Mayflies by Andrew O'Hagan appears to be one of those books especially designed for that subset of people born in the 1960's - the babies of the baby boomers and the very first Gen X-er's. Those people too young to get caught up in the whole 60's music scene, but by dint of being born … Continue reading Mayflies | Andrew O’Hagan #UKfiction
When I started reading Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander in the first week of January, it was almost 17 years to the day, since I had read it for the very first time. During my first 2004 read, I found the nautical terminology challenging. However, by the time I had finished all 20 and a … Continue reading Master & Commander | Patrick O’Brian #Readalong
Right from page one, it is obvious to see (as I (re)read), that Mantel is setting up the story to show Cromwell in a favourable and sympathetic light. The first chapter of Wolf Hall graphically, and unforgettably, describes a young Thomas Cromwell being severely beaten by his father, Walter. This is not a one-off event … Continue reading Wolf Hall | Hilary Mantel #Readalong
'Tis the season for book award longlists and shortlists! I've decided to use this season to pull together which books I've read from the various lists and which ones I hope to read. However, the main reason for embarking on this list-making is to 'force' me to tidy up the relevant books posts from last … Continue reading Longlists and Shortlists
The performance at the heart of The Performance is a Samuel Beckett play, Happy Days. It was Beckett’s sixth play, written in response to his wife requesting something less depressing. I'm not sure he knew how to do that though. The play revolves around a central character, Winnie, a woman in her fifties. In Act … Continue reading The Performance | Claire Thomas #AWW
I didn't think that I would have time to join in Dewithon this year, but a chance hearing of part of a Byrds song on the radio (perhaps they played it on the 1st March for a reason?) led me down a Welsh rabbit hole. This post is what I discovered. Idris Davies was born … Continue reading Gwalia Deserta XV | Idris Davies #Dewithon
Photo by LAUREN GRAY on Unsplash Shelf Life is a personal project to help me in my ongoing attempt to declutter my bookshelves. However it’s more than a Marie Condo of my books. It’s aim is to reflect, honour and let go as many books as possible. Mr Books and I may be on the move … Continue reading Shelf Life #6
Born Into This is a collection of short stories by an exciting new voice in Indigenous writing, Adam Thompson. Adam Thompson may be an emerging Pakana writer from Launceston, but there are powerful and promising things going on here. Some of his stories pack a serious punch, others creep in quietly under your skin. Either … Continue reading Born Into This | Adam Thompson #ShortStories
When I penned the first post on this topic a month ago, I did not think or suspect that it might turn into an ongoing series. I guess when you're in survival mode, it's hard to see that one day, all these new processes that seem difficult or unusual or unintuitive will one day become … Continue reading What I Learnt When I Moved From Blogger to WP – Part 2 #Bloggingtips
On the 2nd March 2021, Faber & Faber in the UK, Alfred A. Knopf in the US, Knopf in Canada and Allen & Unwin in Australia will publish Kazuo Ishiguro's latest novel, Klara and the Sun. This is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, … Continue reading Klara and the Sun | Kazuo Ishiguro #ReadtheNobels
Wolf Hall, and it's two sequels, are a commitment. I had forgotten how much so. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely loving my reread of Wolf Hall, it's just taking longer than I thought and it's a much denser read than I remember from the first time around. Or maybe, it's just that I'm taking … Continue reading #WolfHallReadalong2021 Update
This is a post I first drafted seven years ago as our eldest was starting his senior school years. I was already six years removed from my own teaching days, but once a teacher, always a teacher! This time of the year will always brins to mind those anxious, exciting first days of a new … Continue reading First Day of School
