If you had a secret room behind a bookcase, which book would you choose to open it?

[broccolibush]

I am in the midst of a slightly bonkers DIY project where I am replacing the door to my study with a hidden door/bookcase type affair. I want to hinge a book on one of the shelves and attach it to a latch to open the door but want to use something that would make sense to use as a handle.

DH thinks that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets would be best whereas I was thinking more The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (even though it's not a wardrobe). A musical friend suggested a book about Handel, which I quite like as a pun.

We're not the most literary of people so I wondered if anyone might have something clever/witty/amusing they could suggest.

I can't think of a specific book right now - but I love the idea !

Fabulous!
I am very envious of your secret room.
The Diary of Anne Frank or is that a bit morbid?!

I'd want one that no one would try and pick up because I'd want it to be a secret
So it would have to be something really boring. Like a book about roundabouts.

Either that or I'd go really dark and use The Diary of Anne Frank

I know what my family’s dinner time conversation is going to be about tonight! Thanks, OP, this will keep us debating for ages.

Is it a classic mystery novel to keep it thematic, a story with a hidden room (like Harry Potter you mentioned), or perhaps, for practical purposes, a good sturdy and large hardback to withstand wear and tear?

Puns, personal significance or red herrings to preserve the secret?

So many options…

I love the Handel idea

100% The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Brilliant idea OP! I would go for a Narnia book.

snap! @TokyoSushi 😂

There are a few books called 'The Secret Room(s)' on Amazon

Amazing! I would go for 1984, my favourite ever book but also it would make me wonder what was behind the door!

I'm afraid this is exactly the sort of book I'd pull out, just because it sounds so dull I'd want to look inside it on the off chance it turns out to be a fascinating subject.

I think I'd do something like The Da Vinci Code. One look at that and the person (clearly a fan of reading, if they were perusing my shelves) would likely be secretly disdainful and probably walk off.

The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe.

I really want the secret room.

PS. OP, I am soooooooo envious!

What about this one?

Open Sesame

Yes I thought that after I typed it. My mum has a book about roundabouts for that exact reason. She saw it in a charity shop and figured it couldn't be as dull as it sounded. Apparently it was quite interesting.

Oooh that’s so cool!
im going with the lion the witch and the wardrobe too
or the secret garden

I like your mum @HaddyAbrams

Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer.

There is a secret room in Rosemary Sutcliffe ‘ The Kings General’ (which is a great book , I recommend it). Norah Lofts also has a secret room in her trilogy ‘The house at Old Vine’ , The Town House and the house at Sunset ( another terrific holiday read ). Unfortunately neither of them have especially delightful content ( the rooms, I mean) , so I would stick with L WW .

I suppose you could have the score of Bluebeards Castle? Or the Castle of Otranto.

sounds fab, anyway, good luck

An early copy of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (with John Tenniel's illustrations.

Gulliver's Travels
Knock Knock, Open Wide by Neil Sharpson

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

"I don't know how she does it"
By Alison Pearson...
I love the book and it is quite good for the pun as well

The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe would be my obvious choice but The Dark Tower or Terry Pratchetts DiscWorld or Gaiman's Neverwhere (Don't shoot me for this one) would be equally valid dropping into another world titles.

I was also coming on to say 1984!

It's my favourite book as well and it will lead to a place where Big Brother can't watch you!