As the year comes to an end, I am wrapping up my personal Ozathon -- there is still January to finish if you're following the book-a-month plan, but I read the last two books in quick succession and will discuss them here. The second-to-last entry in the series, The Magic of Oz, was perhaps the … Continue reading #Ozathon24: The Dangers of Enchantment
This has felt like a really long month in many ways, with so much going on. In terms of reading and blogging alone, it started with what turned out to be the final Witch Week, celebrating the centenary of Joan Aiken's birth. I found it a wonderful finale to an event I started back in … Continue reading Month in Review: November 2024
It's painful to admit, but I am getting tired of the Oz books. Having completed books 11 and 12 -- The Lost Princess of Oz and The Tin Woodman of Oz -- I can feel Baum's weariness and distraction, understandable since his health was failing and World War I was raging. Both books do have … Continue reading #Ozathon24: Losing steam
In Michael Ende’s modern fable Momo, first published in 1973, the title character is a young girl who lives in a ruined amphitheater on the outskirts of an unnamed European city. Momo’s outer appearance is a bit strange, with her wild black hair and man’s jacket that is too big for her, but she has … Continue reading German Literature Month: Momo
Before I started blogging, I hardly read nonfiction. Now I can't imagine my reading life without it. During the last decade, which has been tumultuous for both my outer and inner life, nonfiction books have educated, consoled, and inspired me. However bad things get, I am still given hope and strength when I receive news … Continue reading Nonfiction November
Today, over at Calmgrove the Witch Week post is a discussion of Joan Aiken's The Serial Garden, stories in which magic mixes with modern family life in a way that can be hilarious, creepy, or lyrical, or all of these and much more. I hope you'll enjoy our lengthy but fascinating discussion, which includes my … Continue reading Witch Week Day 5: Magical short stories
Literature I didn't finish many books this month, partly because I was reading Hawaii by James Michener, a massive book of over 1000 pages. It flew by, though, and I loved learning more about the origins and history of those beautiful islands. Now I'd like to read more by this author of immersive historical fiction. … Continue reading Month in Review: October 2024
Please head over to Calmgrove for my post about Joan Aiken's Felix Brooke trilogy, an adventurous journey that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Rare archival images are included, courtesy of Seven Stories museum in Newcastle, which has an unpublished archive of Aiken material. Please do give it a look!
Head to Calmgrove for the schedule. The theme this year is the wonderful works of Joan Aiken, in all their variety and splendor. I'll be contributing on Saturday (the Felix Brooke trilogy) and Monday (our discussion of The Serial Garden) and will remind you of those posts, but there's so much more. I hope you'll … Continue reading Witch Week is here
Richard Holmes, Falling Upwards Hello there! I've been on a bit of an unannounced blog break, as I was off visiting family and friends in the US (my first time back in 5 years) and didn't have time to do anything else. I did manage to fit in some reading: a book subtitled "How We … Continue reading Nonfiction Reader Challenge: Falling Upwards
