Brilliant Books for Your Bedside Table (Part 1)

Hello everyone! I hope you've had a happy start to the week! Today, I'm sharing some brilliant books to have on your bedside table. I have so many recommendations for you to choose from, that I've separated the video into two parts. I'll be sharing Part 2 on Friday! I love to read books last thing at night & first thing in the morning, and these are many of the ones I keep on a revolving rota of my bedside table books. What books do you have on your bedside table?
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BOOK CLUB: I host the Comfort Book Club with my Mum, and every month we pick a comforting read and discuss it on the last Friday of the month. Everyone is very welcome to read along with us (February's read is Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson). Learn more about the Comfort Book Club (and see upcoming reads) here: mirandasnotebook.com/the-comf...
#TheComfortBookClub
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LINKS:
(Affiliate links used for Blackwells)
Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson: persephonebooks.co.uk/collect...
How to record a voice message for the Comfort Book Club discussion: mirandasnotebook.com/guidelines
Poems for Stillness: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
A Nature Poem for Every Night of the Year: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Bedside Companion for Gardeners: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Another World Than This, edited by Vita Sackville-West & Harold Nicholson (out of print)
The Persephone Book of Short Stories: persephonebooks.co.uk/product...
A Writer's Diary by Virginia Woolf: persephonebooks.co.uk/product...
Virginia Woolf's The Common Reader: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
One Woman's Year by Stella Martin Currey: persephonebooks.co.uk/product...
Gardener's Nightcap by Muriel Stuart: persephonebooks.co.uk/product...
A Countryman's Winter Notebook by Adrian Bell (formerly gifted press copy): foxedquarterly.com/shop/adria...
A Country Doctor's Commonplace Book (out of print)
An Englishman's Commonplace book by Roger Hudson: foxedquarterly.com/shop/an-en...
Delight by J. B. Priestly: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Murder by the Book, edited by Martin Edwards: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico: www.waterstones.com/book/the-...
A Note of Explanation by Vita Sackville-West: www.waterstones.com/book/vita...
Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Lorna at Wynyards by Elinor Brent-Dyer: www.ggbp.co.uk/product/ebd-lo...
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

[@playsintraffic2]

Can't wait for you and Donna to discuss Miss Buncle's Book.

[@MirandaMills]

We’re looking forward to the discussion too! Thanks, Ann❤️📚

[@jasonlow8029]

Hello Miranda, thank you for the inspiring suggestions. Persephone and Slightly Foxed books are perfect for the bedside table - mine includes the SF edition of 'Letters to Michael'. And I so agree about how picture and art-filled books can be meditative to read last thing at night; on my table are Beatrix Potter's 'The Pie & the Patty Pan', Judith Schalansky's 'Atlas of Remote Islands' and Angela Harding's 'A Year Unfolding'. I am going to order Jane McFarland Hunter's edited book - thank you for the great recommendations. And I must strengthen my bedside table for more books. Best wishes, Jason

[@MirandaMills]

So glad you enjoyed this video, Jason - thank you! I love that you have Beatrix Potter on your bedside table - that's a perfect choice! And love all the others too. I do in fact have a *large* table by my bed, as well as a small one 😂 Happy Reading! xxx

[@jennymcevoy8961]

I bought two of the Marjolein Bastin classics series...from your recommendations........im so thrilled to have found your channel...I only found it recently, and I am absolutely loving every video you produce. Thank you so much for your wonderful content 🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏

[@MirandaMills]

I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for your lovely comment 😊💕📚

[@nancyfritz1827]

One of the joys of discovering your channel is your enthusiasm for vintage and classic children's literature. It has made me want to reread old favorites and look for books that are completely new to me. I've been eyeing a boxed set of the "Anne of Green Gables" series and think it would be perfect for night time reading. I have fond memories of my Mom reading to me from an illustrated edition and wanting red hair and pigtails. (I had short brown hair.) Looking forward to part 2 on Friday!!

[@MirandaMills]

Thank you so much, Nancy! You're right about Anne - perfect bedtime reading! So glad you're enjoying rediscovering the stories xxx

[@carolrogerson8287]

Wonderful selection Miranda…can I recommend Dorothy Wordsworths Grasmere Journal? And may be you and your Mum could plan a day out at Dove Cottage in the spring when the bluebells are out

[@MirandaMills]

I love Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere Journal too, Carol! And yes, Dove Cottage would be wonderful to visit in bluebell time. 🕊🏡

[@lindabloom6666]

OMG I just bought 7 books from blackwells and Persephone

[@MirandaMills]

Lovely to treat yourself! Enjoy!

