As a book lover, I have always been drawn to stories that feature bookish characters. There is something inherently relatable about a character who finds solace, joy, or meaning in the pages of a book. Whether they are voracious readers, writers, librarians, or bookshop owners, bookish characters often have a depth and complexity that I find fascinating.

Here is a list of ten books with bookish characters that I am eager to read in English:

1. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows – This novel is set in post-World War II and follows a writer who corresponds with an eccentric book club on the island of Guernsey.

2. “The Reader on the 6.27” by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent – This heartwarming novel follows a man who salvages books from a recycling plant and reads them aloud to fellow commuters on his daily train ride.

3. “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” by Gabrielle Zevin – This charming novel tells the story of a cantankerous bookstore owner who finds unexpected joy and purpose in his life through books.

4. “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan – This quirky novel follows a young man who takes a job at a mysterious bookstore and uncovers a secret society dedicated to the art of bookbinding.

5. “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón – This gripping novel follows a young boy who discovers a hidden library of forgotten books and sets out to uncover the mysteries behind them.

6. “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield – This gothic mystery novel follows a reclusive author who hires a young woman to write her biography, revealing dark secrets from her past.

7. “The Invisible Library” by Genevieve Cogman – This fantasy novel follows a librarian who travels to alternate realities to retrieve rare and dangerous books for her mysterious library.

8. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak – This haunting novel follows a young girl in Nazi Germany who steals books and shares them with her neighbors and the Jewish man hiding in her basement.

9. “Matilda” by Roald Dahl – This classic children’s book follows a precocious girl who discovers the power of reading and uses it to stand up to the tyrannical adults in her life.

10. “The Eyre Affair” by Jasper Fforde – This quirky mystery novel follows a literary detective who must travel into the world of classic novels to prevent literary crimes from altering the course of history.

These ten books with bookish characters promise to be a delightful and immersive reading experience for any book lover. I cannot wait to dive into these stories and explore the rich and enchanting worlds they have to offer.