Tolstoy and the Purple Chair

“A dazzling memoir that reminds us of the most primal function of literature—to heal, to nurture and to connect us to our truest selves.” —Thrity Umrigar, author of The Space Between Us

Catalyzed by the loss of her sister, a mother of four spends one year savoring a great book every day, from Thomas Pynchon to Nora Ephron and beyond. Nina Sankovitch’s soul-baring and literary-minded memoir is a chronicle of loss, hope, and redemption. Nina ultimately turns to reading as therapy and through her journey illuminates the power of books to help us reclaim our lives.

“Intelligent, insightful and eloquent, Sankovitch takes the reader on the literary journey. . . . As a bonus, even the well-read reader will be inspired to explore some of the books from this magical year.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The beauty of her project lies in seeing how books intertwine with daily life, how very much they affect our moods, interactions, and, especially important for Sankovitch, how we recover and process our memories.” —Los Angeles Times

“Through the stories of her own family, Nina Sankovitch shows how books have the power to refresh, renew, and even heal us.” —Julie Klam, New York Times bestselling author of You Had Me at Woof

“[An] entertaining bibliophile’s dream. . . . Sankovitch champions the act of reading not as an indulgence but as a necessity, and will make the perfect gift from one bookworm to another.” —Publishers Weekly

“There is much to learn from this moving book.” —Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of One Amazing Thing

“Anyone who has ever sought refuge in literature will identify.” —O magazine

“A beautifully paced look at how mindfulness can affect the psyche.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review