Cathy Rentzenbrink + Bijal Shah Agatha Christie and the Healing Power of Reading

Can books really make us feel better? Join Festival Patron Cathy Rentzenbrink in conversation with bibliotherapist and writer, Bijal Shah as they explore the restorative power of reading. Drawing on her memoir The Agatha Christie Cure, Cathyr eflects on returning to Christie’s novels during a period of personal upheaval, discovering striking parallels between her own life and Christie’s story of resilience and reinvention. Bijal Shah, author of Bibliotherapy, brings therapeutic insight and practical wisdom, revealing how literature can comfort, guide and gently heal us through grief and change. Together, they consider reading not as escape, but as companionship, insight and self-care. A warm, thoughtful and compelling conversation about books as allies in hard times.