It is hard to believe it is a month since I last did a book post, but then time seems … More| Thistles and Kiwis
During the International Man Booker Prize Long List (so February – March 2025), I put this on the my reservation list and it finally came through a few weeks ago. Having almost finished ‘The Measure’ I popped the copy into my backpack to accompany me on my up and back flight to Sydney last Thursday. […]| Yarra Book Club
So did you tune in? I am not sure how I feel about the list – but like any list that is subject to votes, it will have a lot of ‘different’ books. I have read 34 of these, and there are definitely a bunch I would like to read. Hats off to those that […]| Yarra Book Club
This intriguing book was picked for our Yarra Book Club by Nina. Review: During one evening, on a single night, wherever you were in the world you will, if you are 22 years or older, you will awake to a little wooden box on your doorstep. On this box, in whatever language you speak, it […]| Yarra Book Club
This is my fourth Classic Spin. The idea is that you choose 20 Classic Books, number them 1-20, post them on your blog and then for whatever number is announced, you read that book by the 19th October. You can read more information about it on the Classics Club Blog. The Classics Club Blog number will […]| Yarra Book Club
I have been wanting to read David Mitchell for a long time. Phil wants me to read ‘Utopia Avenue’, but because I could get The Bone Clocks from the library as an audio book this is where I started. Review: The Bone Clocks tells the story of Holly Sykes. We are first introduced to her […]| Yarra Book Club
After waiting over 8 months for my turn to borrow this book from the library, I was not going to miss my turn. I had been 126th and who knows there may be another 120 people behind me. I was going …| Yarra Book Club
January 1941, London, and Detective Inspector John Jago is one of those remaining at Scotland Yard to police the streets during the blitz. A time when the country should be banding together is still seen as an opportunity for some to take advantage of the chaos for personal gain – and for murder. Rosemary Webster […]| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
Brooke Parkin is facing one of her worst fears – not just school in general, but starting a new school in the run up to Christmas. Thankfully, the school has a positive Learning Support department, and the other children in the Neurokind Club, along with an understanding form tutor, and she starts to believe that […]| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
“Pay attention, 007…” For decades, Major Boothroyd – Q – had been head of the research and development arm of MI6 – Q Branch – arming their agents for their missions to put the world to rights, no matter what method they used. In particular, arming the Double 0 agents. In particular, agent 007. You […]| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
1301 and while a peace – a very fragile peace – exists between England and France, all is not well in the English court. A promise has been made that the future Edward II will marry Philip IV of France’s daughter Isabella, but the existence of Edward’s former mistress, Lady Belmont, is something of a […]| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
Anthony Mallaby’s life has led him to Little Wokeham. A doctor in the declining years of his career for a number of reasons, he has taken the role of a GP in the village. He soon becomes close to t…| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
Unbury the Dead by Laurel Hanlon I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/. I always enjoy a good vampire novel, especially during Halloween month. Unbury the Dead, debut novel by Laurel Hanlon introduces the … Continue reading Roberta Writes – Book reviews: Unbury the Dead and A Bold Bargain #fiction #bookreviews #readingcommunity→|
I went through quite the reading slump in July and August. There was a lot occurring during both months which provided me little free time, and I lacked motivation to read anything. But still, I di…| The Scientific Detective
Every year Black Library has a birthday just like everyone else. In celebration they bring out little anthology booklets that you can pick up for free in stores if you happen to be on time. Some stores have aniversaries as well and they will normally have a nice hardback, but those seem a little hard […]| Wordaholicanonymous
Murders at the Black Abbey Towers I had been meaning to read some of Gina Kirkham’s work for some time, so when the opportunity presented itself to me, I grabbed it eagerly. This was to be my first…| Fenlandphil's Blog
I recently watched a couple of 1990s films for the first time: Joe Versus the Volcano, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. Both were disappointing. It’s not that they were poorly made, or fai…| Tim Covell
Ivy Gordon is living a borrowed life on borrowed time. For the past eighteen years, she has been the most famous star at the Dollhouse Academy, the ultra-secretive, elite boarding school and talent…| Books Tales by me
Hi friends, happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well! Today I’m posting my review of J.C. Cervantes novel, The Anatomy of Magic. The Anatomy of Magic by: J.C. Cervantes: The Estrada family possess the power of magic through flowers; each one with their own property to heal and protect. When Lily Estrada finds herself… Continue reading Review: The Anatomy of Magic| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
