"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
"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
As I mentioned in my previous post, I've recently found myself preoccupied with the idea of endings. There have been a lot of them over the past two years - I left my PhD programme, I left my country. It's required acceptance of the fact that goodbyes and new beginnings often go hand-in-hand. These reflections … Continue reading The Best Endings In Literature: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Returning to The Book Habit in appropriate style, with a review of Claire Fuller's debut novel Our Endless Numbered Days. I received a copy of this book at the start of the year, prior to its February release.* Despite tearing through it in no time, my PhD work has kept me away from the blog and means … Continue reading Review: Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller
My adoration of a good mystery is no surprise. I have written often of my love for the genre, particularly the works of the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie. When it comes to crime fiction, I tend to live exclusively in the past. Modern mystery thrillers, in the mould of those by John Grisham, just … Continue reading Review: The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
Hello friends! Since I will be on a plane tomorrow, I am posting my Monday Musing a little prematurely. Hopefully it will serve as motivation for that final push through to the Christmas holidays. For those of you who do not celebrate, it remains a perfect time of year for many occupations that require cold … Continue reading Monday Musing (on a Sunday): 14/12/14
"The road to Manderley lay ahead. There was no moon. The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea." Every so often, … Continue reading Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The season of good cheer is upon us, and not only because I am able to wear my reindeer hat without shame. For those engaged in a love affair with literature, bitter cold and biting wind mean an excuse for blankets and books. While many decry the seemingly-unending darkness, bibliophiles can rejoice in long evenings … Continue reading Winter Warmers: 5 Books To Cosy Up With This Winter
