Explosion in a Cathedral (1962) by Alejo Carpentier; John Sturrock (translator)
A third of the way through the book, these are my initial comments on Alejo Carpentier’s Explosion in a Cathedral, set at the time of the French Revolution. The author’s beautiful language and rich...
View ArticleWhatever happened to 20 Books of Summer 2023?
When I drew up my list of 30-something books for 20 Books of Summer, I didn’t expect my summer to last until the end of September. And I didn’t expect it to be the end of October before I wrote my...
View ArticleNovellas in November: My year in Novellas 2023 #NovNov
There's nothing quite so exciting as lining up a pile or shelf of books you're intending to read for a challenge, so November definitely started off with a bang as I gathered together my possibles for...
View ArticleMy year in Nonfiction for Nonfiction November
Nonfiction November is being hosted this year by a different host every week, with a separate prompt every week.
View ArticleNonfiction November Book Pairings, Part 1 #NovNov
Belatedly, about three weeks overdue, I am finally going to finish this post I wrote for Liz Dexter’s prompt, ‘Pair a nonfiction book with a fiction book’. Apologies if it doesn’t display correctly. I...
View ArticleNonfiction November Book Pairings, Part 2: indigenous residential schools...
This is the second part of my post for Liz Dexter’s prompt, ‘Pair a nonfiction book with a fiction book’. This post is about the colonial policy of sending indigenous children to residential schools so...
View ArticleNonfiction Wishlist: Damage Limitation (inspired by Nonfiction November)
Nonfiction wishlist - ongoing plans for the TBR, without breaking the bank or building more shelves. My TBR collection is huge. Can I convince myself not to buy the nonfiction books on my wishlist? An...
View ArticleReading resolutions January 2024
A personal list of my reading resolutions for 2024, together with a useful summary of all the reading and blogging challenges I hope to take part in. I dare say some of them will fall by the wayside,...
View ArticleRed Smoking Mirror (2023), Nick Hunt: Mexico, 1521, an alternate history
An absorbing tale of Montezuma’s capital in 1521 in an alternate history where Spain remained an Islamic country, making its colonies part of a New Maghreb. I read this last August as one of my 20...
View Article1937 Club overview from my TBR and beyond
Challenged to read books first published in 1937 for the #1937Club, I didn't expect to have much choice. As you can see, I managed to find quite a pile, and searching online gave me even more choice,...
View ArticleSunset House: More Perfume from Provence by Winifred Fortescue for 1937 Club
Sunset House by Winifred, Lady Fortescue was a serendipitous discovery for the 1937 Club. It only arrived on my TBR last year because I took pity on it and another book by the same author at the annual...
View ArticleThe D.A. Calls It Murder by Erle Stanley Gardner for 1937 Club
In previous posts for year-based Book Clubs hosted by Karen at Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings and Simon at Stuck in a Book, I have read a couple of books by Erle Stanley Gardner, namely The Case of the...
View ArticleForbidden Journey: from Peking to Kashmir by Ella Maillart for 1937 Club
When Swiss photographer Ella Maillart planned a journey along the ancient Southern Silk Road, she knew the logistics would be difficult. Reluctantly she joined forces with Peter Fleming. When they...
View ArticleTaking Flight: the Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing (2023), Lev Parikian
Lev Parisian’s excellent book about every living thing that flies is out now in paperback with a beautiful new cover. Full of fascinating facts about birds, insects, bats and even pterosaurs and...
View Article20 Books of Summer 2024
It’s time for book lovers around the world to share a reading and blogging extravaganza, 20 Books of Summer (or Winter in the southern hemisphere). #20booksofsummer24 Hosted at 746 Books.
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