Hello friends, happy Tuesday! I hope you’re all doing well. I can’t believe September is over, where did the month go?! Today I’m going to be wrapping up the month, so let’s dive in! Currently Reading: The Tommyknockers by: Stephen King. I have 30% left of this book and I’m kinda ready for it to… Continue reading September 2025 Wrap-Up| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading or planning to read next month? Here’s the August installment of this column. The Power of the List. I adore lists. I’ve compiled lists of science fiction stories on my site about generation ship stories, immortality (abandoned), overpopulation (abandoned), and sports and games (abandoned). I religiously update my SF Novel and … Continue reading What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading? + Update No. XXVI| Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations
If you haven’t guessed yet, I love fall and book tags, so when I see a new one, there’s no way I’m not doing it, as annoying as it might be to my readers. It’s just easier on my hands and a way to …| Mybookworld24
I was super excited when this book was selected by a clear majority in the Rose Book Club last month. Short listed for the Miles Franklin Award 2025, and set in the Adelaide Hills I thought I was going to be in for a treat! But no – I found this book as difficult and […]| Yarra Book Club
I was supposed to read Emma in July and I should now be reading Northanger Abbey, but my Austen plans have gone astray in the face of book club and Booker Prize. But after finishing The Names by Florence Knapp I discovered my Library has Emma on audio and it was available. As such Emma […]| Yarra Book Club
I have started to turn my thoughts to the 2025 Book Club Reading Challenge and the Shared Universe challenge across #28 and #29. I had planned to read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and then maybe Utopia Avenue given it was recommended to me by my partner, but in looking for more information on how […]| Yarra Book Club
John Banville is a great author, he has a finely tuned skill and is exceptionally talented. I therefore requested this novel as an Advance Readers Copy without hesitation. The description felt a little lighter than some of the Booker reads I have been recently doing, a little more thriller… Review: The book is a narration […]| Yarra Book Club
This book was chosen for the Yarra Book Club by Kay and I am so pleased she gave me an excuse to read it. I first came to know of the book when it was getting so many good reviews, and I thought it…| Yarra Book Club
I received a review copy of this book from the author via Booktasters for which my thanks. A book that celebrates friendship and teamwork, and shows how while sometimes these can be set off by impe…| Literary Potpourri
September, traditionally one of the weakest months for the number of books that I manage to read. Term starts, with its usual plethora of distractions as classes begin again and piles of paperwork cut into my reading time. And buying a PS5 probably didn’t help either, as I run around Japan assassinating people. Thanks to […]| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
This was a pretty good reading week, as in I was able to knock off two books from my TBR. I can’t say that I am completely happy with the books but I am glad that I have read them... Continue Reading →| Pages & Procrastination
Plus: Plus a “Catch-Up” date, Upcoming Appearances, and William Alexander in New York! (This is mirrored from my newsletter, so please forgive the repetition if you get both of them.) D…| C.S.E. Cooney
After an accident that nearly kills her, Emily and her husband, Freddie, move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge. The house is gorgeous, striking—and to Emily, something about it feels deeply wrong. Old boards creak at night; fires extinguish; and books fall from the shelves—all of it stemming from the... Read More| Books Tales by me
A sunshine American bookstore whisperer clashes with the grumpy British owner of the shop she’s trying to save in this winning opposites-attract romance for book lovers.He has a struggling bookshop…| Books Tales by me
Meditation in Memory of Harriet McMahon November 16,1942 – July 23, 2025 The Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford Smithtown Cemetery Sept. 12, 2025 Not long after I began serving our flock, Harriet’s family contacted the church. They were emptying out the home in Saint James where Harriet had lived for many years with her husband,Continue reading "“O Great God”"| Sharing God's Love and Grace
Dear Reader, TONIGHT! Tonight, friends, Carlos and I are so excited to present the newest episode of FICTION: IMPOSSIBLE, our monthly Twitchcast (except when it’s, you know, summer) feat…| C.S.E. Cooney
This is the book for our Rose Book Club this month and due to my hiatus it has been a last minute read! And because I have borrowed the book from my friend Ian, we only have one copy and both Phil …| Yarra Book Club
Emma@WordsandPeace and I are back with another buddyread—this month we’re reading Tove Jansson again, after Rushdie last month but this time, a nonfiction work, Notes from an Island which brings together her and her partner Tuulikki Pietila’s experiences living on a small island on their own—both memoir of and tribute to what was a much…| Literary Potpourri
Title: A Well Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy Author: Tia Levings Publisher: St. Martins Press Published Date: August 6th, 2024 Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoirs Source: Kindle Unlimite…| Reading With Wrin
I’ve been thinking this week about the greatest mystery in mountain lore. On 8 June 1924, Edward Mallory and Sandy Irving were observed by telescope near the peak of Mount Everest, making their way to the summit to become the first people to reach the highest point on Earth. Clouds rolled in and obscured them … Continue reading Upward and forever upward| Matthew Evans
