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Monday Musing: 08/07/13

July 8, 2013January 21, 2019 ~ The Book Habit

Well, it is hot, hot, hot here in the UK. The sun cream is out and I am determined to leave this summer as pale as when I began it. So far, mission accomplished!

Wishing you all a spectacular week – whether in sun or rain.

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My name is Laura and I am a book addict. The Book Habit is a chronicle of my literary adventures, indulging my decades-long love affair with the written word. Here I post reviews, as well as anything else related to the literary lifestyle.

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“Just as the painter Rubens amused himself with being the ambassador to the court of St. James’s – a sufficient career in itself for most busy men – so Mrs. Lucas amused herself, in the intervals of her pursuit of art for art’s sake, with being not only an ambassador but a monarch. Riseholme might perhaps, according to the crude materialism of maps, be included in the kingdom of Great Britain, but in a more real and inward sense it formed a complete kingdom of its own, and its queen was undoubtedly Mrs. Lucas, who ruled it with a secure autocracy pleasant to contemplate at a time when thrones were toppling, and imperial crowns whirling like dead leaves down the autumn winds.” . . . I stumbled across E.F. Benson’s enchantingly vibrant ‘Mapp and Lucia’ stories at a time of serious need. My life had taken a series of dramatic turns and I found myself jobless, homeless, and thousands of miles away from my then-fiancé. As per my usual method of coping with life’s challenges, I turned to the library for comfort - and it’s there that I discovered the socially turbulent worlds of Benson’s fictional English utopias. The ‘Mapp and Lucia’ stories centre around two effective monarchs of village life - Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Mrs. Emmeline (‘Lucia’) Lucas - as they work to depose any potential obstacles to their respective reigns. When the two are brought into collision in the sweet seaside town of Tilling, however, war ensues - a battle waged over evening bridge parties, musical evenings, and Lucia’s well-guarded recipe for Lobster a la Riseholme. With a humour that rivals P.G. Wodehouse and a depth of insight that far exceeds him, Benson is a master of early-20th century social satire. ‘Mapp and Lucia’ is exquisite - the perfect remedy to just about any of life’s troubles. Click the link in my bio to read a full review! 🌻 . . . #bookworm #bookstagram #booklover #booknerd #bookish #bookphotography #bookaddict #bookstagramfeature #bookaholic #booknerdigans #instabook #reading #booklove #book #booksandtea #bookrecommendation #bookreview

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