Books That Feel Like Home

Reminiscing the books I’ve read that instantly feel like home, whatever that means.

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According to my Goodreads profile I’ve read 532 books in my lifetime, which means I’ve probably read a good number more than that in actuality. (Maybe I should log the entire collection of Biff & Chip books from my childhood…) And, throughout my lifetime, I’d like to think that I’ve garnered a fair few recommendations and figured out some bookish themes in my life. On bookstagram, I regularly share little wrap-ups but there’s limited space to talk about the books in any proper detail. Plus, I’m definitely falling out of love with Instagram as a whole. That’s a topic for another day.

Many readers talk about books and reading for escapism, but since discovering a whole world of authors sharing own voices and stories from marginalised communities, I’m mostly enjoying reading to come home to myself. Representation as a British-born Chinese woman is scarce, so every story I find feels important to me. But so do book that simply speak to me in some small way. Do you find that some books open up very specific connections, too?

Takeaway by Angela Hui

In this memoir meets recipe book, Angela brings to life this world through humble stories and homemade dishes. There’s a huge community of British-born Chinese kids raised at/in Chinese takeaways in the UK, the children of first-generation immigrants who opened said shops, and Takeaway provides perfect representation of a beloved cornerstone of British culture. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m going to shout about Angela forever! This is truly the book I wish I’d written and it hits so close to home that I cried and laughed my way through the whole thing. My parents have since sold our family businesses, but Takeaway allows me to relive those precious memories.

Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman

One of my favourite childhood books, it feels like a cosy safe home every time I return to Northern Lights’ pages. Magical young adult fantasy with daemons, a strong female main character, and a wonderful magic system. Beautiful messages too, that become more obvious with an adult reader’s eye.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I reread this earlier in the year and fell in love with it all over again. Francie – our protagonist – and I have nothing in common, bar an exceptional love for books and reading. And the author does an incredible job of bringing Brooklyn to life through Francie’s eyes. I feel more me whenever I read this.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Sue Lynn Tan has fast become one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to read her next book in January. Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a beautiful fantasy retelling of a Chinese folklore tale that I adored so much as a child. This book feels like being enshrined in my late Granny’s arms as she tells the story.

Howards End by E.M. Forster

Finally, a classic that is set in my actual hometown. Howards End is regarded a modern classic for its social commentary, and it is a wonderful little read. Forster writes of his childhood home at Rook’s Nest, and I actually even tried to buy property here earlier in the year!

What are the books that feel like home to you?