Slow mornings, a silk robe, and a very good book. People often ask what I'm reading, so here it is: the books that live on my nightstand, and when I think each one is best read.
Running Homebodii means I'm usually reading to switch off, not to study. These are the ones I come back to — the comfort reads, the classics, the one poetry collection I never put away. Consider it permission to stay in bed a bit longer.
Ingrid Bonnor's Shelf
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The ultimate rainy-Sunday novel. Long robe, pot of tea, phone in another room.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Not a light read, so give it the full weekend it deserves.
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
One of the most visual novels I know. The one I'd pack for a honeymoon or a long-haul flight.
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
A slim book about a big family. Finishable in one evening, which makes it a lovely gift for a bridesmaid who reads.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Most of us met this one at school. Reread it now, as an adult, in bed. It's a completely different book.
Dream Work by Mary Oliver
Keep this one on the nightstand permanently. A poem a night, then lights out.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Yes, the picture book. For the new mums — and a sweet add-on to a matching family sleepwear set.
How I make reading a ritual
The best reading habit isn't about speed. It's about having a place, a time and an outfit that tells your body it's time to slow down. A few of my favourite ways to set the scene:
- The nightstand stack. One novel, one comfort read, one poetry collection. Choose by mood, not by obligation.
- The Sunday morning chapter. Coffee, a long silk robe, and one chapter before I look at my phone.
- The reading gift. Pair a book from this list with a robe or pyjama set — it's my favourite bridesmaid, new-mum or "just because" present.
Tell me what's on your nightstand — tag us on Instagram @homebodii.
— Ingrid Bonnor, Founder, Homebodii