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No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy

Memoirs of a Working-Class Reader
3.77 goodreads logo

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( 633 ratings, 131 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy by Mark Hodkinson offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a man from a working-class northern town, navigating his passion for literature against a backdrop where it isn't widely appreciated. The memoir explores themes of identity, ambition, and understanding the transformative power of reading, all told with warmth and a touch of humour.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories that explore the profound impact of reading on personal growth and identity. This memoir paints a vivid portrait of finding solace and adventure in books, even in a working-class environment where such pursuits aren't common. It's perfect for anyone fascinated by the transformative power of literature and the journey of a lifelong love affair with words.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

This love letter to reading is a philosophical take on why we read and collect books, told through a working-class lens

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Mark Hodkinson grew up among the terrace houses of Rochdale in a house with just one book. Today, Mark is an author, journalist, and publisher. He still lives in Rochdale but is now surrounded by 3,500 titles—at the last count.

No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy is his story of growing up a working-class lad during the 1970s and 1980s. It's about the schools, the music, the people—but pre-eminently and profoundly the books and authors that led the way and shaped his life.

It's about a family who didn't see the point of reading, and a troubled grandad who taught Mark the power of stories. It's also a story of how writing and reading has changed over the last five decades.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy by Mark Hodkinson is described in reviews as a poignant and powerful memoir that focuses on themes of literature, publishing, and music. The book is praised for its ability to transcend its subjects and is seen as a call to recognise the importance of making literature accessible to everyone, especially underrepresented working-class voices. It is valued for its universal appeal in showing how books can shape and transform lives, while also being recognised as a thoughtful and engaging personal journey.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838850012

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 May 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 246g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Mark Hodkinson has written for The Times for two decades, three years as a columnist. He has also contributed to the Observer, Guardian, Mail on Sunday and others. He is the author of Blue Moon: Down Among the Dead Men with Manchester City, which is regularly cited as a football classic, and Believe in the Sign, which was longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. His novels include The Last Mad Surge of Youth, which was nominated as Q's Novel of the Year, and That Summer Feeling. He owns Pomona Books and has published titles by Simon Armitage, Barry Hines, Ian McMillan, Ray Gosling, Stuart Murdoch (of Belle and Sebastian), Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) and many more. He also commissioned and edited the much-acclaimed biography J.D. Salinger: A Life, which was made into a film starring Nicholas Hoult.markhodkinson.com

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