Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be my 13th time participating — although for the Classics Club, it’s spin #41!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 15th June, 2025 we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 24th August, 2025..
We’ll check in on the 24th August to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 15th June 2025.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 24th August.
My spin lists are usually a mix of books from different decades and centuries, but in 2025, I’m focusing on books that count toward my 20th Century Decades reading challenge (for which I’m aiming to read one book published per decade). All of the books on my list fit the challenge! And they’re all books I’d want to read anyway… so this should be an exciting spin, no matter which number comes up.
Here we go!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
Peony by Pearl Buck
White Fang by Jack London
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Dragonwyck by Anya Seton
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on June 15th to reveal my spin result!
We booklovers tend to spend most of our “just for me” shopping dollars on books… but sometimes, it’s fun to branch out and consider book-adjacent little treats. So today, I’d like to share some of my favorite jigsaw puzzles, which are great in their own right, but also, especially great for book lovers!
Before the pandemic, I probably hadn’t done a jigsaw puzzle in over 10 years (or more). But during the pandemic, I got totally hooked, and ended up doing about one per week (and probably would have done even more, except I tend to get a bit obsessed when working on a puzzle and had to set myself some limits).
I’ve slowed down since then, so now it’s much more of an occasional hobby than a continuous activity — but I’m still always on the lookout for a great puzzle, especially when there’s a book-related angle to it!
For today’s Retail Therapy round-up, I’m focusing solely on bookish puzzles — and in fact, this is only part 1! I have so many bookish puzzles to share that I’ll just focus on one publisher this time around, and will be back with a part 2 in another week or so. I’ll also be sharing yet another post on non-book-related puzzles that I’ve found especially pretty or interesting or unique. There are a lot!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Onward: Puzzles for Book Lovers, part 1!
Here are some favorites. Why not see if any appeal to you as well?
The puzzles below are all from the world of Laurence King Publishing. They make high-quality puzzles filled with intricate details and eye-catching designs.
These are just a few of their puzzles — they’re all amazing. Each puzzle has a lot of details from the world it portrays, and comes with a fold-out poster than includes a guide to all the places and characters hidden (or not so hidden) in the illustrations. The puzzles themselves have cleanly cut pieces with a satisfying snap, and are high quality and sturdy.
Keep in mind, there are plenty more from this “World of” series to choose from! Of the others I’ve found so far, some are related to books that I don’t particularly care for (The Great Gatsby), some are from worlds/series/books that I just haven’t read in-depth (or at all) yet, and some are on my maybe/someday list. Whether or not I’m interested in the actual subjects, the puzzles themselves look great!
Stay tuned — I’ll be back with more puzzle recommendations in my next Retail Therapy post!
Earlier in the week, I shared the sad tale of the demise of my beloved Kindle Oasis. After almost eight years of happy reading, during which I took excellent care of it, one little slip resulted in it cracking on my kitchen floor. Oh, the horror!
After a suitable period of mourning (roughly, two hours), I went ahead and ordered a replacement. Amazon no longer sells the Oasis, so after reading a bunch of reviews, I decided to go with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition.
My new Kindle arrived this week — let’s take a look!
I went with a bundle option (more on purchase options later), and the various pieces arrived separately. Shown above — the box with the Kindle itself (left), plus the docking station (top right) and cover (bottom right).
You may be asking, why does a Kindle need such a big box?
Great question! It doesn’t. What a weird packing choice — it was just a mostly-empty box with the little Kindle box in it, no packing materials or anything else. Moving on…
I was happy to open up my boxes and start looking at the new Kindle! It’s very easy to get started — the new device was already registered to my account, so getting started consisted mainly of pressing the power button.
Once I turned it on, it just took a minute to sync with my wifi and load all my existing Kindle content.
The other items in my bundle are the cover, which is pretty much just what I expected, and the the wireless charging dock, something not available with the Oasis. I think I’m going to like it!
My first step, after opening the box and turning on the new Kindle, was comparing the Paperwhite to the Oasis.
The Oasis (right) is square. There’s something about its sorta-clunky shape that I actually loved! It felt good in my hands, substantial but not heavy. The new Paperwhite (left) has different dimensions, and may take me a minute to adjust to.
And yet… the actual screen size is exactly the same! So the reading experience should be just about identical, with the same amount of text per page, depending on the settings I select.
