I’ve returned from my trip to Switzerland as usual with a renewed wish to learn German, but I generally lose the impulse once I’m back in my English-speaking environment. However, I’ve made some small steps, and I’m now trying to read simple stories. I never properly learned another language — French was what I […]
I think of myself as an eclectic reader. In the last few months I’ve read fiction, historical fiction, classics, children’s books, YA, fantasy, mysteries, memoirs, diaries, romance, science fiction, nonfiction about history, science, and social issues, biographies, and more. What I have NOT read, though, is contemporary fiction — by which I mean realistic fiction […]
I first encountered the “My Personal Canon” idea via this post from Melissa of The Bookbinder’s Daughter. Then Jillian tagged me on Twitter saying she would like to see my list. Well, how could I resist such an invitation? Here is my very personal take on the topic. As I understand it, these are lists […]
A year ago, I was so envious of all those who got to go to Book Expo America in Chicago that I thought I would make it a priority to attend this year, when it would be in New York and not require a plane trip. I would have to get time off from work, […]
When a certain public figure made it known through his mouthpieces that when he says something that contradicts the perception of others, it’s to be called an “alternative fact,” this gave rise to much mirth in literary circles. Libraries and bookstores posted “Alternative Facts” signs with arrows pointing to the fiction section, suggesting that creating […]
This question comes from one posed on Facebook by a friend in the wake of the election, which made me want to respond in more detail than was possible in a comment there. And a few weeks ago Cathy of 746 Books started a feature called The Books That Made the Blogger, in which she […]
In the three years that I’ve been blogging, it’s been quite inspiring to see how in their capacity as enthusiastic and articulate readers, bloggers really do have the power to influence publishers. In particular, there have been several instances where books were brought back into print largely due to bloggers’ support. Several novels of Margery […]
It’s time for the second half of our discussion of the Reading New England readalong book, Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. Thanks again to Katie of Doing Dewey for co-hosting this discussion with me — she came up with the following questions for Parts III and IV of the book, and you can read her answers […]
Welcome to Part I of the Reading New England/Nonfiction Book Club discussion of Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower. I’m so pleased that Katie of Doing Dewey agreed to co-host this readalong with me! Please hop over to her blog to see her answers to the following questions, which were written by me after reading parts I and […]
Once again, events in the outer world make me question the very existence of this blog. My small thoughts and interests seem trivial in comparison. Can I justify continuing to write about books and reading, about my personal pleasures and achievements, when there would seem to be so many other, more important battles to be […]