Episode 2: A Life Woven with Books: Kirstin’s Story

Show Notes

Kirstin’s teacup + teapot, gifted to her by her precious aunt and Nanna + French Early Grey tea from Inspirational Tea Co

In this episode of Tell Me Over Tea, I’m joined by my lovely friend Kirstin Bokor. Kirstin is a librarian, writer, and lifelong lover of stories whose life has been beautifully threaded through with books and words.

in this episode Kirstin talks about:* The comfort of books during a childhood filled with change* How her Nannas influenced her love of reading and storytelling* The books that have stayed with her across decades (from childhood favourites to unforgettable adult reads)* Her own journey into writing her first novel* And yes — even her quirky ‘coffin list’ of books she’d want to take into eternity!

It’s a rich, heartwarming chat about the ways stories connect us, shape us, and carry us through life’s seasons.

Pour yourself a cuppa, settle in, and join us.

Oh, and I wanted to also mention that when I have guests come on the podcast to share their stories, we will be sipping delicious tea together (of course!). The lovely Tanya from Inspirational Tea Co has kindly gifted myself and each guest some of her delicious teas and …. guess what?

If you too would like to enjoy a yummy tea to sip whilst you listen to these podcast episodes (and of course you do!), Tanya has created a discount code for my listeners (you!!!). It will give you 15% off the regular price. How wonderful is that?Please be sure to use the discount code: STORIES to get 15% off.

I hope you enjoy it.

Kim x

PS I would absolutely love it, only if you enjoy this podcast of course, if you wouldn’t mind leaving a review. it’s the way we can get these precious stories into the homes of fellow story lovers and memory keepers.

Kirstin has kindly shared her list of books she mentioned throughout the episode. There are so many I want to go and check out!

Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner

I Captured the Castle by Dodi Smith

The River Wife by Heather Rose

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Turn of the Screw & The Aspern Papers by Henry James

Candide by Voltaire

Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Once Upon a River by Diane Settlefield

Le Morte D’Arthur by Thomas Malory

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

True Blood by Charlaine Harris

Moon on the Water by Pamela Belle (Chains of Fate and Alathea)

The Odyssey by Homer

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (his The Buried Giant is a coffin book)

The Children’s Book by A.S Byatt Katherine Rundell – everything! – Wolf Wilder, Rooftoppers, The Thieves, Impossible Creatures, The Explorers Non-fiction

The Super-Infinite (about John Donne – seriously it’s brilliant), and The Golden Mole.

The Golden Mole is a book I urge everyone to own, honestly it reminds you that the world is full of wonders. And Why You Should Read Children’s Books Even Though You Are Oh So Old And Wise.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery

W Somerset Maugham (I recommend starting on The Merry-Go Round)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

The Magic Far Away Tree by Enid Blyton

If you would like to follow Kirstin’s Coffin Book List you can do that over on Instagram: @the_coffin_books

And if you’re like me and enjoy a good old sticky beak at beautiful artworks, you can head on over to Kirstin’s husband’s Instagram account: @johnbokor It’s gorgeous!

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Music: Kim on the uke😉 Rattling teacups – also KimProduction and Editing: Surprise, surprise, guess who? Yep! Kim again!

Art by Lewis Dillon