Books To Watch For In 2019: The Year’s Most Anticipated Releases

January 23, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 6 Comments

2018 was a great year for fiction. From powerfully provocative works such as Richard Powers' The Overstory and Tommy Orange's There There to the incredible feminist retelling of classic Greek myth in Madeline Miller's Circe, the diversity was incredible. Fortunately, 2019 promises to be another wonderful year for literature (I mean, any year that features a new release from … Continue reading Books To Watch For In 2019: The Year’s Most Anticipated Releases

Monday Musing: Dreaming Murakami

January 21, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

I can't believe that we're already almost through January (although the current -11C weather is making me increasingly desperate for the spring). Fortunately, I'm finding some great ways to while away these freezing winter months with the usual combination of tea and books. One of my goals for 2019 was to add some new literary … Continue reading Monday Musing: Dreaming Murakami

Review: Stoner by John Williams

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 2 Comments

"An occasional student who comes upon the name may wonder idly who William Stoner was, but he seldom pursues his curiosity beyond a casual question. Stoner's colleagues, who held him in no particular esteem when he was alive, speak of him rarely now; to the older ones, his name is a reminder of the end … Continue reading Review: Stoner by John Williams

How To Read Successfully In 2019

January 16, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 7 Comments

Whether or not you're a fan of the New Year's resolution, it's inevitable that the start of each year ushers in a desire to do more and better. The idea of a fresh start can be incredibly appealing, as can the hope of improving on your previous year's achievements. Focusing on your reading habits - whether with a … Continue reading How To Read Successfully In 2019

Monday Musing: 14/01/19

January 14, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

It's been a long weekend of reading here at The Book Habit central. We've had 10 inches of snow over the past two days and are officially snow-bound. I've written before about my struggles with adapting to the unpredictable extremes of weather in the US midwest and this weekend is surely my karmic punishment for complaining. Since … Continue reading Monday Musing: 14/01/19

Review: The Overstory by Richard Powers

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 2 Comments

"The Greeks had a word, xenia - guest friendship - a command to take care of traveling strangers, to open your door to whoever is out there, because anyone passing by, far from home, might be God. Ovid tells the story of two immortals who came to Earth in disguise to cleanse the sickened world. … Continue reading Review: The Overstory by Richard Powers

The Best Books Of 2018

January 9, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

2018 was a year of relative calm, following the tumult of 2017. It was my first full year in the US and a year in which (following my decision to abandon academia) I made a whole lot of decisions regarding my future. The calm certainly served my reading habits and 2018 ended up being one … Continue reading The Best Books Of 2018

Welcome Back To The Book Habit!

January 7, 2019January 13, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

Happy 2019, my friends! A new year and a fresh start for The Book Habit. I took a couple of weeks off from creating content whilst getting myself organised and putting into place a long overdue site redesign. For those of you who have been visiting The Book Habit for a while, I hope that you enjoy the … Continue reading Welcome Back To The Book Habit!

Monday Musing: 10/12/18

December 10, 2018January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ Leave a comment

As we edge closer to the start of 2019, I've found myself reflecting a lot on this past year. It has been, without a doubt, the hardest of my life. It turns out that getting used to life in a new country isn't all that easy, particularly when it coincides with turning away from just … Continue reading Monday Musing: 10/12/18

Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

December 8, 2018January 5, 2019 ~ The Book Habit ~ 2 Comments

"I conjure the boy I knew. Achilles, grinning as the figs blur in his hands. His green eyes laughing into mine. Catch, he says. Achilles, outlined against the sky, hanging from a branch over the river. The thick warmth of his sleepy breath against my ear. If I have to go, I will go with … Continue reading Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller