How to Read a Book

A Novel

De: Monica Wood

Narrado por: Eileen Stevens

"The perfect pick to really light a fire under my book club, and yours....A reminder that goodness, and books, can still win in this world." —New York Times Book Review

"A beautiful, big-hearted treasure of a novel." —Lily King

National Bestseller *

From the award-winning author of The One-in-a-Million Boy comes a heartfelt, uplifting novel about a chance encounter at a bookstore, exploring redemption, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.

Our Reasons meet us in the morning and whisper to us at night. Mine is an innocent, unsuspecting, eternally sixty-one-year-old woman named Lorraine Daigle…

Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher.

Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest.

Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.

When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.

How to Read a Book is an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living.

"A deeply humane and touching novel; highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures." — Booklist

©2023 Monica Wood (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Heartfelt realistic fiction!

In large measure predictable it had enough surprises, was full of well-developed characters and a thought provoking story. I enjoyed my listen!

Beautiful writing and story.

Interesting characters. Beautiful writing and story. Diverse characters and lives, wonderfully intertwined. Highly recommend this book as well as her previous one.

Easy and healthy read about women and birds

I liked this sweet book about the complexities of life and goodness of people through the ultimate forgiveness

Loved everything about this book!

That’s it- best book I’ve read in a long time.. and I read a lot!

Genuinely loved EVERYTHING about this book❤️

For sure one of the most endearing heartfelt soul warming books I’ve read in a long long time. I got it free on audible so I’m listening to it. Both the author and narrator are new to me and I am a huge fan!!!!

Excellent Narration, Excellent Book

Okay, I’m from Maine and I like Monica Wood‘s writing, but there was more to this book than I’d ever expected.

The parrots were a great addition to the character list!

A Masterpiece in Storytelling and Second Chances

What sets this book apart is its brilliant use of the language of birds as a metaphor for human understanding, healing, and transformation. The African grey parrots in the story are not merely background details; they serve as mirrors to the characters’ emotional journeys. Just as birds learn through observation, repetition, and trust, so do the characters—grappling with guilt, forgiveness, and the courage to move forward. Violet’s work with the birds in the lab echoes her own search for meaning and belonging, while Frank and Harriet find new purpose in caring for those who need them most.

Monica Wood’s prose is as lyrical as it is precise, balancing heartbreak with hope in a way that feels utterly natural. The book explores life’s “meanwhile” moments—the spaces between regret and renewal, between love and loss—showing us that even in our darkest times, transformation is possible. The pacing is immersive, and the characters are so vividly drawn that you feel their struggles and triumphs as if they were your own.

This is more than just a novel; it’s a testament to the power of books, second chances, and the connections that save us. If you love books that make you feel something real—stories that celebrate resilience, the beauty of human relationships, and the magic of language—this is your next read. Add it to your list, tell your book club, and get ready to experience a novel that speaks to the heart!

Characters in liked being with

Juxtaposition of incarcerated women with free women. what is a book really about, what is a life really about ? Written well and told with a good plot, lots of humor and interesting people.

Story of redemption and love

Loved the way Monica Wood brought the characters to life! Life can be unfair, and we may make tragic mistakes, but compassionate, caring people can make it so much better.

The characters, I just finished snd I miss them already.

I enjoyed this gentle tale of love and forgiveness. As an older lady I appreciated the romance between Harriet and Frank.