I love to read. Being labeled an avid reader just doesn’t cut it; it’s too weak a classification to describe my infatuation. I am an admitted and unabashed bibliophile (no need to report me; it means I love books) with an addiction to words on paper. And I don’t just have a minor addiction I have a severe one, because I don’t read a little, I read a lot – loads, plenty. I consume books the way I consume oxygen, inhaling as many as I can whenever I can. I have had this voracious appetite for books since I was a young child, way before I’d even learned my ABCs. As a little girl, I’d stand on my toes and glance up at the Little Golden Books lined up on shelves in stores that I visited with my parents. Sometimes I’d take down a story, flip through the pages and spin my own yarn from the pictures on each page.

Fast forward...

As I got older and more independent (aging does have its privileges), I invaded the bookstores, stocking up on a great number of books. I read them all, title after title, author after author, cover to cover, feeding myself with every kind of story I could get my hands on. I joined book clubs and ordered in multiple numbers. Bookshelves went up and the number of books kept growing. I accumulated so much literature, at such a fast pace, that I not only had books to read but books that were waiting to be read. There was not a moment where there was no novel available to replace the one I was currently getting through.

The years have progressed and the love for reading is just as intense. I have built a library of books in different categories - fiction, non-fiction, reference, educational, memoirs, food and drink, computers, home and garden, etc. I read and read and read. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a novel, a magazine article or a news clipping. I read all the time. I like the sound of the pages as I flip through them. I love the smell of a new book. Seldom do I go more than two to three weeks without visiting a bookstore. And when I do visit, I never leave without at least one new book to get my fix even though I have plenty of unread books waiting for me on shelves at home.

Sometimes I fall asleep while reading and my husband has to pull the book out from under me so I don’t wake up with a part of the book indented on my forehead, which is not unheard of. I’ve been falling asleep with a book in hand since I was a teenager. I’m surprised I don’t have book-related craters below my hairline.

And yes I do have a membership with a ‘frequent reader rewards’ plan. I carry the card with me at all times because you never know when or where you’ll run across a bookstore catering to this program, allowing you a discount on your purchases. You might think this is a little extreme but it has paid off. Just this summer, when I was down in Ottawa on July 01st to celebrate Canada day, I noticed that the Chapters bookstore was open (this is a bookstore that honors my membership card). Of course I had to step in and look around (can a compulsive reader ever bypass a bookstore?). I only bought one book (I can have remarkable self-control sometimes). It was on sale, which was terrific already, but my membership card allowed for a further discount. This spontaneous and enjoyable trip to Ottawa – we decided that morning to go – was made even more pleasurable with the surprise discovery of a bookstore open to the public – the public being me! This incident just reinforces the significance of carrying my membership card everywhere I go.

In the month of August, the family and I took a trip to Maine for a few days. One rainy morning we decided to take a drive into the city of Portland and, lo and behold, we ran across their bookstore. (Is that fate or what?) And not just any bookstore; it was the ‘mother’ of all bookstores. It was one of the best bookstores I’d ever visited, and I have visited many over the years. My older (teenage) daughter who loves to read as much as I do (a real chip off the old block) was as excited as I was about this blessed encounter. Of course, there is never any need for words when my daughter and I encounter a bookstore, there is only an unspoken understanding – we’re going in! I’m beginning to believe that the ‘bibliophilism (love of books)’ that I suffer from (get pleasure from) runs in families, passed on to one - or all of our offspring - through our narrative genes.

The two of us dumped my husband and younger daughter outside the bookstore (or was it the other way around?) and we walked into this ‘mother’ of all bookstores together; a united booklover front. But that’s usually as far as we venture side by side – just through the front door. As soon as we get past the entrance, we bid farewell and make a beeline to our own preferred topics of interest and favourite authors. Sometimes we cross paths and nod knowingly from a distance; book lovers don’t make small talk, they acknowledge a familiar face but have absolutely no intention on speaking to them (nor do they want to be spoken to). It is forbidden to disturb an avid reader in a bookstore while they are scouting the area. Ever. That’s proper ‘avid-reader-at-a-bookstore’ etiquette.

So we inspected the store, fell in love with the selection and picked up about half a dozen books. And yes, I did question the polite young man at the cash – lightheartedly – if this U.S bookstore would honor my Canadian bookstore membership card. I smiled. He smiled. The answer was no. Well, at least I tried. But even so, I marveled at the difference in price between the bill I paid in the U.S as opposed to what I would have paid back home. After doing the math, even with the U.S exchange it cost me less to buy my paperbacks further south than what I would pay in my own back yard – considerably less (an incredible 25% less!). The sales taxes there are a modest 5% while taxes back home are a whopping 15% - on everything! Conclusion: I love Maine! I can get used to living there.

