Reading retreat: three days full of books

A weekend in a house with other readers,  a huge pile of books and a reading coach. Flow editor Marije van der Haar-Peters decided to give the reading retreat a try.

I decide to sign up for a reading retreat. Cécile Wilbers is a literature coach, and gives people personalized reading tips based on what suits them and what they’re interested in at this point in their lives. She got the idea for her weekend retreats after having heard so often that people don’t have enough time to really read all the wonderful books she recommends. So here I am, on a Friday afternoon, driving to a former game warden’s house (picture a little white house with a thatched roof, fireplace, floral wallpaper and large rustic kitchen) at an estate in a rural part of the country.

I am surrounded by walnut trees, fields, farmland and even a pumpkin patch, as far as the eye can see. The view lends itself well for musing about the book between reading sessions. The aromas of soup and pie permeate the interior, and a beautiful little notebook and pencil have been laid out on my bed.