(The main feature that Oasis-lovers seem to complain about is the lack of physical page turn buttons on the the Paperwhite. I didn’t use mine all that often on the Oasis, so it doesn’t feel like a loss for me, but I get that it could be hard to give up if that’s what you’re used to.)
So… first impressions?
I noticed that even with the same brightness levels selected, the Paperwhite has a more muted tone than the Oasis. Perhaps that’s because it has warmth settings that the Oasis doesn’t have, giving the option for an amber-toned reading environment. I have warmth set at zero for now, but I’m still noticing a slightly different look from the Oasis.
It’s really not a big deal, though, and I think I’ll get used to it. Other than that, the Paperwhite is easy to use, has the same reading options and interfaces as the Oasis, and seems like a perfectly fine choice for my needs! I did notice certain features in the settings that the Oasis doesn’t have, such as Vocabulary Builder and others — not sure that I’ll use any of these, but we’ll see once I settle in a bit more.
Really, the only hiccups so far have to do with the cover. I ordered a black cover for my new Kindle, and didn’t consider the fact that my husband has the same cover on his! To avoid confusion, I’m going to send mine back and get a different color.
The other hiccup relates to missing a feature of my Oasis cover. I’ve loved having this “origami” style of cover for my old Kindle, which is incredibly useful for hands-free reading. Sadly, Amazon does not sell a standing/origami cover for my new model — and while I see a bunch of varieties sold by other manufacturers, reviews about quality and fit are mixed, at best. I’ll have to find another solution for propping up my Paperwhite!
Apart from the minor cover-related hiccups…
I’m happy with my new Kindle and its assorted accessories, and look forward to a long, happy reading life together!
And the kitty approves! Or is indifferent… who knows?
Details: Here’s the run-down on what I bought:
First, it’s good to note that Amazon has a trade-in program for devices. Read about it here. By trading in a previous device, you get a gift card and a discount on your new device purchase. My trade-in gift card was a whopping $5, but the valuable piece is the discount: 20% off the new Kindle, which made the idea of replacing my poor damaged Oasis a lot easier to accept.
I purchased the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition in metallic black. This Kindle features auto-adjusting front lighting, 32 GB storage, USB-C charging, and is waterproof (although I wouldn’t want to put that to the test!).
Dimensions and specs (click images to enlarge):
Amazon offers bundled pricing, which saves a bit vs buying the accessories separately. I opted for the bundle which includes a fabric cover and the wireless docking station. Other bundles (at a higher price) include leather covers in a few color options, but I’m perfectly happy with fabric.
Available add-ons include screen protectors and a protection plan. I didn’t opt for either — but I’m considering the protection plan. There’s a 30-day window to add this. For $25, it provides two years of replacement coverage. That wouldn’t have helped me with my Oasis… but in case I get stupidly clumsy again with my new device, it might be nice to have.
We are gathered here today to mark the passing of a true friend, a source of companionship and countless happy memories, a constant presence who has enriched my life on a daily basis during all of our many years together.
Please join me in mourning the passing… of my Kindle Oasis.
I bought my Oasis in November of 2017, and it’s been wonderful. I loved the display quality, the size, the weight, the ease of use. A nice uncluttered look, easy to hold, highly portable.
Alas, it’s now being laid to rest.
It’s really all my fault. I was trying to continue reading while carrying other things from room to room, and it slipped and fell on the tile floor of my kitchen — with the cover open. I’m usually so careful! The poor Kindle landed face down, and I heard the crack as soon as it happened.
And here’s the result:
No one, apparently, fixes Kindle screens, and Amazon doesn’t offer repairs. The only choice is to live with it, which isn’t a long-term solution (it’s not only got cracks all across the reading surface, but it’s a little splintery too), or replace it.
Guess which I’m opting for?
Sadly, Amazon no longer sells the Kindle Oasis. Sigh. So I’m ordering myself a new Paperwhite, and it’ll be here later this week.
On the plus side, they do have a trade-in program. I get a whopping $5 gift card for sending back my Oasis, but the more valuable feature is a 20% discount on the new device. Between that, a gift card that I’ve been holding on to, and my credit card points, my total purchase price for a the Paperwhite Signature bundle (which includes a fabric case and wireless charging dock) comes to under $100. So I don’t feel too terrible about that.
My new Kindle will arrive by the weekend, and it will be time to send off my Oasis.
Cheers to you, my beloved Oasis! We’ve really had a good run.
I’m trying something new: I thought I’d start doing a semi-regular/recurring feature to highlight different categories of “stuff” I’ve bought recently and recommend.
