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
Happy Wednesday, my literary lovelies! I hope that this post finds you all enjoying a wonderful start to September. I am missing the beginnings of autumnal English weather, having exchanged it for 95°F Missouri heat and more mosquito bites than it is possible to count. While I go off to rub an entire tube of … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 11/09/13
Hello hello! I am still alive, despite disappearing for most of last week. My mum's birthday brought about a surprise trip to the US and, with jet lag and an Elvis impersonator to contend with, my attention to blogging has been less than stellar. But I am back to it this week, with some more … Continue reading Monday Musing: 09/09/13
Welcome to September, my friends! A month of autumn leaves, countryside walks, and (most importantly) my birthday. Yes, it's the big 2-5 this month. A quarter of a century. Doesn't the time fly? I hope that you are all looking forward to a fabulous month ahead. And to my pals in the US, I am … Continue reading Monday Musing: 02/09/13
It will come as no surprise to you that I love words. Give me some fabulous wordplay and I will be entertained for hours. So when a trip to a brilliant secondhand bookshop in Hitchin had me fall upon Lost Words: A Feast of Forgotten Words, Their Origins and Their Meanings by Philip Howard, I … Continue reading Just For Fun Friday: Lost Words
Books can be the ultimate mood enhancer. When I find myself facing a tough or particularly stressful time, I tend to turn to light-hearted fiction as an appropriate means of escapism. None can provide this literary relief with quite the same efficacy as comic genius P.G. Wodehouse. I have been a big fan of Jeeves … Continue reading Review: Summer Lightning by P.G. Wodehouse
I cannot believe that I am about to say this, but welcome to the final August edition of The Weekly Reader. Where has the month gone? Yet what a wonderful month it has been (particularly the post-dissertation part.) The British population has had enough barbecues and glasses of Pimms to ensure that summer memories survive … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 28/08/13
For diligent readers of The Book Habit (otherwise known as 'mother'), this review will be noted as out-of-sync with my recent reads. Pat Barker's Regeneration has succeeded in leap-frogging the backlog of books currently awaiting review. There are two reasons for this: (1) It is a truly fantastic work that has earned priority status; and (2) My … Continue reading Review: Regeneration by Pat Barker
Hello all! You may be in for a double round of posts today, as I attempt to make up for my lack of presence this weekend. I am currently in Oxford, catching time with my mum while she is here on a business trip from the US. I will be back this evening (hopefully) with … Continue reading Monday Musing: 26/08/13
My apologies for being a little slow with the posts this week. I have a backlog of books waiting for review and intend to get around to them as soon as possible! Currently, I am finding it difficult to drag myself away from Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy. Combined with a few epic day trips (lavender … Continue reading Just For Fun Friday: Book-Themed Music
The Book Habit 