Barnaby Rudge was published in 1841 and was Charles Dickens’ first historical novel. It is his least read book, which surprised me as the story is very interesting. It is based on a real historical event and includes a murder mystery, a talking raven, two romantic dramas, as well as being a social commentary on … Continue reading Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
Mother Culture
It’s Friday #3
These It's Friday posts are my attempts to catch up on what we've been doing re home education amongst other things. I'm sitting here in our family room enjoying our first fire for the year as there's been a sudden drop in temperature. My husband lit the fire then moved to another room because he … Continue reading It’s Friday #3
Mrs. Oswald Chambers by Michelle Ule
For years Oswald Chamber’s book, ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ has been sitting on my bedside table and I read it most evenings before I go to sleep. It’s a very rich, no compromise devotional that is always challenging and is entirely without fluff. Mrs. Oswald Chambers was the woman behind this worldwide bestselling devotional … Continue reading Mrs. Oswald Chambers by Michelle Ule
Monday Musings on Easter and the Ukraine
We've been reading through C.S. Lewis's book Preparing for Easter since the beginning of March and just finished it yesterday. ‘What are we to make of Christ?’ There is no question of what we can make of Him, it is entirely a question of what He intends to make of us. You must accept or … Continue reading Monday Musings on Easter and the Ukraine
John Macnab by John Buchan (1925)
Two distinguished highflyers had separately been to see Dr. Acton Croke. Both were suffering from a common ailment - they had all grown too competent and comfortable and their doctor had given them both the same diagnosis and suggested treatment: “You’ve got to rediscover the comforts of your life by losing them for a little…You … Continue reading John Macnab by John Buchan (1925)
10 Years of Blogging
Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) Ten years ago, in April 2012, I published my first blog post on Blogger. After just over 9 years of using the Blogger platform I moved across to WordPress in the middle of this year, keeping my original blog name of journey & destination. I started blogging to record our home … Continue reading 10 Years of Blogging
Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim (1921)
My local library had a copy of Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim, which was surprising as I’ve never seen any of her books there before. This was one I’ve wanted to read for a while so I got into it right away.It started off in a similar fashion to her other books but had a … Continue reading Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim (1921)
Doing Justice to the Characters of Others
I remembered this conversation between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice as I was re-reading Book 1 of Ourselves, the book we’re discussing in our monthly Charlotte Mason book club on Zoom: “Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley; “and pray what is the result?” “I am … Continue reading Doing Justice to the Characters of Others
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)
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita by Rumer Godden (1963)
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita written by Rumer Godden (1907-1998) is partly autobiographical. When her first marriage ended in divorce and she later remarried, there were difficulties between her two daughters and her second husband. This situation was fictionalised in The Battle of the Villa Fiorita. In this book, the two children of Fanny … Continue reading The Battle of the Villa Fiorita by Rumer Godden (1963)
journey & destination 