Reading New England Round-Up: September 2016

It’s with some sadness that I announce that for now I’ll no longer be doing a monthly Link Love post. I enjoyed it, but it was very time-consuming — so I’m going to try using my time in a different way and see how that feels. Maybe I’ll change my mind before too long!

I’m going to try to be more active with posting links on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, so please follow me there if you like.

For the remainder of this year, I will still plan to do a round-up of posts for the Reading New England challenge every month or so. With four months of the challenge to go, I’m glad to see that some readers are sticking with it and getting through the various categories. However, even if you read only one book, you are welcome to participate. Don’t feel it’s too late!

796px-MountHight — Mt. Hight in the White Mountains (photo by Ken Gallagher, via Wikimedia)

Here’s what I’ve seen recently:

Penni of Penni’s Perceptions was a little disappointed in Orange Is the New Black, set in a Connecticut prison, but she would still like to check out the popular show. She found a more compelling read in The Secrets of Midwives, a novel set in Rhode Island that explores mother-daughter relationships.
From Other Side of the Sun, we learned of three books about walking the Appalachian trail, including its sections in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Laurie of Relevant Obscurity delved into a couple of Massachusetts classics: The Blithedale Romance, based on an ill-fated utopian experiment, and Looking Backward, which imagines a utopian society with some interesting but not entirely satisfying results.
Continuing with the Massachusetts classics, Stephanie of Adventures of a Bibliophile conquered the giant Moby-Dick, and followed it up with a picture book chaser: Make Way for Ducklings.
At Monica’s Bookish Life, American Bloomsbury was a fascinating nonfiction read for those interested in the Transcendentalists and their period.
Getting a bit less serious, Clock and Dagger was another fun cozy mystery reviewed by Carstairs Considers. He also enjoyed Whispers from Beyond the Veil, a historical mystery set in Maine that centers on the Victorian craze for spiritualism.
The Munich Girl is set partly in New Hampshire and partly in Nazi Germany, juxtaposing a present-day story with that of the infamous Eva Braun. Chris of Calmgrove found it a remarkable piece of writing. He also ventured to Massachusetts with the intrepid Dido Twite, in Nightbirds on Nantucket. And don’t miss his map-laden tour of Dido’s travels!
Finally, from Lark Writes we learn of a historical mystery set in Gilded Age Newport, appropriately titled A Gilded Grave.

Not posted for the challenge, but of related interest:

From Books as Food, a couple of newly opened or forthcoming art exhibitions featuring Childe Hassam and William Merritt Chase. I really hope I can manage to visit these.
Bay State Reader’s Advisory offers three mini-reviews of New England mysteries, helpful if you’re looking for something to read for the SF/mystery category.
Bibliophile by the Sea came up with a useful list of great books set in New England. How many have you read?
This is an old post, but I was so delighted to find it: from Staircase Wit, a visit to the real-life location of Maida’s Little Island!
New England on a Budget offers a list of great independent bookstores in Massachusetts. I’ve been to half of them, but the rest are calling me now.

As usual, thank you all for your interest and participation. It’s been a great year so far.

Link Love: June 2016

Review of the Month

Thanks to Books and Chocolate for an insightful review of a vintage novel, The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I’ve been meaning to read this for a long time, and now I’m even more excited about it — sounds like a perfect summer read.

And I’d also like to thank those who continue to participate in the Reading New England Challenge. If I’ve missed any of your reviews, don’t hesitate to let me know — and be sure to use the State Post and Genre Post linkups, now back after technical difficulties briefly took them down. Here’s what I came across this month, along with other posts and articles that caught my eye.

Reading New England

At Other Side of the Sun, mixed feelings about The Game of Sunken Places, a YA adventure story set in Vermont. A magical Maine mystery, The Whole Cat and Caboodle, did not disappoint, however.
From Adventures of a Bibliophile comes an enthusiastic review of The Secret History.
And from Relevant Obscurity, a lovely appreciation of Our Town.

Literary Locations

From Book Riot, a virtual tour of Nantucket makes me really want to hop on a boat and go there this summer.
Dana of Much Madness Is Divinest Sense wrote up a Literary Travel Bucket List that really makes me want to create one myself.
Definitely on my list will be Joan Aiken’s Cuckoo Tree, which I loved learning about at the Joan Aiken blog.
Closer to home, a storied street in Cambridge, Mass. has ties to science, history, cuisine, literature, and much more.
A road trip to Vermont’s 20 independent bookstores will yield some fun rewards, while here’s a bookshop in Scotland that you can stay at (and run) while on holiday.

