more to my ‘to be read’ list from her recommendations.

A love letter to books and reading, this is a must read for any fellow bookworm or bookseller.

Cathy Rentzenbrink takes us on a wonderful journey through her life through the books that have accompanied her along the way. I found myself scribbling notes of books I wanted to read when I finished this one! A delight.