Honestly, I’m a little on the fence… I’m not a big fan of consumerism, and I’m definitely pro-library, swapping, sharing, etc. But still, I do shop online for most of my day-to-day needs these days, so why not pass along a few recommendations when I find something worth talking about?
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Today’s topic: Bookish Delights!
Below is a round-up of book-related goodies I’ve enjoyed in recent months. Any of these would be terrific gifts for a booklover… or why not treat yourself once in a while?
Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light:
I love this! It’s a small, portable, book light that clips on to your book (but I also use it with my Kindle). It’s been great for travel, especially for those jet-laggy sort of nights when I can’t sleep and want to keep reading with disturbing my partner!
It comes in five different colors, and is inexpensive too! I originally discoverd this light through a Wirecutter recommendation, and I’m so glad I gave it a try!
Found on Etsy, these bookmark holders don’t take up much space, and they’re just so cute!
They come in a variety of colors, so choose your fave. I got one to sit on my shelf, and another for my Little Free Library so I could have a way to give away bookmarks as well as books.
I bought one of these for my husband a couple of years ago when he first started using a Kindle, and he swears by it! The exact version that I bought him doesn’t seem to be available any longer, but if I had to replace it, I think I’d get this one. It’s a similar shape, plus it has pockets!
This might not seem obviously book-related… but who doesn’t love to be cozy while curled up with a good book? I bought this pack of six for myself, and when my daughter started stealing borrowing them from me, I ended up getting her a pack of her own.
Cute colors, super cuddly, and they hold up well too!
Stickers, T-shirts, notepads, and more for book fanatics via Kingdom of Threads:
This Etsy shop has everything needed to make a book nerd’s heart beat faster. Pictured is one of the awesome stickers I ordered from them (Wolfsong fans will instantly get the reference)… but I couldn’t stop at just one, and bought a LOT of stickers and other goodies. Everything is just so… epic & awesome!
This is a great source for artwork, cards, puzzles, and more!
I love everything on this site, and if I had unlimited funds, I just know I’d go way, way overboard. (I mean, I would like a custom piece of artwork featuring all of my favorite books!)
Meanwhile, for those of us on a budget, there are pins and prints and other fun items to choose from.
The book pictured here makes a wonderful gift for booklovers. Amazon has it available here, and you can also find it on Bookshop.org.
Book sleeves:
I love my padded book sleeves! My daughter gifted these to me a few years ago, and I use them all the time, whenever I want to read on the go. They’re perfect for travel, or even just for days when I’m running around locally but want to have a book handy.
My book sleeves were from an Etsy store called Beyond Booked, but they don’t seem to be active any longer. There are lots of other makers selling book sleeves, in many varieties — different fabrics, some with zippers or pockets, padded or not padded.
My preference is for the simple design, open top, with nice padding. I’ve found an Etsy shop — Carlton Quilts — that seems to have very similar work to the book sleeves I have, with these fabrics plus lots of other really cute patterns.
There are three sizes to choose from:
Small – fits mass market paperbacks
Medium – fits trade paperbacks (pictured above, left)
Large – fits hardcovers (picture above, right)
I’ve found that the medium size is also perfect for my Kindle! Even though I have a Kindle cover, I still prefer to have it cushioned when I travel with it, so I use my medium book sleeve all the time!
I’ve been a fan of the amazing array of bookish goodies sold by Out of Print for a long time now (and can prove it, if you feel like looking inside my t-shirt drawer or checking out my somewhat impressive collection of totebags)!
They carry such a great mix of products featuring book cover images, character images, and all sort of fantastic bookish graphics, and feature themes including everything from classics to hot-this-moment books (like Fourth Wing, Sunrise on the Reaping, and Emily Henry’s books, to name just a few).
Many of their items are available through their Amazon storefront, but you can also shop directly at https://outofprint.com/.
I would be remiss in not highlighting the fact that this weekend is Independent Bookstore Day! While I’ve provided Amazon links for some of the items above, I do encourage everyone to make an effort to support your local bookstores! Stop by in person if you can (I have it on good authority from my favorite local bookseller that they love seeing friendly faces come through their doors!), or if you prefer online shopping, don’t forget that purchases from Bookshop.org support independent bookstores.
On the topic of bookish goodies, do you have any favorite book-related accessories or gifts to recommend?
And — ta da! — that’s it for my first Retail Therapy feature! What do you think? Should I do more of these?