Now that I’ve come clean about my obsessive reading addiction, it’s time to get to the point of this article: recommended books. But no, not just any recommended books. Houseplant recommended books!

In many pages on this site, I mention books as a great resource to learn about houseplants (but I haven’t recommended any titles). Together with that, I’ve also received emails from internet surfers visiting my site who have suggested that I add book recommendations to my site. I hear you. I concede. Here it is.

I own and have read (from cover to cover) all the books listed below and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I have many other books about houseplants but the ones I’ve added here are my favourites. My advice is to visit your local library and see if they are available. Don’t just take my word for it; examine them first to determine their worth.

In the meantime, I’ll get you started with some of my favourite titles.


8 Fabulous Houseplant Books

Complete Guide to Houseplants Author: Ortho ISBN: 0897215028 If you know absolutely nothing about houseplants, this is a great book to start with. Step-by-step information & instructions are included throughout the book on everything from choosing houseplants, to basic plant care, to individualized requirements, to special concerns, troubleshooting and more. 275 houseplants are featured in the extensive encyclopedia with quality, detailed care advice. Loaded with beautiful colour photographs, this is truly a complete guide to houseplants. Indoor Plants (Flowering and Foliage Varieties for the Home) Author: Halina Heitz ISBN: 0812062078 Primarily designed for beginners, this beautiful and informative book filled with advice on every indoor plant topic imaginable, also contains information sought by experienced growers. There is expert advice available for nearly every type of plant in their ‘Plant Portraits And Tips On Culture’ section. Extremely well organized and packed with full-colour photographs, you’ll find yourself flipping through the pages of this book time and again as a quick reference or just as an enjoyable read. House Plants (Random House (RD) Home Handbooks) Author: Reader's Digest, John Brookes (Editor) ISBN: 089577349X This was my very first houseplant book back in the early 90s and still ranks as a favourite. Covering a lot of information with few words, this book’s ready-to-reference format makes it the perfect houseplant starter book. Beautiful colour photographs, handy illustrations, practical advice, design ideas, excellent tips and much more can be found in this essential guide. Place this ‘houseplant owner’s manual’ right next to your watering can for quick reference, sound advice and helpful hints. You’ll love this little gem. Indoor Plants for Beginners Author: Anja Flehmig ISBN: 0764154125 This is one of the most beautifully-designed houseplants books I’ve ever come across. Hundreds of brilliant colour photographs and simple to understand explanations on every page make this an ideal book for those with little or no experience in houseplant care. This beautifully illustrated hardcover offers advice and information on an impressive and sizeable selection of topics. Referenced houseplants include everything from cacti to orchids with advice on how to care for them. Visually dazzling and packed with valuable information, you can’t go wrong with this one. The House Plant Expert Author: Dr. D.G. Hessayon ISBN: 0903505355 Anyone who’s anyone in the world of experienced houseplant growers has heard about or owns this book. And with good reason. Millions of copies have been printed; this is the world’s best-selling book on indoor plants. This is the second book I treated myself to years ago. This book is perfect for the expert or novice, filled with full-colour photos, detailed drawings and tips on everything you ever wanted to know about houseplant care, including a huge section of plant profiles from flowering plants to cacti, and from bromeliads to indoor and garden bulbs. All the information you need is right here in this book. Easy Care Guide To Houseplants Author: Jack Kramer ISBN: 1580110630 This beautifully designed, eye-catching book boasts 500 full-colour photos and illustrations, many of them showing step-by-step procedures. Care instructions are provided for nearly 200 of the most popular houseplants in North America. Concise, informative and written simplistically, this is a good book for beginners. For more experienced growers, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for in-depth information about individual plants. But if you're searching for a quality reference book that’s interesting to read and loaded with beautiful pictures, then look no further. Simon & Schuster's Guide to House Plants Author: Allessandro B. Chiulosi ISBN: 0671631314 This book is the dictionary of houseplant books. Details for each of the 243 plant species include: full colour photo, the family it belongs to, origin, description, care, propagation and possible pests and diseases. Perfect for the novice or expert, this compact, pocket-sized handbook is perfect for taking along when you are shopping for houseplants. This is a very informative and practical guide that is fun to flip through and easy to reference. How to Grow Fresh Air (50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office) Author: Dr. B.C. Wolverton ISBN: 0140262431 How pure is the air you breathe? Probably not much. If you are interested in learning about how to improve the air quality in your home or office with the lungs of the earth – plants – this is a must-read. In this revolutionary guide, based on 25 years of research by NASA, you will discover how common houseplants can combat sick building syndrome and cleanse the air of toxins. Colour photos, illustrations and easy-to-follow quality information will teach you how to grow and nurture 50 of the best natural air cleaners along with which pollutants they combat successfully. Highly recommended.

Comment On This Article:
Your Name:
Your Email:
(Your email address will not be added to a mailing list or disclosed to other parties.)