A Year of Reading – 2018 in Review
It’s time to celebrate the year that was 2018. On a personal level it was a really tough year with more downs than ups, but when it came to reading it was my mo...
30 Books to Read Before 30
I recently celebrated my 29th birthday, and as birthdays often do it prompted me to think about the year ahead and what I would like to achieve. One thing was f...
Review: ‘The Bell Jar’ – Sylvia Plath 1963
My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Bell Jar surprised me, it was so cutting, so wise, and so sad. The observations about people and about society are so razor sharp, m...
Review: ‘The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea’- Yukio Mishima
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars A disturbing tale of youth corrupted. Mishima crafted a vivid portrait of post-war Japan and mind of a child growing up in the shadow ...
Review: ‘Silent Spring’ – Rachel Carson 1962
My rating: 4 of 5 stars It’s not often you read a book that had as much impact on the world as Silent Spring. Carson’s direct and unambiguous criticism of pesti...
Review: ‘The Magician of Lublin’ – Isaac Bashevis Singer 1959
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A cautionary tale about the dangers of believing yourself to be beyond reproach. The Magician of Lublin is an interesting blend of timel...
Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ – Charles Dickens 18143
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A cautionary tale of greed and selfishness, and their opposites in generosity and humility. Such a perfect story to read in the lead up ...
Review: ‘Oliver Twist’ – Charles Dickens 1838
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Set in the darkest corners of London Oliver Twist is a scathing critique of class divisions and the inhuman treatment of England’s poore...
‘Oliver Twist’ October Book Club Discussion
Let’s talk about Oliver Twist! It’s been great fun this month, collaborating with the Dickens Buddies group on Instagram. I hope you had a chance to...
Review: ‘The Pigeon’ – Patrick Süskind 1987
My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Pigeon is a truly strange and vividly intense novella. The narrative covers a single 24 hour period in the life of a Frenchman, with...