Gianetta, named after her disreputable great-grandmother, Gianetta Fox who was once the rage of London, had just finished school and completed a course for mannequins. At a showing where she modelled an historical dress, she met Nicholas Drury, a successful author with a caustic tongue, who at 29 years of age was ten years her … Continue reading Wildfire at Midnight by Mary Stewart (1956)
20th Century
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930)
I kept coming across the description ‘hard-boiled’ applied to a certain type of detective/crime novel, but although I sort of understood the description, I couldn’t think of anything I’d read that would fit the category. And then I saw The Maltese Falcon in a secondhand book shop and as I’m happy to try just about … Continue reading The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930)
So Disdained (1928)
So Disdained was Nevil Shute’s second book. It was written in the evenings over a three year period while he was working as an engineer on aircraft and was published when he was 29 years old.I’ve read many of his books and they tend to depict very ordinary people who are placed into situations often … Continue reading So Disdained (1928)
Trent’s Last Case by E.C. Bentley (1913)
E.C. Bentley wrote Trent’s Last Case as a reaction against the artificial type of detective stories popular in the early 1900’s which portrayed detectives as almost superhuman. He believed it was possible to have a detective who was recognisable as a human being with human emotions and not someone who was a perfect reasoning machine, … Continue reading Trent’s Last Case by E.C. Bentley (1913)
Bookish Destinations 2022
2022 Art Book Reading Challenge Rebecca @ a humble place is hosting a 2022 Art Reading Challenge with seven categories. I've chosen the four options below: A biography of an artist from the 20th century (Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear) A biography of an artist from the 19th century (? Van Gogh by Peter Burra) … Continue reading Bookish Destinations 2022
Ambleside Online Year 11
This is our Year 11 Australian/personalised adaption of Ambleside Online. We've just finished for the year and this is my final update...unless I've forgotten something. Bible/Devotions * ** * *** In The Steps of the Master by H.V. Morton - Bible History & Geography * Knowing God by J.I. Packer - continued from last year ** The … Continue reading Ambleside Online Year 11
Love by Elizabeth von Arnim (1925)
This is only the second novel I’ve read by Elizabeth von Arnim, but along with Edith Wharton, she has shot up on my reading radar. Both authors have gotten under my skin with their beautiful literary writing and their sensitive treatment of women’s issues and sometimes difficult themes.In the context of the times in which … Continue reading Love by Elizabeth von Arnim (1925)
A Son at the Front by Edith Wharton (1923)
A Son at the Front was one of four novels written by Edith Wharton in the 1920’s after she had won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for her book Age of Innocence. These novels focussed on the growing sense that World War I had brought about irreparable damage that left an indelible mark on society.A … Continue reading A Son at the Front by Edith Wharton (1923)
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (1957-8)
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (1890 - 1960) is an epic Russian novel that takes place during the socialist revolution of 1905 and the years up to World War II. Philosophical and beautifully written, it is sometimes difficult to follow as it has a cast of thousands and everyone is known by about three or … Continue reading Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak (1957-8)
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild (1945)
Saplings is the story of the Wiltshire family: Alex and Lena and their four children, Laurel, Tony, Kim and Tuesday, who are by all accounts a successful middle class family, well off and happy. That is, until the war began.With the bombing of London imminent, the Wiltshire children were evacuated to the country to … Continue reading Saplings by Noel Streatfeild (1945)
journey & destination 