I’m not a fan of influencers or gossip magazines or tabloid news. I’m not wowed by famous people, don’t select my clothes based on what the stars are wearing, and couldn’t care less about lifestyles of the rich and famous.
But books? That’s a whole different matter.
I’m here now to proclaim my heartfelt opinion: Celebrity book clubs are good for readers, good for authors, good for the publishing industry, and… dare I say it?… good for the world in general!
Why? Because they get people to read, of course.
If you’re here reading this blog, chances are you’re a book fanatic — like me! — and need no encouragement to pick up a book wherever, whenever. (The hard part is getting us to put the books down — amirite?)
But for plenty of less avid readers who sometimes need a bit of inspiration or motivation, celebrity book clubs can be the perfect way to spread the word and get books into more readers’ hands. And even for die-hard book lovers (*raising my hand*), checking out celebrity book club picks can lead to discovering books that might not otherwise have crossed our radar.
I think we can all agree that Oprah Winfrey is the godmother of the modern-era celebrity book club. There are plenty to choose from now, but in 1996, when she unveiled her first book and introduced the book club concept on her daytime talk show, it was a groundbreaking moment.
Per Wikipedia: The book club’s first selection on September 17, 1996, was the then recently published novel The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard.
Since then, Oprah has been joined by many, many other celebrity-sponsored book clubs — some with consistently great picks, some that make me give a little side-eye — and while I say (again) that anything that gets people reading is fabulous, not every club or selection will be for every reader.
Beyond that, being chosen for one of the high-profile celebrity book clubs is often a breakthrough moment for authors. These books tend to end up on bestseller lists, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the impact can be life-changing (and certainly career-changing) for authors.
These days, if I remember, I keep my eye on the monthly selections for Reese’s Book Club (Reese Witherspoon), GMA Book Club (Good Morning America), Read with Jenna (Jenna Bush Hager of The Today Show)… and Oprah too, of course.
I thought I’d share some of the books I’ve love that I’ve either discovered through these book clubs, or read and then discovered that they were book club selections.
And finally, going back to the GOAT of celebrity book clubs…
Among other wonderful things that Oprah has done by popularizing great books through her book club, she’s made a point of including classic fiction among her selections. Here’s a look at some of the classics she’s chosen over the years — I’m highlighting the ones that I’ve read, although until just now, I didn’t realize that they were Oprah picks!
And here are other Oprah books I’ve read. As with the other book clubs mentioned, I didn’t necessarily pick up these books directly because of Oprah… but I think for many, she gets the credit for making them so widely discussed and shared, which one way or another really raised awareness of these books.
I should point out that it’s thanks to Oprah that I first read a book by author Chris Bohjalian (Midwives)… and he’s become one of my favorite authors!
This round-up really just scratches the surface when it comes to celebrities promoting books! I’ve highlighted the book clubs that seem to consistently choose books I enjoy — although I certainly pick and choose which of their selections to read, even for the clubs I follow. Again, not every book is for every reader! And also, if I read every single one of their selections, when would I find the time to read anything else???
I’ll note that I’ve found some other interesting books that are tied to celebrity book clubs; notably, in the last year or so, I’ve read two of Mindy Kaling’s recommended books, and have a couple of others bookmarked to come back to at some point:
As I’ve said, there are lots of celebrities promoting lots of books, and while I might not be interested in all of them — either the celebrities or the specific books — I do wholeheartedly endorse anything that gets more people interested in reading and discussing books!
Do you follow celebrity book clubs? Are there any whose picks you find especially worthwhile? Have you ever discovered an amazing book thanks to one of these (or any other) celebrity book club? I’d love to hear your experiences!
Purchase links: There are obviously too many books in this post to provide links to every single one! But if you’re interested in clicking through, here are a few places to start:
Earlier in the week, I shared a post with my list of books for the newest Classics Club Spin challenge (see it here), and a few days ago, this spin’s number was announced. (For those keeping track, it’s CCSpin #40, and for me personally, #12!)
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up.
For CCSpin #40, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
Dracula by Bram Stoker (published 1897)
Synopsis:
‘Young lawyer Jonathan Harker journeys to Transylvania to meet with the mysterious Count Dracula only to discover that his nobleman client is a vampire who is thirsty for new blood. After imprisoning Harker in his castle, Dracula travels to England to seduce Jonathan’s fiancée, Mina, and the battle against an ineffable evil begins.
Led by philosopher and metaphysician Professor Van Helsing – Dracula’s most indomitable adversary – Harker, Mina, and a band of allies unite, determined to confront and destroy the Count before he can escape.
