Literary reflections and rituals for those who long to slow down
and read with intention.
The Latest
In Defense of Good Manners: Why Etiquette is the Secret to Modern Freedom
Fiction as Self-Care: 3 Comforting Books for a Relaxing Winter
The Art of Re-Reading: 3 Books on Intent and Grounding
January Literary Mood Board: Slow Reading & Bookish Self-Care
Lesley Blanch’s Beet Soup: A Recipe for Slow Reading
The Ritual of Reading: A 2025 Reflection on Slowness and Intention
The Magic of Maurice Maeterlinck’s The Blue Bird
Chicons au Gratin: A Love Letter to Belgium’s White Gold
Chicons au Gratin: Belgian “White Gold”
The Art of Presence: Celebrating the Everyday with Colette Nys-Mazure
Stories in Bloom
A Collection of Garden Literature
While the world waits for the first bloom, nourish your spirit
with our favorite stories of flowers, soil, and the enduring magic of nature.
F e a t u r e d
S t o r y
The Reader’s Decalogue:
10 Rules for Mindful Reading
In a world of constant noise, rediscover reading as a quiet sanctuary
Transform your reading life with The Reader’s Decalogue: ten gentle guidelines for a mindful and restorative practice. This soul-soothing guide invites you to embrace mood reading, seasonal rhythms, and the sacred art of slowness.
Discover how to reclaim reading as a sanctuary, free from the pressure of goals, trends, and productivity, and rediscover the simple joy of being present with a book.
Latest Videos
Reclaim your attention with a weekly pause designed for the purposeful reader. Every Sunday, I share an honest “infusion” of literary inspiration—from the confessions of my own nightstand to the small, seasonal joys that remind us life is meant to be savored.
As a member of our community, you’ll also receive The Literary View on the first of every month: a custom-designed wallpaper for your phone or desktop featuring a curated quote to ground your month in beauty.
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Weekly Letter
Parisian Style
A Woman Alone in Paris: Lessons from French Writers
My Parisian Ritual for Embracing Solitude Portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the…
The Women Who Wrote Paris : 5 French Female Authors You Need to Read
Discover the Voices That Shaped French Literature on Their Own Terms France has always had…
It’s a Woman’s Paris: November Literary Mood Board
Let’s Talk About Female Authors November has arrived wrapped in wool and melancholy, and Paris…
French Poetry for Self-Care: 5 Classic Poets to Slow Down With
Discover Timeless French Classics Paired with Classical Music for Mindful Reading There’s a particular kind…
Shopping in Paris: A Book Walk with Émile Zola
Visiting Le Bon Marché, Montmartre Fabrics, and the World of Au Bonheur des Dames Taking…
Essential French Literature: 5 Classic Books Every Reader Should Try
From Flaubert to Zola, Discover the Classics of French Literature You’ll Actually Enjoy The classics…
YOUR FREE TRAVEL COMPANION
My Parisian Reading Rituals:
An Intimate Guide to Paris for the Soulful Reader
Step away from the boulevards and discover the secret heart of the city with My Parisian Reading Rituals. This free literary travel guide invites you to explore five iconic neighborhoods through hidden gardens, centuries-old cafés, and carefully curated book pairings. Whether you are planning a trip or dreaming from your armchair, download this intimate guide to experience Paris one page, one sip, and one quiet hour at a time.
THE HEART BEHIND THE PAGES
Welcome to The Ritual of Reading
I’m Alexandra, and I created The Ritual of Reading as a quiet corner for those of us craving slowness in a hurried world. If you’ve ever felt that lingering with a book is somehow indulgent, or that beauty must be squeezed into life’s margins, pull up a chair—you’ve found your place.
“Reading is not an escape from life,
but an invitation to inhabit it more fully.”
