For as widely as I like to read, it's extremely rare that I decide to dip into a short story collection. Unless written by one of my favourite authors, I struggle when it comes to generating enthusiasm for short fiction. Yet, I'm well aware of the incredible skill that it takes to write short stories … Continue reading Monday Musing: The Subtle Magic Of Short Stories
"Oh, how different the world did look from that height. Imagine it: my whole life I had lived on that brutish island and never had I seen its edges, never had I seen the ocean in its vastness, the white breakers rolling in upon the beaches. Never had I seen the roads, with their tiny … Continue reading Review: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Once the New Year's resolutions have been abandoned, January can be a relatively dull and static month for many of us. Fortunately, the literary world doesn't stop turning, even as we lock ourselves away in a state of semi-hibernation. If you're interested in what's been happening this January, you've come to the right place! I've … Continue reading The Monthly Reader: A Literary Roundup For January 2019
Is it just me or does January feel like it gets longer the closer we get to its end? Granted, I don't have a whole lot of tolerance for the winter months. In Missouri, this time of year is brutal and my English constitution is only just starting to adapt to the fact that 10 … Continue reading Monday Musing: The Art Of Shopping For Books In The Snow
"What will they make of us, the people of those unimaginably distant times? One thing I do know: they won't want the brutal reality of conquest and slavery. They won't want to be told about the massacres of men and boys, the enslavement of women and girls. They won't want to know we were living … Continue reading Review: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
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
"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
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
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
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
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