Hello friends, happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well. Well… I thought July went by fast, did I blink and August is gone, just like that! It was a good month overall, so let’s…| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
Margo Herr’s cover for the 1st edition 3.75/5 (collated rating: Good) Alien sex dolls. Carpet stain entities constructing love-nests. Underground retirement community entertainment. Jack Dann…| Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations
I can finally tell you all my great news! My short story AITA for Using My Husband’s Hobby to Teach Him a Lesson has been published in the MYOPIC DUPLICITY anthology! Here’s the verbiag…| Mindy Carlson
Apologies – almost a 2 week hiatus! I wish I could say it was just a break from blogging and that I had crammed in the reading, but, no, it was the other way around. I got home from France an…| Yarra Book Club
Elin S Jónsdóttir, the best-selling crime writer, has disappeared. Famed for writing a series of ten exquisite crime novels – and then stopping – there seems to be no reason for her to vanish. And …| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
Larissa Pham follows up her essay collection Pop Song, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize, with her debut novel, Discipline. The book will be released by R…| debutiful
Frank R. Paul’s cover for Wonder Stories, ed. Hugo Gernsback (September 1934) The following review is the 36th installment of my series searching for “SF short stories that are critical in so…| Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations
One of our amazing Rose Book Club participants suggested this book in April for our book club to read, but it didn’t get the votes. But now it is on the long list, I have the opportunity to r…| Yarra Book Club
Today I’m back with part III of Emma @WordsandPeace and my discussion of Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990). This magical-realism/fantasy novel is rich with allusions, references, satire and wordplay making every ‘morsel’ very enjoyable. Here’s our discussion of Chapters 7-9. (Find previous parts here: Chapters 1-3 and Chapters 4-6) Chapter 7:…| Literary Potpourri
I’m back today with another buddy-read post with Emma @WordsandPeace. This month, we’ve taken a break from our Tove Jansson reads to explore a different title, author Salman Rushdie’s children’s novel, Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990). As always, we will be posting our discussion in four parts, one and three here on this…| Literary Potpourri
Some books don’t just tell a story—they invite you into a riddle, a ritual, a hidden map. The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is one such book. It caught my imagination instan…| Rebecca's Reading Room
It is here! Love Forms by Claire Adam (Faber) – 304 pages – 9 June (UK) 23 Sep (AU) The South by Tash Aw (4th Estate) – 288 pages – out now Universality …| Yarra Book Club
I didn’t read these at the time when I finished ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ but I went back to read them, hence the second post. The cover above is the first edition cover whic…| Yarra Book Club
Ellery Queen has stepped back from detective work due to his recent traumatic investigations in Wrightsville – Calamity Town, The Murderer Is A Fox and Ten Days’ Wonder – until it takes about one m…| In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel
Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down. Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and… Continue reading ARC Review: Keep Your Friends Close by Cynthia Murphy| Down the Rabbit Hole
A simmering psychological thriller about a dead teacher at an elite boarding school, the students who had every reason to want her gone, and the tangled web of rivalry and romance concealing the tr…| Down the Rabbit Hole
Friends, I am here to apologize to Matt Keeley, who wrote this great piece for me many months ago and has waited patiently (or maybe fumed silently) for me to publish it. I have no good excuse: I got busy and forgot. Terrible. Anyway, this really is a case of better late than never. Matt […]| Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau
Dropping this as something to keep you busy—and maybe even entertained—while I carve out the time to write my Year in Review piece. I won’t be catching up on the last half of the year—in fact, not sure I’m going to continue with the monthly pieces, might be time to try something new—but I’d already […]| Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau
Pleased to once again present reading reviews from some of my favourite readers. Today’s installment, her third, is by my friend Anja Willner. Anja lives and works in Berlin. I’ve been logging my reading for seven years now. (A fairy-tale number, seven. I can’t name any other thing I’ve been doing for that long.) 2024 […]| Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau
Excited to once again present reading reviews from some of my favourite readers. Today’s installment, his sixth, is by my longtime friend Nat Leach. Nat is a nineteenth-century scholar turned college administrator who has spent the last 7 years reading the books on his shelves in alphabetical order. He lives in Ontario. After complaining about […]| Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau
As I was reading “Demon Copperhead” my journal reminded me that exactly one year ago I was reading “David Copperfield.” At one point, I was in Tofino on Vancouver Island and didn’t want to go walking on the beach because I was completely obsessed with Copperfield. Unfortunately, the book did not keep my interest throughout, […]| If 42 is the answer, what is the question?
