Bel Lamington was a young woman who lost her parents when she was very young. She had gone to live with her aunt and they had been very happy together. When her aunt died her country house was sold and just enough money was left to enable Bel to train as a secretary. Bel said … Continue reading Bel Lamington by D.E. Stevenson (1961)
fiction
Bats in the Belfry by E.C.R. Lorac (1937)
E.C.R. Lorac is one of the pseudonyms used by the prolific British crime author Edith Caroline Rivett (1894-1958) who until more recently had largely been forgotten. I’ve read a couple of her books and I've liked this one the best so far. It's the thirteenth book out of forty-six written by Lorac that feature Chief … Continue reading Bats in the Belfry by E.C.R. Lorac (1937)
April Blether
'To a generation for whom everything which used to nourish the imagination because it had to be won by an effort, and then slowly assimilated, is now served up cooked, seasoned, and chopped into little bits, the creative faculty (for reading should be a creative act as well as writing) is rapidly withering, together with … Continue reading April Blether
Spring Magic by D.E. Stevenson (1942)
In his Introduction to Spring Magic, Alexander McCall Smith writes that D. E. Stevenson’s books, ‘…eluded the sort of classification that reviewers and scholars like to engage in. They are not simple romances; nor are they anything that would today be recognised as thrillers. They are in a category of their own: clearly-written straightforward tales … Continue reading Spring Magic by D.E. Stevenson (1942)
Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh (1940)
A darts night at the Plume of Feathers, an old-fashioned pub at a small village in Devonshire, turns into a crime scene. Lawyer Luke Watchman, his cousin, Sebastian Parish who is a handsome and celebrated actor, and their friend, Norman Cubitt, a distinguished artist, are visiting the village after a year’s absence and are staying … Continue reading Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh (1940)
1940 Book Club
Every six months Simon and Karen ask people to read books published in the same year and put reviews online wherever you put reviews (blog, GoodReads, Instagram, etc.). Any sort of book from anywhere in the world is welcomed – the only rule is that it was first published in 1940. I'll be reading Death at the … Continue reading 1940 Book Club
March Blether
I didn't get to post a Blether for February and decided to post one for March a bit earlier so I could include this event: During March there are some live, 'Learning with Literature' discussions hosted by Kylie at the Sweet Society. These events are free and held on a private off-Facebook site so you … Continue reading March Blether
Anne of Avonlea by Lucy M. Montgomery (1909)
Anne of Avonlea is the second book in the Anne series of books by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In this story Anne is sixteen years old and just beginning her work as the new schoolteacher at Avonlea.Although she has left behind her dizzier escapades and dramas, she is still prone to mishaps, but her reactions are … Continue reading Anne of Avonlea by Lucy M. Montgomery (1909)
January Blether
My Glasgow Granny would often say 'Stop yer bletherin,' if we were babbling on about something, but I'm using the word here in the more positive sense of 'a lengthy chat between friends.' 🙂 This is a look back at the month that's been that will include books (of course!) but also other topics of … Continue reading January Blether
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (1859)
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)
journey & destination 