Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates (2020)

This book of four novellas is about women, about what it is like to be a woman, though sometimes through extreme examples. It is not always a pleasant book. Cardiff, by the Sea shows us the worst, most devastating things about being a woman - as well as the exquisite moments of joy that can… Continue reading Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates (2020)

An update – May 2019

Hello dear readers! As I mentioned in my first post of the year, I'm pregnant and this is taking up pretty much all of my time and energy at the moment, so I've haven't posted since March... but I am going on maternity leave at the end of May so I will have some time… Continue reading An update – May 2019

Reuben Sachs by Amy Levy (1888)

I bought this book about three years ago in the lovely Persephone bookshop in London, and for some reason have only now got around to reading it. As a rule I love Persephone books and am keen to read more of them. I hadn't heard anything about Amy Levy, or Reuben Sachs, when I found… Continue reading Reuben Sachs by Amy Levy (1888)

Men Explain Things to Me and Other Essays by Rebecca Solnit (2014)

Like most people, I am familiar with the term 'mansplaining'. I've also heard a fair bit of excitement about Rebecca Solnit as an interesting writer. Her essay Men Explain Things to Me is the origin of the term, something I only learned seeing the word in circulation - when it first became a thing there… Continue reading Men Explain Things to Me and Other Essays by Rebecca Solnit (2014)

Back soon!

Hello dear readers, you may have notice that there have not been any new posts here for a while - and I must apologise for that. Getting married took over my life, and I have just returned from our two-week honeymoon - and life hasn't got any less busy! I am still reading away, and… Continue reading Back soon!

Upcoming Reads and Reviews, April 2017

Upcoming reviews I am pleased to say I have finally finished reading Gareth Russell's wonderful book about Catherine Howard, Young and Damned and Fair. It took me about a month to read, which is a long time for me, but it was so worth it. I am now planning a blog post about it in… Continue reading Upcoming Reads and Reviews, April 2017

Looking back on the books of 2016

This is another overdue blog post, but one that I've really been looking forward to writing. I read 31 books in 2016, of varying quality, but overall it was a good reading year. I tried to branch out, accepting a total of eight review copies from publishers - which is a lot for me these… Continue reading Looking back on the books of 2016

A little update!

Hello dear readers! My apologies for my absence. Life has been a wee bit crazy in the last month or so, but we have finally moved into our new house and things are evening out... I actually have the time to sit down and write a blog post! Yay! I'm sitting at the dining table… Continue reading A little update!

Perlmann’s Silence by Pascal Mercier

For his first novel, originally published in Germany in 1995 and only now being published in English, Pascal Mercier chose the academic world of linguistics as the background for the story. More specifically he chose a small group of professors meeting for a conference on the Italian east coast, in a seaside town not far… Continue reading Perlmann’s Silence by Pascal Mercier