This has got to be one of the strangest books I've ever read, and I've read some weird stuff in my life. I love books about libraries, about other books, about the sheer pleasure of learning and knowledge and reading. So when I saw the title of this book, The Library at Mount Char, I … Continue reading The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
Tag: Literature
The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
Having just finished binge-watching Versailles on Netflix, I can say, hand over heart, that I would have made a DAMN fine royal mistress to Louis XIV. I could totally pull off silk gowns, elaborate jewels, illicit love affairs, intrigue..........sounds like my dream life! If anyone knows a king out there who'd appreciate my cooking, do … Continue reading The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Thanks to ET for the photography. Anymore, reading about the experiences of immigrants who come to this country seems to be the norm. It makes sense, after all. We are a country built almost entirely upon waves of immigrants from around the globe. My own family were immigrants from Spain and the Netherlands via Mexico … Continue reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
Special thanks to RP for the photography and kitchen assistance. Having minored in art history in college, I always fall in love with books that tell stories about painters and their inspiration for famous works. I previously blogged about Girl with a Pearl Earring, which tells the story of Vermeer's masterpiece. In The Last Painting … Continue reading The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Photography by me. It’s a simple premise. Imagine that all the gods of ancient mythology and all the characters of folklore – we’re talking Anubis, Odin, Kali, Johnny Appleseed, John Bunyan, the Easter Bunny……well, maybe not quite a rabbit -from every background and corner of the globe, actually existed and are still alive today, waging … Continue reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Do you know what it's like to read a book and have it haunt you, like a whisper or the faint hint of perfume in an empty room? I've always been possessed by the gorgeous Gothic-ness of Rebecca, which has mystery, ghosts, passionate love and a big, haunted house. And then of course, the most … Continue reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay
Photography by me. Are you a Venetian at heart? I am, and any book set in Venice has a special place on my bookshelf. Venice is the most beautiful place on earth, because it shimmers. That's the only way I can describe it. The waters surrounding the islands, the lagoons with their sea-green waves, the … Continue reading The Mirror Thief by Martin Seay
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Thanks to TB for the photography. This is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and I've read it several times. Though it's a very irreverent re-telling of the life of Jesus, I didn't find it at all disrespectful. It is a fictional retelling, of course, but very much grounded in historical research and … Continue reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Thanks to JG for the photography. Set in a slightly alternate universe, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell has been touted as the Harry Potter for adults. It's far more than that, however. Set in England during the Napoleonic wars, its a lengthy book that delves deeply into the mythology of Faerie. One thing that has … Continue reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Thanks to JG for the photography. I first heard about The Help when the movie, with Octavia Spencer and Cicely Tyson came out, and wanted to read the book first. The storyline, in a nutshell, is the story of two African-American maids - Aibileen and Minny in 1960s Mississippi - and how the lives they … Continue reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett









