literary hoohah
This is the first of Mary Beard's books that I have read, but I have been meaning to read something of hers for a while - so I had quite high expectations for this. I expected Confronting the Classics to be a journey through the Classical world with Mary Beard, an education in how that… Continue reading Confronting the Classics by Mary Beard
Identity is a theme, or issue, that I think becomes part of all autobiography or memoir; to write about oneself it to write about who you are and why. This is certainly the case with the wonderful Tracks by Robyn Davidson. She not only writes about her own experience – it is a singular, personal… Continue reading Tracks by Robyn Davidson
This article contains spoilers about key plot points that you will not want to find out if you have not read this book. Or you might want to, but I thought I'd let you know. Recently I wrote about re-reading - why we do or do not choose to re-read certain books, and what we… Continue reading Re-Reading: How to Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman
2013 has been another fantastic year for books, with some super duper award winners and releases. I've read a relatively low number of books this year (about 35 I reckon), and I haven't loved them all, but there have been a few real gems (click on the links for my original reviews). Brain on… Continue reading Best of 2013
Let me just say this now: Donna Tartt is my favourite writer. Hands down. I read The Secret History and then The Little Friend about ten years ago, and something latched on inside of me and has never let go. I was amazed and excited to hear that she would be publishing a new novel… Continue reading An Evening With Donna Tartt
Where do I begin? The Goldfinch. The Goldfinch. It still hasn't entirely sunk in that Donna Tartt has written another novel; that it is out this year; that it is called The Goldfinch. And yet I have read a proof copy of it, all 771 pages, kindly sent to me by someone at Little, Brown.… Continue reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I think it is far to say that in the time since it has been published, less than a month, Burial Rites has become a bit of a 'sensation'. It is everywhere, and everyone seems to be talking about it. I don't usually rush to read books that have a lot of hype around them,… Continue reading Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Gallic Books kindly offered to send me a review copy of Monsieur Le Commandant - the cover got me straight away. A beautiful graphic font, not too busy, and a French stamp mingled with a Nazi eagle in the corner - something that becomes more and more poignant and chilling as you make your way… Continue reading Monsieur Le Commandant by Romain Slocombe
Almost English came to me by chance, and I was instantly taken with its cover (they are so, so important, aren't they?). It is not only striking but carefully designed, and modern too. 'Modern' - what I mean by that really is that it does not look like a lot of other book covers knocking… Continue reading Review: Almost English by Charlotte Mendelson (Man Booker Prize 2013 Longlist)
Literary prizes are always fun: plenty of speculation and eager guesses, plus loads of reviews and recommendations to savour. There are also the bloggers who try to read whole longlists and shortlists, whom I really admire because I could never take on that amount of reading with a deadline! And the nominated books are always… Continue reading The Man Booker Prize Longlist 2013 Is Announced!
These Little Words 