Bookish Coincidences

Sometimes I notice the strangest coincidences when I’m reading. I wrote about this nearly a year ago: maybe it’s the same odd name used in subsequent books, or the fact that every book I’m reading uses bees as imagery. But every once in a while, it seems like the stars align and patterns start to emerge. Today I’m sharing a few that I’ve found recently.

I’ve started using index cards as bookmarks. This gives me the option to jot down quotes as I go, keep a list of important character names, and write down any of these coincidences that I find. I will absolutely forget if I rely on my memory, so index cards have been a game changer for me. If I write anything down on one of my index cards (sometimes I don’t), then I’ll stick it in my reading journal when I finish the book. Then I have the option of writing things down more permanently if I choose to (sometimes I don’t do that either). To write today’s post, I simply gathered up a few of those cards and got to typing. Easy peasy.

Now on to my recent coincidences!

+ Custard powder is mentioned in Coming Home and A Glass of Blessings. I don’t think I’d even heard of custard powder until it was mentioned in A Glass of Blessings and then it appeared in my life almost immediately again when I started Coming Home!

+ The town of Penzance was mentioned, again, in both Coming Home and A Glass of Blessings. Perhaps the books are set in the same region, which might explain their similarities. But I don’t know England well enough to know for sure.

+ Both A Strawberry Thief and Life After Life used the word “Snow” as a chapter title. It’s repeated again and again in Life After Life and I was struck by turning the page in A Strawberry Thief and seeing it there.

+ The author Arthur Ransome and the book Jane Eyre are both mentioned in Coming Home and Life After Life. I think it’s because they’re both set in generally the same time period.

+ Ursula is a character name in Life After Life and St. Ursula is a school in Coming Home.

+ Samovars have been featured heavily in the books I’ve been reading: Life After Life, A Glass of Blessings, The Island of Missing Trees, and The Diamond Eye all referenced samovars.

Books referenced in this post are below. Clicking on any picture should take you to its Amazon page.

I just love it when it seems like every book I’m reading has a connection with another. Have you had any bookish coincidences lately? Have you read anything great lately? I hope to be back on Wednesday with an Unraveled post. Spoiler alert: I didn’t do as much knitting as I’d hoped but I’ve read some really good books.

Until then – stay safe and cozy!