Bram Stoker ingeniously modernized gothic folklore by moving his vampire from traditional castle ruins to modern England. With Dracula, which has been interpreted and dissected by scholars for generations, Stoker changed the vampire novel forever.
Okay! This is a good result! What’s funny is that I replaced all but two of the books on my spin list this time around with 20th century classics related to a reading challenge I’ve committed to, and Dracula was one of the only two exceptions. But that’s fine!
I actually have read Dracula before, but it’s been decades, and I’ve been meaning to do a reread for ages now — it’s been on every one of my spin lists since I started participating, and I guess it was time for its number to come up.
I’m excited to dive in. I’m also super tempted to treat myself to a gorgeous hardcover edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey as a little motiviating gift to myself… should I give in to temptation?
I haven’t quite decided on my reading format. There’s a full cast Audible edition of the unabridged text that looks like it would be an amazing listen.
What do you think, read the physical book or listen to the audiobook?
And most importantly: What do you think of my spin result this time around?
The deadline to finish this spin is April 11th. I’ll be back with my reaction to Dracula before then!
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #40:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Peony by Pearl Buck
White Fang by Jack London
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be my 12th time participating — although for the Classics Club, it’s spin #40!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 16th February 2025 we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 11th April, 2025.
We’ll check in on the 11th April to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 16th February 2025.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 11th April.
Usually, when a new spin is announced, I simply replace the book chosen on the last spin, and otherwise keep the rest of my list intact. This time, though, I’m making several substitutions: I’m participating in a 20th Century Decades reading challenge in 2025, aiming to read one book published per decade. To support that, I’m swapping out almost* all of the books on my list published prior to 1900, and replacing them** with books that fit my challenge.
*Exceptions: Dracula and Frankenstein have both been on my lists since I started participating in these spins, and I’m still waiting for their numbers to come up.
**Have no fear! I’m making note of which books I’m (temporarily) removing from my spin list, and will add them back for future spins, once I make progress on my reading challenge!
All that intro out of the way…
Here we go!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Peony by Pearl Buck
White Fang by Jack London
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Porter
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on February 16th to reveal my spin result!
Gotta love the year-end stats from Goodreads and StoryGraph! Being new to StoryGraph this year, I’m not quite used to its features, and I seem to have a few books missing in terms of my total numbers. Still, it’s fun to look back and see what my reading habits were in 2024.
First, according to Goodreads:
Quick note: My “shortest book” was actually an audiobook… hence the lack of a page count!
I completed my 2024 Reading Challenge… but keep in mind my total includes graphic novels and children’s books as well as novels and big, heavy books.
I’m starting a little lower with my target for 2025 (160 books) — we’ll see how it goes!
Over on Storygraph, the stats are a little different, and much more detailed — but most of what ended up on StoryGraph for me was based on my import from Goodreads. I suspect next year’s year-end stats will be a bit different:
Not sure which books I’m missing on StoryGraph… but too lazy to figure it out!Hmm… actually, I think the difference is books which are only available as audiobooks — StoryGraph counts audio separately.
If I’m correct and StoryGraph doesn’t count books that are strictly audio in the same mix as print/ebooks, that would explain why my shortest book of the year is different on StoryGraph than on Goodreads!
I knew I read quite a bit by Kelley Armstrong and Abby Jimenez this past year — but didn’t realize quite how much! And on the flip side, it’s nice to see how many new-to-me authors I tried.
I’m not taking my average rating too seriously for 2024 — as I mentioned, most of the data came from my Goodreads import, and a key difference between the platforms (one of many) is that StoryGraph allows for half-stars in ratings. I suspect my averages will look quite different at the end of 2025.
It’s actually startling to see how many books I read from series! I’m not surprised at the number of re-reads — I do love to revisit favorite books, especially via audiobook.
Well… that was fun! I don’t take any of the stats too seriously, but it is fun to see how my year’s reading looks as a whole. Maybe I’ll explore new territory in 2025 and shake things up a bit!
Or not — I’m looking forward to a year of reading whatever I feel like!
In the midst of the last-minute, pre-holiday gift buying frenzy, I’d like to take a moment to recognize a few non-profits whose work supports reading, access to books, libraries, literacy programs, and more. If you’re looking to make donations to worthy causes before the end of the year, why not consider something near and dear to the hearts of booklovers?
