You always looked back, she thought. You looked back at other years, other Christmas cards arriving, the children younger. I'm sneaking my first William Trevor story in a few days early to coincide with my one and only A Literary Christmas entry for 2022. Those who have followed my previous A Literary Christmas stories, will … Continue reading Another Christmas | William Trevor #ALiteraryChristmas
Queen Victoria Building Christmas Tree 2022 Summer has been missing in action for most of December (third year in a row!) but the meteorologists are promising that the next few days should be sunny and 28° C. We can but hope. I'm working right up until the very end this year, so Christmas Day will be … Continue reading Seasons Greetings 2022
I didn't think my Christmas post would be another Covid Chronicles update. However, our planned family Christmas gathering at our holiday home in the mountains quickly went pear-shaped on Christmas Eve when B21 woke up feeling unwell. A rapid antigen test (RAT) came up positive. He went off to a private clinic to try and … Continue reading So, this is Christmas: The Covid Chronicles #15
I am a novelist, and I suppose I have made up this story. I write ‘suppose’, though I know for a fact that I have made it up. The Heavenly Christmas Tree was initially published as The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas in 1876 in A Writer’s Diary. It's fair to say that it reflects the religious conversion … Continue reading The Heavenly Christmas Tree | Fyodor Dostoevsky #RUSshortstory
The other day I saw a wedding ... but no, I had better tell you about the Christmas tree. To continue my Literary Christmas reading challenge, I have left behind Mary Gaunt and Australian shores to head off to pre-revolutionary Russia. A Christmas Tree and a Wedding is a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It … Continue reading White Nights and other stories | Fyodor Dostoevsky #RUSshortstories
It was a comfortable place, the wide verandah at Warwingie, a place much used by the Warners on all occasions, save during the heat of the day - but the long hot day was drawing to a close now. For this year's A Literary Christmas, I decided to hunt down some seasonal short stories. Most … Continue reading The Moving Finger | Mary Gaunt #AWWshortstories
Back in March, when Covid news was dominating every airway and program, I turned to Angela Thirkell's High Rising for some light relief and old-fashioned comfort. So when I spotted A Literary Christmas over at In the Bookcase, I knew that another trip to High Rising was imminent. Christmas at High Rising is a collection … Continue reading Christmas at High Rising | Angela Thirkell #ALiteraryChristmas
Feeling very grateful, right now, that Tarissa @In the Bookcase is hosting A Literary Christmas this year. It made me search my shelves for something Christmassy that I hadn't read yet. It led me straight into the delightful and utterly charming arms of Beatrix Potter. I confess that I did not read any of the Peter Rabbit … Continue reading The Tailor of Gloucester | Beatrix Potter #ALiteraryChristmas
Christmas Tree in Martin Place, Sydney Our Australian summer has been awful so far. NSW has been ablaze since August when the mid-north coast and south-east Queensland fires flared up. Several large towns were threatened at different times including Tenterfield andTaree. Two people died and it burnt through 31 268 hectares. On October 26, a lightning … Continue reading Merry Christmas 2019
A Maigret Christmas contains three very different stories by Georges Simenon - A Maigret Christmas, Seven Small Crosses in a Notebook and The Restaurant near Place des Ternes - yet they all share a similar sense of melancholy and loneliness. In Simenon's world, Christmas is not a time for goodwill and cheer, so seasonally well-adjusted … Continue reading A Maigret Christmas | Georges Simenon #ShortStories
Wishing you all a peaceful, joyous holiday season, however or wherever you celebrate this time. Thank you for all your visits, comments and fellowship throughout the year. It has not been an easy year for me & my time in blogger land has helped me get through some trying days. Blogging & reading keep me … Continue reading Merry Christmas 2018
The best laid plans and all that jazz.This summer has been a bit of bummer when it comes to reading. Normally I love the lazy summer days as a great excuse to devour books by the bucket load - by the pool, on the beach or relaxing under the fan or air-con. But so far … Continue reading My Summer Reading Plans #1
To all my wonderful readers, thank you for your kind, thoughtful comments over the year. This blog has evolved into a way for me to keep track of my reading journey. I'm delighted that I can share the journey with so many like-minded bookish folk. I hope this holiday finds you with loved ones, in … Continue reading Merry Christmas 2017
Louise Park is an amazingly prolific Australian children's author who writes under several pseudonyms, including H. I. Larry (Zac Power books), Mac Park (Boy Vs Beasts books) and Poppy Rose (Bella Dancerella series). The Harriet Clare series of books are written under her own name. Harriet Clare Secret Notebook #5 Mystery Dare was published a couple … Continue reading Harriet Clare #6 Christmas Fair | Louise Park
Seasons Greetings Thank you one and all for a fabulous blogging and reading year. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyous holiday. With love from sunny, warm Australia.
bronasbooks.com 