As I said in my last review, I have not been giving myself the easiest time with my reading choices. I seem to be moving quickly from one difficult read to another, without much pause. From William Styron's troubling masterpiece Sophie's Choice, to Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, my recent selections have hardly been uplifting. … Continue reading Review: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
I cannot honestly say that I have given myself the easiest time of it recently. I have travelled from heavy read to heavy read, without reprieve. I accept full responsibility for this decision, largely a consequence of my determination to fill in some obvious gaps in my reading repertoire. Sophie's Choice is a novel that I … Continue reading Review: Sophie’s Choice by William Styron
I have spoken before about my foray into the world of book groups. With two 'To-Read' stacks, consisting of 30 books still awaiting consumption, I am hesitant to place further demands on my already hectic reading schedule. But I recently stumbled upon a new group that seems to cater exactly to my tastes - the … Continue reading Review: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Welcome to the first review of 2014! And what better way to set a tone for the year than with another dip into the work of Jane Austen? While Pride and Prejudice undoubtedly remains my favourite of her works, there are certainly a couple of worthy rivals. Sense and Sensibility is among them. My first … Continue reading Review: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
This is something of a review-with-a-difference. Every so often, I do enjoy a foray into the world of non-fiction. And periodically this is reflected on The Book Habit. Today is one of those days. I have talked before about my general avoidance of all pleasure reading that intersects with my studies. Spending 9-5, 5 days … Continue reading Review: How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
I am, by anyone's reckoning, quite the Jane Austen fanatic (a true Austenite, if you will). My numerous copies of Pride and Prejudice are extremely well thumbed, and her most recognised masterpieces hold a similarly prominent place on my bookshelf (as well as in my heart). I have, however, long neglected her less celebrated works. … Continue reading Review: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
If my previous rants on the subject didn't already make it clear to you, censorship is something of a hot button issue with me. For any bibliophile, the banning of literary works is one of the more perverse mechanisms of oppression and social control. Unfortunately, it is a reality that exists in almost every society. … Continue reading Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
A few weeks ago, I had a revelation. Assisting with an advertising campaign for Hitchin British Schools (where I played the role of wife and mother very effectively), I stumbled upon the fabulous Eric T. Moore Books - a seller of secondhand, out-of-print, and antiquarian books. It is an absolute treasure trove. If I hadn't … Continue reading Review: Dracula by Bram Stoker
A couple of weeks ago in my column for The Riveter, I talked about the importance of literature in cultural exploration. As I think anyone who has occupied multiple countries will appreciate, fiction can provide an invaluable window into the historical, social, and political factors (among many others) that feed culture. When I first moved … Continue reading Review: My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
In trying to broaden my reading experience as much as possible, I recently made the decision to join a book club. I know many people, dotted around the globe, who conduct most of their reading at the impetus of discussion groups. The idea of 'reading on demand' has never really appealed to me but (as … Continue reading Review: The Buddha, Geoff and Me by Edward Canfor-Dumas
The Book Habit 