It's relatively rare that I come across a book I dislike. I'm generally a kind reader, largely because I have an intense amount of respect for the arduous process of writing a novel and seeing it through to publication. It's an incredibly courageous choice - to put what is, for many writers, a culmination of … Continue reading Monday Musing: How To Hate A Novel
" 'Not even I know all the rules', says the old officer under his breath. 'There are things that cannot and should not be explained. But there is no cause for concern. The Town is fair in its own way. The things you need, the things you need to know, one by one the Town … Continue reading Review: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
As I've mentioned (read complained about) a few times before, one of the low points of the past couple of years was parting with most of my book collection. Between the ages of 16 and 24, I moved country every couple of years (not evading the law, I promise) and, as a result, it was … Continue reading Monday Musing: Rebuilding A Lost Book Collection
I'm no stranger to challenging weeks (or, let's face it, months). Since moving to the US, my life has undergone an overhaul that I certainly couldn't have anticipated when living as a fresh-faced and hopeful PhD student in the UK. While I figured that, by 30, I'd have a solid career, life plan, and the … Continue reading Monday Musing: How Bad Weeks Can Be A Book Worm’s Best Friend
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
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
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
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
"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
