I may have over-commited myself when planning my 2014 reading challenges!I very nearly threw my hands up in despair last week when I started spotting 2015 challenges. I was adamant - NO! Not again.But then I spotted Behold the Stars British Reading Challenge & Adam's TBR Challenge...and I started wondering....Did I really do so badly … Continue reading 2015 – Challenges – Will I? Or Won’t I?
Tag: Eclectic RC
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
I've read so many varied reviews of Olive Kitteridge over the years, that I knew that this was probably going to be a 'love it or hate it' kind of book. Given my enjoyment of Strout's The Burgess Boys, I was expecting to love it. Here was another story with all my favourite themes - … Continue reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber – the rest!
For Angela Carter Week I've been reading my way through her short story collection, The Bloody Chamber. I've already reviewed the title story, The Bloody Chamber and the three cat stories. This post is dedicated to the remaining stories in the collection. The Erl-King was an unusual story based on a German folk story that … Continue reading Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber – the rest!
Angela Carter – the cat stories.
The Courtship of Mr Lyon and The Tiger's Bride are the next two tales in Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber anthology. These two are based on the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast.I was a little let down, but only a little, after the heady, gothic delights of The Bloody Chamber. They seemed less … Continue reading Angela Carter – the cat stories.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
The Bloody Chamber is the main story in Angela Carter's short story collection, of the same name, first published in 1979.It turned out to be a tremendous way for me to start off Angela Carter Week. The general consensus seems to be that it is one of her most perfectly constructed tales. Full of evocative … Continue reading The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Angela Carter Week 8 – 15th June 2014
Well, this is a lovely little find.Caroline @Beauty Is A Sleeping Cat and Delia @Postcards From Asia are co-hosting an Angela Carter month on their blogs.I have a copy of The Bloody Chamber which I've been meaning to read for simply ages.(Actually, I started reading it years ago but for some reason I didn't finish it.)It will … Continue reading Angela Carter Week 8 – 15th June 2014
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I didn't know.I've been reading and thoroughly enjoying the story of Sarah Grimké and Handful by Sue Monk Kidd.The Invention of Wings is a wonderfully complex, nuanced, character driven story that takes you straight into the heart of the deep South in the early 1800's.Given the Classics Club event for this month (Feminism in literature) … Continue reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Elegy For Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
I'm a little in love with the amazing Maisie Dobbs.She's smart, thoughtful & reserved. She's a flawed character with a tragic past. She's strong, determined and above all, honest.Integrity, honour and justice are traits that she tries to live by and work with.Which can be challenging when you're a private investigator asked to check into … Continue reading Elegy For Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
I've read The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns by John Green previously and thoroughly enjoyed both of them. So I was expecting quite a lot from An Abundance of Katherines.I was, therefore, disappointed when it didn't 'grab' me straight off.I found Colin annoying more than endearing and the dialogue with his friend, Hassan … Continue reading An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
The Luminaries | Eleanor Catton
Regular viewers of my blog may have noticed that I've been playing around with backgrounds and layout lately. When I was doing my 2013 retrospectives, I realised that in July of this year, I will celebrate my 5 years of blogging anniversary. It seemed like the right time to refresh the way my blog looks. … Continue reading The Luminaries | Eleanor Catton
2014 Challenges
It's that time of year - when the New Year challenge call goes out to those of us in blogger land. Will we, or won't we join up? How many challenges? Will I keep to my plan? Or is simply something else to fail at? So far I've avoided yearly challenges in my 5 years … Continue reading 2014 Challenges