There is no greater comfort than reading in bed. Did you know that a person who reads in bed is called a librocubicularist? The word is an amalgamation of the Latin words for book and bedroom. Christopher Morley used this term in his book ‘ The Haunted Bookshop’. One of the books I’ve been reading in bed this month is O Douglas’ ‘Pink Sugar’. Isn’t it quite natural that one should read comfort books in bed or at least keep them by the bedside?

Here is a copy of my edition of ‘Pink Sugar’. Notice how Kirsty Gilmour beckons to us in her green dress. Wearing green emeralds around her neck, or is that jade?

I collect these pocket vintage Nelson editions of the O Douglas stories and am very fortunate to own a complete set. Here they are. Aren’t they stunning?

Let us return to Kirsty Gilmour and ‘Pink Sugar’. I’ve been hosting a super slow readalong of the book over on my Instagram channel. I’ve made copious chapter by chapter analysis and I’ve really enjoyed doing so. Apart from the bare backbones of the story, I’ve been simultaneously taking note of the books mentioned within ‘Pink Sugar’ – an epic example of how books live within books.

Books mentioned within books give us a fascinating insight into the personal library of the author. If it is a favourite author, then such insights are even more delightful. One would hope that such a reading list would provide even more reading material similar to our favourite author’s writing. Reading lists from old books (Pink Sugar was first published in 1924) give us an idea of what kind of books were being published at the time, a social history lesson of sorts. Here’s a list of some of the books mentioned by O Douglas.

Isn’t it a lovely list? Some of the books are ideal to curl up with on a rainy day while watching the rain pour outside.

Pink Sugar is just that kind of a book. It’s about young Kirsty Gilmour who is young, has a substantial legacy left to her by her Father, who decides to go back to her Scottish roots and rent a small house and garden in the Scottish Borders. The house is part of a larger estate owned by a retired Colonel. Little Phantasy as the small house is called is a charming house with a little stream trickling through the back garden. Kirsty’s heart is full but she only wants for the presence of people to fill her house with. An old Aunt, who has fallen on harder times is recruited along with three tiny children whose Mamma has passed away and whose Father wishes to travel to forget his grief. There are lots of well meaning neighbour’s, the beauty of the mountains as a backdrop to the story, ever present, majestic and looming. Each chapter of the story might be lifted from a charming stage production, so we’ll crafted are the situations, characters and dialogues. It is a quiet story about a young woman finding purpose in her life, of finding love and of giving love. It’s just the kind of story that I like. Nothing much happens but your inner world is enriched from reading it.

We will be reading The Proper Place by O Douglas on my Instagram channel in May. Do join.