[@RoyalDuggars]

One Woman's Year! I've been reading it as I remember to pick it up and it is very nice.

[@idabustamante7081]

Hello Miranda tfs your bedside books . . I enjoy Poetry and children illustrated books I so enjoy looking at the artwork as well . .looking forward to seeing your artbook recommendations . .have an awesome week take care ❤️🙋‍♀️

[@MirandaMills]

My pleasure, Ida! Glad to know a fellow lover of illustrated books 😊

[@creationspast.janebowell1903]

Miss Buncle s book is hilarious thank you for the recommendation

[@MirandaMills]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@shanne6625]

Loved your suggestions! I purchased several from Slightly Foxed and Persephone Books😊🎉

[@MirandaMills]

Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Shanne! Thank you. Happy reading 😄📚❤️

[@hayleyc5594]

I remember a long time ago you showcasing A Nature Poem for Every Day Of The Year and the companion Night version. I was always interested in reading them and then this video made me reserve a copy from the library. I am half way through the Nature Poem A Day volume and have promptly gone and ordered the Day and Night editions for myself to keep. They are BEAUTIFUL in terms of aesthetics with the cover, thick white pages and easy to read typeface and in the content. A stunning collection of nature poems for the seasons. I have definitely found a form of poetry that appeals- nature poetry. Thanks Miranda as I never would have discovered these treasures on my own.

[@MirandaMills]

So happy to hear that! Thank you xxx

[@NadineTouzet]

Not related of course, I just love your new setting with the contrast against the background! I’ve already picked a couple of ideas and one book is already in my basket 😉. You are such an inspiration. Thank you.

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much, Nadine! Glad the suggestions were helpful!

[@ruthb9403]

This is one of my favourite videos - thank you! I've always found it difficult to read in bed but I now sometimes read seasonal poems before sleeping and it does help. Sometimes there is far less time to read than I would like due to work and/or I am tired, so many of these are perfect for those times; I love gardening and nature too and agree with you about picture books - they're not just for young children. Looking forward to Part 2!

[@MirandaMills]

That’s lovely to hear, Ruth! Yes, I get so much pleasure from picture books too. ❤️📚

[@lomazowr1]

Hi Miranda another lovely book chat with you.Enjoyed learning about favorite bed side table books.Excited to see part two.Have a wonderful weekend 💕📚

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much, Rhonda!

[@staroliva6502]

Thank you for all the great recommendations for bedside. Definitely love nature and love reading and lifestyle very seasonal. The Englishman collection Commonplace sounds great for bedside. Love children books are just comforting, it reminds me when my kids were little and we would read at bed time.. Like always Miranda, great recommendations. The Snow Goose is going to my bedside .

[@MirandaMills]

So happy you share the same bookish enthusiasms too. The Snow Goose is such a beautiful and poignant read 📚❤️

[@lisa1922]

Hello Miranda, wonderful video, as always! I too am a huge fan of Persephone and Slightly Foxed (and a SF quarterly subscriber and podcast fan) and treasure the volumes I have from both these publishers, including some you mentioned -- VW's Writer's Diary and The Persephone Book of Short Stories. I loved your ideas and suggestions on commonplace books and illustrated books as well. How intriguing, the EJH connection in The Snow Goose! Very inspired by your suggestions and am looking forward to hearing about your practice of looking at art books or illustrated editions in the morning to jumpstart creativity. Thank you, Miranda! Lisa xx

[@MirandaMills]

You’re so welcome, Lisa! Peter Scott IIRC was EJH’s first husband. I love literary connections like that. 📚❤️

[@kamicastillo1451]

You always amaze me with all the books you share with us. They are always the best! Hugs to you and Donna!

[@MirandaMills]

Thank you so much, Kami!

[@feeline1120]

The background looks so beautiful!

[@sandyokey7728]

Several years ago I had read somewhere for the first time about commonplace books. I immediately wanted to start my own, and I did, except I never kept it up. I remember one picture I had pasted in it was from a calendar and it was of the NY Public Library’s Patience and Fortitude. You’ve inspired me to find that book and start in again and hopefully do better this time around. ❤️

[@MirandaMills]

I love that this video has inspired you to start up your own commonplace book again, Sandy! I can imagine how inspiring it would be to keep one. ❤️📚

[@bhagyarathnaweera2670]

I love the nature poem books that I have on my bedside which I bought from your recommendations!

