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
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!
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
"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
I'm definitely one of those people who unashamedly revels in the Christmas season. I have my decorations up mid-November and make it a personal goal to watch a different Christmas film every night of December (although this admittedly requires watching some truly atrocious ones). While I don't love the commercialisation that undoubtedly accompanies the holidays, … Continue reading A Book Lover’s Gift Guide (For All Budgets)
One of the things that I've had to get used to living in the US midwest is the incredibly variable weather. Going from 35-40C heat in the summer to lows of -15C in the winter takes quite the adjustment, particularly for someone so used to very mild English weather. Living in such extremes has, however, … Continue reading Monday Musing: 03/12/18
"In front of me, there's the old TW. Beyond it, a scratchy wooden tableland. There are mismatched salt and pepper shakers, and a company of stubborn toast crumbs. The light from the hall is yellow, the light in here is white. I sit and think and hit here. I punch and punch away. Writing is … Continue reading Review: Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Interested in what's been happening across the literary world this November? Fortunately, I've gathered the best articles, releases, and reviews for you in one place! So grab a cup of tea and take a look at what's been happening this month. Articles 'From Hamilton to Thatcher: the best books about divided governments' by David Runciman … Continue reading The Monthly Reader: November 2018
Answering the question 'What makes a novel a classic?' is a challenging task. What exactly is the common thread that brings a diversity of titles, from various genres and centuries, under this illustrious label? Although I'm sure that there are plenty of opinions on the subject, for me it's something about the universality of a … Continue reading 10 Classic Novels Everyone Should Read In Their Twenties (Part Two)
As most regular readers of The Book Habit already know, I'm someone who needs to be constantly learning. I have always thrived as a student, whether in an official capacity or through picking up knowledge in my spare time. It's probably why I ended up following my academic career to its natural peak as a PhD … Continue reading The 5 Best Places To Learn About Literature Online (For Free!)
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