A Meeting of Minds
My Bookstack — A Meeting of Minds
There’s a stack of books that’s been growing next to my chair—a quiet gathering of titles that seem to speak to each other and, somehow, to me.
Some were gifts from friends who know me well; others I discovered on my own. Together, they’ve become a kind of company, offering inspiration and reflection in small, steady doses.
I’m not reading them in order or rushing to finish. Instead, I’ve been moving between them, picking one up for a chapter or two, then setting it down and reaching for another when the mood strikes. It’s a slower, more thoughtful way to read—letting the ideas linger, overlap, and spark something new.
Each of these books offers something different. Some make me pause and think; others make me smile or remind me to look more closely at the world around me. Together, they’ve created a rhythm in my days—something to return to when I need a moment of stillness, a new perspective, or simply the comfort of good words on a page.
Reading, for me, is a great soother—especially when life feels heavy or full. There are days when I need a break from the thoughts that weigh on my mind, and it’s often between the pages of a book that I find the space to breathe.
Sometimes the words offer a solution; other times, it’s simply the act of reading itself that helps me reframe my thoughts. I find solace, friendship, and inspiration in books—my version of bibliotherapy.
Here’s what’s in my current stack:
+A Brook of Our Own by Marjory Gane Harkness
A reminder of the beauty of place and landscape.
+What the Chicken Knows by Sy Montgomery
Full of curiosity and the unexpected wisdom of animals.
+The Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar
A deep, thoughtful read I’m working through slowly.
+A Brief Affair by Alex Miller
A story of memory and the complexities of connection.
+A Philosophy of Walking by Frédéric Gros
A favorite when I need to clear my head and see the world differently.
+A Woman’s Path edited by Anne Lamott and Jennifer Leo
A collection of essays from women around the world.
+Six Walks by Ben Shattuck
Reflections on walking and wondering, something I’ve been drawn to lately.
+The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
Atmospheric and poetic, perfect for quieter days.
+Daybook: The Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt
A thoughtful gift from a friend, inviting reflection on the creative life.
+Growing Old by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
A wise and honest look at aging.
+Monadnock Tales by Edie Clark
Stories rooted in the place I now call home.
I imagine many of you have a similar stack somewhere—books you’re reading slowly, letting them find their place in your thoughts.
If so, I’d love to know what’s in yours.
And on that note— a little play on words from the titles of my bookstack.
Soft Hours
A path, a woman,
the hush of rural wood.
She walks before the world wakes,
journal tucked close,
where whispers gather and grow.
Time is brief,
hours are old,
the deal is simple:
own your quiet,
believe you are enough.
Somewhere, an island dreams,
an artist stirs,
and a madwoman laughs,
growing wilder in the mist.
— Jeanne xx
