Wednesday is here again! Today we are saying farewell to July and hoping for an August equal in sunshine and summer excitement. Aside from the obvious occupations (dissertation writing and Knebworth House), my August will feature an Oxford excursion with my mum and a few theatre/concert trips. Lots to look forward to and I'm hoping … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 31/07/13
Tomorrow marks the birthday of sorceress of storytelling, JK Rowling. As a member of the lucky Harry Potter generation, Jo's books have been a big part of my life since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first graced the UK's bookshelves. As my family will attest, my obsession with the world of Harry Potter remains a dominant … Continue reading Happy (early) Birthday JK Rowling!
Storms, storms, storms. We are finally paying the price for such wonderfully warm weather. Fortunately, monsoon rain is exactly what I need as I crank out my dissertation. I will admit, however, that storms always provoke a longing to curl up with one of the Harry Potter books. Nothing says rainy day reading quite like … Continue reading Monday Musing: 29/07/13
I think I have mentioned once before that I have a bit of an obsession with facts and trivia. I would probably do well in a pub quiz situation, but my generally intense approach to most things would likely make my team membership a short one. This doesn't stop me devouring useless information whenever it … Continue reading Just For Fun Friday: Weird Facts About Authors
It is always a fascinating experience when personal interests collide. Fortunately, my two principal passions - literature and human rights - are constantly intersecting. This said, with the majority of my day typically given over to human rights-based research, I do tend to steer clear of giving my personal reading time over to the subject. … Continue reading Review: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Hello friends! Well, we are already into the last full week of July. While I am back in university mode, with my dissertation due at the end of August, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a few wonderful days off. In addition to copious amounts of reading, I have seen an amazing live broadcast … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 24/07/13
It has been a while since I last managed a Literary Excursion post. Exams, dissertation-writing, and a preponderance of shifts at Knebworth House have left me with limited time to venture out into the world. Fortunately, a bit of glorious weather (and the fact that George Bernard Shaw's home is just 10 minutes down the road) … Continue reading Literary Excursion: Shaw’s Corner
Happy Monday! Continuing on yesterday's J.K. Rowling theme, here's a quote to get you going for the week. Enjoy!
For the past week, the literary world has been possessed by the news that J.K. Rowling secretly published a book earlier this year, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Choosing to do so in order to escape the inevitable, and often biased, scrutiny that accompanies her publications, The Cuckoo's Calling ends a year of debate regarding … Continue reading Review: The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
"Got to me mickey, found me way up the apples, put on me whistle and the bloody dog went. It was me trouble telling me to fetch the teapots." Translation: "Got to my house (mickey mouse), found my way up the stairs (apples and pears), put on my suit (whistle and flute) when the phone … Continue reading Just For Fun Friday: Cockney Rhyming Slang
The Book Habit 