"What a world it is, Cora thought, that makes a living prison into your only haven. Was she out of bondage or in its web: how to describe the status of a runaway? Freedom was a thing that shifted as you looked at it, the way a forest is dense with trees up close but … Continue reading Review: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
In last week's Monday Musing, I wrote about the ways in which I process and account for my dislike of particular novels. Inspired by my troubled impression of Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (although my continued love for his work is reflected in today's choice of quote), I found myself contemplating the meaning … Continue reading Monday Musing: How Literature Offers An Intoxicating Salvation From Life’s Challenges
Whether you face Feb 14th with feelings of horror, boredom, or excitement, Valentine's Day is one of those events that cannot be avoided. As soon as the Christmas lights are taken down, we're confronted with visions of stocky cherubs and uncomfortably artificial advertisements at almost every turn of the head. Since meeting my husband, I've … Continue reading 10 Unconventional Reads To Enjoy This Valentine’s Day (Whatever Your Relationship Status)
As someone who has been reading for almost as long as I've been talking, it can be difficult for me to appreciate the direct but subtle ways in which fiction helps me to navigate the peaks and troughs of life. Only over recent years - and as a result of suffering from various kinds of … Continue reading Can Fiction Help You? An Introduction To Bibliotherapy
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
Interested in what's been happening across the literary world this November? Fortunately, I've gathered the best articles, releases, and reviews for you in one place! So grab a cup of tea and take a look at what's been happening this month. Articles 'From Hamilton to Thatcher: the best books about divided governments' by David Runciman … Continue reading The Monthly Reader: November 2018
As most regular readers of The Book Habit already know, I'm someone who needs to be constantly learning. I have always thrived as a student, whether in an official capacity or through picking up knowledge in my spare time. It's probably why I ended up following my academic career to its natural peak as a PhD … Continue reading The 5 Best Places To Learn About Literature Online (For Free!)
Happy Halloween, my darlings! I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Halloween, for the same reason that darkness gives me the heebie-jeebies. A day devoted to scary stuff is not quite up my alley. But after living in the US - and now being engaged to an American - it's become more difficult … Continue reading Happy Halloween!
Welcome to your one-stop shop for literary updates! Here I review the week's top articles, preview upcoming events, and give a shout out to the best in literary paraphernalia. Enjoy! Articles 'Hearing Words, Writing Sounds: Examining the Authors Brain' by Richard Lea (The Guardian) Ever wonder what happens in the brain when writing or reading fiction? … Continue reading The Weekly Reader: 02/07/15
"One heart is not connected to another through harmony alone. They are, instead, linked deeply through their wounds. Pain linked to pain, fragility linked to fragility. There is no silence without a cry of grief, no forgiveness without bloodshed, no acceptance without a passage through acute loss. That is what lies at the root of … Continue reading Review: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
