The Woman in White is an exciting and complex story with a memorable cast of heroes, villains, and sundry other interesting characters. Wilkie Collins lived between 1824 and 1889 and his life overlapped those of other well-known Victorian authors whose books I’ve enjoyed reading: Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870)Elizabeth Gaskell (1810 - 1865)Charlotte Bronte (1816 … Continue reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1859)
fiction
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (1949)
I Capture the Castle was one of the books on my shelf that I'd been reluctant to begin. I’m not sure why because I enjoyed Dodie Smith’s other well-known novel, 101 Dalmatians. Once I'd started this book my hesitancy quickly disappeared as I discovered that it is such a quirky, fun with patches of seriousness, … Continue reading I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (1949)
2023 Reading Plans
A few books to start with... Instead of listing a whole swag of books that I might read this year, I've decided to start with those I've either started to read already or definitely hope to read this year. Although I hadn't planned to join any reading challenges this year these two are a couple … Continue reading 2023 Reading Plans
My Reading in 2022
I'm very annoyed with myself that I didn't keep track of everything I read last year. I was just slack. My reading was fairly wide, a bit more nonfiction than usual and also more lighter books than I normally read. I felt a little run down after some bouts of flu, throat & ear problems … Continue reading My Reading in 2022
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude (1935)
The Vicar, who was fond of bodily comfort, sighed with the profoundest satisfaction. Behind him a big log fire crackled in the open hearth. A reading-lamp cast an orange circle over the seat of his favourite chair and gleamed, diluted, on the multicoloured book-backs which lined most of the room. In the centre of the … Continue reading The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude (1935)
Beyond the Black Stump by Nevil Shute (1956)
A remote cattle station in the Western Australian (W.A.) outback in the early 1950’s is the setting, for the most part, of Nevil Shute’s book, Beyond the Black Stump. The story begins in Oregon in America where Stanton Laird, a geologist in his late twenties, has just returned home after a stint in Arabia working … Continue reading Beyond the Black Stump by Nevil Shute (1956)
AusReading Month 2022
Brona's AusReading Challenge is happening this month. The main aim of this challenge is to read Australian fiction, non-fiction and poetry. I have a Nevil Shute title I've just started (Beyond the Black Stump) as well as a few other books I'm considering if I have time. Some others: No Moon Tonight by Don Charlwood … Continue reading AusReading Month 2022
The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (1929)
A practical joke takes a deadly turn with the death of a healthy young Foreign Office worker while he was a house guest at historic ‘Chimneys,’ an English country estate. At first his death seems to have been an accidental overdose or suicide but his friends who are also staying at Chimneys aren’t convinced. Their … Continue reading The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (1929)
The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan (1929)
The Courts of the Morning is John Buchan’s 15th novel. Although Richard Hannay narrates the prologue, he then dips out of the story and lets the characters involved continue the narration. The characters include Sandy Arbuthnot, a master of disguise, Lawrence of Arabia type, and skilled linguist, who is the central character in a previous … Continue reading The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan (1929)
Bookish Catch-up
“Good fiction’s job is to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”― David Foster Wallace I don't think that's the only function of fiction, but it may be a consequence. Some fiction is solely for relaxation, speaking of which, my husband and I have just returned from a holiday by the beach, the first time we've … Continue reading Bookish Catch-up
journey & destination 