Hello friends, happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well. Another month that zoomed by, yet also felt somewhat slow. I feel like I did a lot, yet nothing at all. But enough of my intro and l…| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
I’m sitting in Dallas, TX, preparing to attend a few days of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. On the flight from Springfield (MO) to here, I finished Powerful: Building a Cultu…| Theology Along the Way
Legendborn #3 Severed from the Legendborn. Oathbound to a monster. Bree Matthews is alone. She exiled herself from the Legendborn Order, cut her ancestral connections, and turned away from the frie…| Down the Rabbit Hole
This weekend was Malice Domestic and the Agatha Awards. Malice Domestic is a conference celebrating traditional mysteries, cozies, and softer thrillers and noir novels. Malice has the reputation fo…| Mindy Carlson
Hello friends, happy Wednesday! I hope you’re all doing well. It’s the end of April and I’m not really sure where the month went… it seriously passed me by! I hope that May …| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
I had read Elizabeth Hardwick’s essay collection Seduction and Betrayal many years ago but unfortunately did not write about it at the time, although I have a vague recollection of being impressed …| Radhika's Reading Retreat
Sybille Bedford was a German-born English writer of non-fiction and semi-autobiographical fiction, particularly well-known for her books A Legacy and Jigsaw. When a recent Backlisted episode focuse…| Radhika's Reading Retreat
Years ago, the descendants of the god of Death were murdered. The few that remain are in hiding, including Crow, a teen who survived the genocide and hides their magic to stay alive. After fleeing their village, Crow now lives with their uncles in the lowest part of the the Shallows. Life in the Shallows… Continue reading ARC Review: These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa| Down the Rabbit Hole
A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.From the N…| Down the Rabbit Hole
Hello friends, happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well. It doesn’t feel like we’re 3 months into the year – yet here we are! I’m just happy to say goodbye to Winter! Toda…| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
Author: Cassandra JamesPublication date: February 4, 2025Genre: YA fantasyMy rating: 1/5 stars (being generous) This book might best be described as a great idea followed by one long string of disa…| Metaphors and Miscellanea
from the book BEST REGARDS by Natalie Hush 🎧[tune in] on 𝕏 Sadie stood outside the sterile hospital room, her father’s dismissive words still echoing in her ears. “She can go now, if sh…| Natalie Hush
I know we are almost into the second week of Februay and I never actually talked about my book plans for the year. I thought I could do so today as I am still typing away a storm on 5 diferent revi…| Wordaholicanonymous
It’s the following Thursday. Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He’s made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story inv…| Swords & Spectres
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to…| Becky's Book Blog
I read my first Anita Brookner in 2020, the superb Look at Me, a book that found a place on My Best Books of 2020 list, but for some inexplicable reason I haven’t read more of her work since. To co…| Radhika's Reading Retreat
As I write this, Daunt Books Publishing announced on Bluesky that it will reissue another Celia Dale novel this year – Other People – with another terrific cover. I am excited, I love her novels, a…| Radhika's Reading Retreat
On February 25th, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Switzerland, in a man who had previously visited an event in Milan. At the time, the city had the highest death toll. The new virus that first appeared in a cluster in the Chinese city of Wuhan was the cause of the respiratory illness, the… Continue reading March 2020 – the world shutting down| Natalie Hush
from the book THE WEEKEND: Love, Ambition & the Lisbon Dream 🎧[tune in] on 𝕏 Paige was captivated by the scenery they passed through on the train; after all, this was a winter paradise, and the…| Natalie Hush
Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I hope you’re all doing well. I still have a few more holiday reviews to get through. I thought I’d have them all up before the start of the new year, but t…| Meghan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
from the Book – Blend 37 – Pippa Bow Listen to the audio on 𝕏 Pippa arrived at her Belgrave apartment. She knocked at her neighbor’s door. Tess, her neighbor opened.“Oh, Pippa, Merry Christmas, you are back, that’s great!” Tess looked at Pippa but she did not seem very happy.“Hey, how are you, do you… Continue reading Between the years| Natalie Hush
The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer My rating: 5 of 5 stars If I’m reading this book, it goes without saying that The Office (US version) is one of my all-time favorite TV shows! This book serves as a behind-the-scenes look into the show, … Continue reading the Office BFFs→| rafagurrl
I read the Hobbit. I FINALLY READ THE HOBBIT. And boy, what a charming journey it was! This book transported me back to my childhood, reminding me of the fairytales my mother would narrate at bedtime. It felt like I was a kid again, snuggled up under the bedsheets, eager to hear what happens next. … Continue reading out of the frying pan and into the fire→| rafagurrl
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Norse gods, Norse mythology, Asagard— everything is new to me. I started and finished the audiobook for Norse Mythology in a single sitting- it was great! This book is a modern retelling of Nordic folklore. It brings back to life the stories of gods, … Continue reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman→| rafagurrl
TL;DR: good premise, story was dragged out, the writing was good, plot twists truly came out of the blue. | 3/5 stars | The Housemaid is a thriller surrounding three main characters: Millie (the Housemaid™), the Wife Nina, and the Husband Andrew. Millie was living out of her car with barely any food eat, when … Continue reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden→| rafagurrl
I started reading Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing slightly less than twenty-four hours ago. My roommate and I had this whole beach and custard day planned (shoutout to Abbott’s Frozen Custard at Lake Ontario – you gotta try it!), but I ended up spending most of the day glued to my beach towel, devouring page after … Continue reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros→| rafagurrl
My wife and I spent last weekend in Virgina Beach and driving up and down the Eastern Shore to a small town called Onley, VA (pop. 533). I have a lifelong love of shabby beach towns, though Virginia Beach is less shabby than most. High-rise hotels, wide boardwalk, soft sand. I paid $15 for an […]| clontzville.com
Bill Brown Fredric Jameson (1934-2024) held a seminar—remotely—in the Spring of 2021, the record of which now appears as The Years of Theory: Postwar French Thought to the Present. Last spring we proposed that we feature the book of lectures as … Continue reading →| In the Moment
1. Why did you want to write about the history of Australia’s oldest university press? I relished the opportunity to write about one of Australia’s most important publishers. Many details of MUP’s …| Library Planet
The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes who Created the Oxford English Dictionary is a celebration of words and word-people: authors, editors, publishers, linguists, lexicographers, philologists, …| Library Planet
We are quickly nearing the end end of the year it seems. July has been a bit of a whirl. While I’ve still not gotten back to posting as frequently as I used too, I still managed to catch up o…| Wordaholicanonymous
Published: 13 September 2005 Publisher: Black Library Pages: 256 Series: N/A Format Read: Physical Copy Blurp: A storming anthology of dark and gritty fiction from the Warhammer 40,000 universe fea…| Wordaholicanonymous
Have You Heard About ‘The Big Library Read’ Initiative? Big Library Read (BLR) is a global reading program that connects readers from around the world with the same ebook at the same ti…| Retirement Reflections
In this episode, Kyle, Barry, and the other guy bring a special guest to help them with a controversial topic. Pastor Colin Samul joins the pastor, o the professor, and the other guy discuss his review of the book The Case for Christian Nationalism by Stephen Wolfe. They begin the episode by having Colin define …| Three Guys Theologizing
