Who would write in a room like this...? Well, Emily Dickinson actually...

Have you ever wondered what your favourite author’s home looks like? Where did they write their greatest lines, do their greatest thinking, or take a much-needed nap?! Well, thanks to this brilliant series of photographs, readers all over the world are offered a chance to get a glimpse into the personal spaces of some of the literary world’s biggest names.

The pictures show the bedrooms of literary giants such as Ernest Hemingway, Emily Dickinson, Truman Capote, and Victor Hugo. Not only absolutely fascinating to think of the stories that have come to life there, but also useful if you want to take interior design tips from the cream of the literary crop…

The TRO patron has written a thoughtful comment piece for The Observer, inspired by the recent TEDx event at which he appeared alongside our very own Jane Davis and calling for a focus on reading for pleasure to overcome the ‘cult of testing’ that confronts many children:

“I think pleasure is a form of attention. If you can take pleasure in something – an idea, an activity – then your brain will happily entertain it for years without aim or objective. It’s therefore a particularly open form of thinking that allows you to surprise yourself and the rest of humanity.”

Read the article in its entirety here.

Jane also shared her experience of the TEDx Liverpool event over on her own blog: yet more illuminating reading material.

One bibliophile has given us the courage to come clean by compiling a range of Bookfessions - a list of confessions and candid thoughts that plague lovers of literature. And it seems as a collective, we have a lot on our minds (perhaps rather unsurprising) – there are now 900 ‘bookfessions’ listed, amongst which include judging a book by its cover, investing far too much emotion in fictional characters (I confess to being guilty of that also) and - particularly apt for this love-themed week and very sweet indeed – one book lover who confesses to ‘having’ a book rather than a song with their significant other (altogether: awwww).

We’re sure there’s plenty more bookfessions to be shared – why not let us know about yours?

In the article, Jeanette suggests that we take a leaf out of the book of the organisers of the growing worldwide movement Occupy by reclaiming Valentine’s Day from its increasing commercialised and money-driven purposes and instead remember the reason behind it: love in all its forms, something that is not a commodity but instead an ‘alternative currency’ for everyone to enjoy.

This is the day to recognise love in every shape and size and disguise. Known love, new love, love’s ghosts, love’s hopes. Loss is here too, and the spaces in between love.

Reclaiming love is the best thing we can do. Love has been squatted for too long by those false cupids with their “for sale” signs. It’s not a coincidence that Venus is the goddess of love and money. Or that her fat friend with the arrows lends his name to desire of both kinds. Cupidity is the all-consuming longing for riches. Love and money are both an exchange.

Wise words indeed – and we’d also point out that reading is the perfect exchange, of love, friendship, community, so why not read something lovely with someone you love this Valentine’s Day? We could think of few better ways to reclaim love for its original purposes.

Jeanette will be appearing with director of The Reader Organisation Jane Davis at an event at this year’s LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Wednesday 29th February 2012, 4.30-6pm. ‘The Medicine Chest of the Soul: Arts and Health’ will explore the substantial role the arts can play in improving health and wellbeing, especially the healing power of literature.

Director of the Rayne Foundation Tim Joss will be chairing the discussion and alongside contributions from Jane and Jeanette, other featured speakers are David McDaid, LSE senior research fellow in Health and Social Care and Margaret Perkins, research officer within the Personal Social Services Research Unit at LSE.

The event is part of the 4th annual Space for Thought Festival, this year with the theme of ‘Relating Cultures’. The festival runs from Wednesday 29th February-Saturday 3rd March and has a very varied programme featuring a range of star speakers including London Penny Readings guest AS Byatt, Claire Tomalin and Michael Rosen.

‘The Medicine Chest of the Soul: Arts and Health’ event is now fully booked, but check the LSE website for details on possible returns or changes or consider going to the venue on the day in case of last-minute empty seats.

They’ve been responsible for publishing Doris Lessing’s “attempt at autobiography” Memoirs of a Survivor and the later works of its founder Idries Shah – books that have had a life-shaping effect on Jane. And they’ve also very kindly donated a picture book and a copy of World Tales to Hope Readers .

Have a look at their new Facebook and Twitter pages for some reading inspiration…

Each week, Audrey the dog visits Redcar Community College to sit in on children’s read-aloud sessions. Teachers noticed that children often get nervous when they are asked to read aloud and so enlisted Audrey to help them relax and feel less self-conscious while reading. Needless to say, the sessions – and Audrey – have been a big success.

While of course Audrey should stay where she is, we’d quite like a ‘reading’ dog of our own to be a Reading Revolution mascot…

It’s official: bookshelves are sexy (perhaps our own Reader library needs some photographic attention…).

Fulfil your desires…: Bookshelf Porn

As if to answer our pleas, along comes Anobii. Established in 2006 but revamped and relaunched in December, Anobii is a social network and ‘book discovery platform’ for readers the whole world over. It works very much like an endless virtual bookshelf and a huge online reading group combined, allowing users to compile and keep track of what they’ve read in the past or are reading now with a few clicks.

A major feature of the site is its focus on allowing users to discover a new book and find reading inspiration from others; having books recommended by a personal seal of approval and word-of-mouth (or should that be: word-of-mouse) rather than by computer-generated suggestions. Users can follow readers who have similar literary tastes to their own, browse topic lists of books for their next read – amongst those currently featured are ‘Books for the commute’; ‘Books That Are Better Than The Film’ and - rather intriguingly - ’Guilty Pleasures’ – or create their own lists. It may feature technology that is the latest in-thing (you’re also able to access Anobii through iPhone and Android apps) but its methods are all about getting back to basics – connecting people with books and with one another on a really quite personal level, which is something we’re always keen to advocate.

By the way, if the name has left you scratching your head (as it did with me), then you should know that ‘anobii’ is Latin for ‘bookworm’ – another tip of the hat to something altogether traditional.