[@MirandaMills]

I’m very happy to hear that, Bhagya! 📚❤️📚

[@henriettanovember4733]

Thank you so much for this. It is very inspiring! I often read children's books too (Tove Jansson and Astrid Lindgren among others) and I love nature poetry and prose especially Swedish author and Nobel prize winner Harry Martinson and also love to read many of the sufi poets like Jalal-al-din Rumi, Omar Khayyam and Ibn Arabi among others. For me they are perfect for both the evening and the morning.

[@MirandaMills]

So glad you enjoyed the video. Those are all lovely reads too!

[@janiswildy1848]

This is such a wonderful video of recommendations! I'll eagerly await part 2! Thank you!

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much, Janis!

[@karenwhite2601]

Oh, I adore Eeyore's quotes, they always make me smile - and Winnie-the-Pooh's too. Paddington is hilarious, even as an adult. Many old favourites here and new ones too, thank you. The Snow Goose is a lovely tale and I also like Jennie by Paul Gallico.

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much, Karen!

[@ameliakeel6339]

Hi, Miranda. I have always loved your recommendations and am especially enjoying all of the Persephone books I've been getting recently. The editions are so lovely, so comfortable to hold and with a well-chosen font and line spacing. This is more and more important the older I become! Thanks for introducing me to this publisher. My bedside reads right now include Thoreau's journal and Lamb's essays. I love them both. I look forward to your videos every Tuesday and Friday. Thank you.

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much for those very kind words, Amelia! Persephone books are indeed a pleasure to read!Thoreau’s journal and Lamb’s essays sound like wonderful bedside books to me.

[@lindenreads]

Lovely recommendations! 💛 Definitely will get to some of them 😄

[@MirandaMills]

Thank you!

[@emmavd]

Thank you, Miranda! I also love reading light novels, short stories and essays about nature before going to sleep. Especially when combined with beautiful illustrations. A book I would recommend is As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Alex Preston with the stunnig bird portraits by Neil Gower. Its subtitle reads: Books and Birds. The author’s memories associated with each bird are accompanied by quotations from poems and other writings by authors ranging from G.M. Hopkins, Virginia Woolf, Coleridge, D.H. Lawrence, T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, and many more. Right now my bedtime reading is Miss Buncle’s Book😊

[@MirandaMills]

Glad you enjoyed it! I have As Kingfishers Catch Fire & love it too 😊

[@emmavd]

@@MirandaMills 😊

[@QuietWanderer]

always such lovely recommendations, Miranda! I have wanted the nature poems for every night of the year for a few months now and hope to finally get it on my bedside table. your videos are always so calming to me, especially on a Friday when i can finally just curl up and indulge in all things book related.

[@MirandaMills]

That’s lovely to hear!

[@chbronte582]

Thank you very much for another fantastic video and so many wonderful recommendations Miranda, you always discover books so much to my liking.. And thank you also for showing them inside, I love it! It's a great help. Have a nice week xxx

[@MirandaMills]

So happy you found it helpful! Thank you, you too!

[@annieapple9395]

Just wonderful 🥰

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much!

[@laketown5802]

This is so inspiring and comforting! My TBR list just got a lot longer !

[@naomihickman5098]

This was a brilliant watch, so many wonderful ideas! I agree about children’s books making such comforting bedtime reads, and I too love illustrated books (and wish it was more common in adult books). I have quite a few poetry anthologies for children as they usually combine poetry with beautiful illustrations so are especially lovely to dip into. Aside from all the wonderful book chat, your videos are such a delight visually! This one was beautifully filmed, it reminded me of a beautiful old painting with the lighting and the lovely background (and I always love your dresses!).

[@MirandaMills]

That’s so kind, Naomi! Thanks so much!

[@janicemacdougall1844]

I think there must be a lot of people in my province taking part in your Comfort Book Club as Miss Buncle's Book is out and I am 6th in line. Hopefully, I will get it in time for the discussion. :) Such wonderful book recommendations!!! I am making a list right now. :)

[@MirandaMills]

I hope you are able to get your copy in time! Thanks so much!

[@jryan217]

I love your videos!

[@MirandaMills]

Thanks so much!

[@DianeC1975]

Fabulous books. That copy of the Snow Goose is stunning. I love that story. I sat here thinking about your bedside table and amused myself imagining a huge table with a tower of wonderful books to read. Made me happy. 😉 Thank you again, I love your vlogs. 📚💐🤗💕

[@MirandaMills]

Haha! That’s not such an unlikely vision as you might think, Diane: sometimes the piles of books do get a bit scary! 😂