I thought I’d share information on bookish nonprofits I’ve supported at various times over the past several years.
First Book is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or zip code, can succeed, by removing barriers to equitable education. We reach 6.5 million kids each year in low-income communities across North America, providing books and resources through a powerful network of more than 600,000 individual educators, professionals and volunteers specifically serving children in need. This is the largest online community of its kind. By infusing high-quality resources into classrooms and programs nationwide, we level the playing field so that kids are ready to learn — because education transforms lives.
Little Free Library: Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.
Our vision is a Little Free Library in every community and a book for every reader. We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.
And digging a little deeper:
How do we achieve our mission and vision?
Providing 24/7 book access. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and are freely accessible to all, removing barriers to book access.
Fostering new Little Free Libraries. Little Free Library (LFL) equips, educates, and guides volunteer stewards to establish Little Free Libraries in their communities.
Granting Little Free Libraries to high-need areas. Through our programs, LFL grants no-cost Little Free Libraries full of books to underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities.
Championing diverse books. Through our Read in Color program, LFL makes books available representing BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse voices to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusion.
Working with key community partners. LFL collaborates with schools, public libraries, civic organizations, businesses, and other groups to bring Little Free Libraries to their communities.
JWI does all sorts of valuable community work, but in the context of book-related nonprofits, I want to highlight JWI’s National Library Initiative:
For a woman fleeing an abusive relationship, the immediacy of danger often means leaving home with only her children and the clothes on their backs.
JWI helps ease this traumatic upheaval by creating children’s libraries in domestic violence shelters – transforming basic spaces into comforting havens with colorful furniture and rugs, computers and toys, and hundreds of new books that represent the diversity of the women and children served.
For kids whose lives have been upended by violence, JWI libraries provide a safe place to relax, escape into a book, and keep up with homework when they’re most at risk of falling behind.
Our goal is to complete 100 fully-furnished new libraries in shelters across the country, and restock the shelves as each child leaves the shelter with a favorite book in hand, ready to start a new life.
In 2022, JWI launched two new spaces for teens and women living in shelters to find respite and comfort.
The new spaces are peaceful oases where survivors and their teen children can access laptops to find employment and do schoolwork, quietly read, and heal together.
The next two are nonprofits I’ve come across because of particular authors I follow:
Overlooking Cook Inlet and the heart-stopping grandeur of the Aleutian Mountain Range, Storyknife Writers Retreat, a literary nonprofit located in Homer, Alaska, hosts residencies for women from Alaska, across the United States, and internationally. Our mission is to give women writers the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Storyknife provides women with a community to support their efforts, lifting their voices.
Founded in 2014 by author Dana Stabenow, Storyknife is now open for residencies.
Scottish Book Trust: Supporting reading and literacy projects throughout Scotland.
Scottish Book Trust works to tackle inequality and break the poverty cycle through access to books and reading. Since 2020, Scottish Book Trust has distributed over 300,000 books to children and families in need through food banks, community hubs and other charities across Scotland.
And this is one that I haven’t personally contributed to (yet), but it was recently mentioned to me by a friend connected to a military family, and I thought it sounded amazing!
United Through Reading: Supports both reading and emotional connection for military families.
Deployments and frequent separations are a reality for military families. In fact, every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. That’s millions of bedtime stories missed each year by military children.
United Through Reading knows that hearing a parent’s voice and seeing their face is a truly unique experience that cannot be replaced. That’s why our storytime video recordings are able to be watched on-demand with their own copy of the book, whenever the child misses their service member. Being read to by a parent helps military children feel like their parents are closer to home, reducing stress and anxiety levels and making it easier to cope while their parents are away.
Our storytime video recordings also have many developmental benefits for military children. The shared read aloud experience expands their literacy, vocabulary, and imagination. Also, according to a National Academies of Sciences study, reading stories aloud is associated with positive child outcomes in emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social competence.
United Through Reading provides benefits for all military family members, not just children. Through these storytime video recordings, servicemembers are also able to maintain close emotional bonds with their families at home, reducing feelings of separation or loneliness and helping them reintegrate to home life when they return.
Support your local library! Our libraries do so much for us as individuals, as readers, and as community members. Why not show them a little love in return?
Of course, there are many more worthy organization supporting reading and literacy efforts across the US and around the world. Here are just a few that I’ve come across:
Do you have any favorite nonprofits that support reading, literacy, libraries, writing, or other book-related causes? Please feel free to share links in the comments!
Bookshelf Fantasies 