Blogging Questions

Should you read fewer ARCs? Sarah’s Book Shelves has some compelling data on her own experience with this question.
Are there downsides to growing a bigger blog? A thoughtful post from Feed Your Fiction Addiction.
How do you juggle blogging and real life? From Pages Unbound, some helpful thoughts and suggestions.
And from The Bookwyrm’s Hoard, some tips on dealing with an inbox that’s overflowing with comment notifications.
Since I think we all need some positive vibes right now, here are great ways to Share the Love from Pink Polka Dot Books.

Lovely Lists

There are so many interesting lists for the 20 Books of Summer challenge floating around, but this one from Consumed by Ink has some exceptionally unusual and fascinating sounding titles on it.
It’s great to know that Scott of Furrowed Middlebrow is working on publishing some forgotten classics, but in the meantime he has some splendid suggestions for some other old favorites that are now back in print.
For a different take on the TBR list, Annabel’s House of Books is showcasing hers in color-coordinated chunks. Here’s the luscious-looking Indigo selection.

Image of the Month

GAN1 — Fairy tale illustration by the Swedish artist GAN, found here.

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: May 2016

Review of the Month

I’ve had Daniel Kehlmann’s Measuring the World on my radar for some time now, but three reviews in one week (from Lizzy’s Literary Life, My Book Strings and Consumed by Ink) have convinced me that I really should read it soon. It sounds like a brilliant fictional treatment of a fascinating period in history and science. Let me know if you have read or reviewed it as well.

This was the week of Armchair BEA (Book Expo America), which I took part in for the third time. Next year, I have my eye on attending the real BEA if it comes back to New York, but in the meantime the virtual conference is a fun substitute! Among the many posts I enjoyed were: First Day Impressions (from Tif Sweeney), Breaking Down Book Covers (from Sarah’s Book Shelves), and Surviving Fictional Worlds (from Meaghan Walsh Gerard). What were your favorites?

Here are other links that caught my eye, starting with this month’s round-up of Reading New England posts (watch out, there are a lot of them):

Reading New England

At Relevant Obscurity, The Country of the Pointed Firs left Laurie “longing to know more, not only of the characters, but of the author herself.”
Daniela Ark’s blog offers a review of the “entertaining, action driven” fantasy Fury’s Kiss, the first in a series.
Penni from Penni’s Perceptions found a fun comedy to read in the play Almost, Maine. And she came up with another winner in the historical novel A Hundred Summers, set in a Rhode Island seaside community. Not content to rest on her laurels, she read a third book, Midwives by Vermont author Chris Bohjalian, and gave it five stars.
TJ of My Book Strings read several children’s books together with her kids. It’s always great to see some reactions from real kid readers.
“I love a good apocalyptic dystopian,” says Kissin’ Blue Karen, and The Fireman provided her with just that.
Lark of Lark Writes… was sorry she couldn’t count Nobody’s Secret as her Massachusetts book (because she already had one), but says it would a great choice for that category. Lark DID count a Connecticut book, The Inheritance, for the challenge, calling it “a pretty entertaining read.”
Stephanie of Adventures of a Bibliophile was not bowled over by the classic play Our Town, but she might give it another chance someday.
At Carstairs Considers, Carstairs was delighted with All Murders Final! – a Massachusetts-based entry in the “Garage Sale Mystery” series.

Year of Charlotte and William

38 fun facts, one for each of Shakespeare’s 38 plays, at Mental Floss.
From The Millions, a pilgrimage to the House of Bronte.
Ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre, images from Shakespeare’s plays in art are yours for the taking at The Public Domain Review.
Musings about Charlotte Bronte and science at Nature magazine’s Books and Arts blog.
From Off the Shelf, a list of books inspired by Shakespeare.
At Girl with Her Head in a Book, Susie’s review of The Bronte Cabinet, just one of her many excellent Bronte posts.

Language Matters

From Tor.com, a Dutch author decides to Americanize his book for English translation. A savvy marketing move, or artistic betrayal?
The Oxford dictionary blog gives us some expressions for laughter, crying, and disgust in languages from around the world.
Also from Oxford, for those fascinated by name origins, here are names that were invented or popularized by writers.
By Singing Light suggests some beautifully crafted prose books for poetry fans.

Real and Fictional Real Estate

From The Worm Hole, a wonderful tour of Gilbert White’s house. (Gilbert who? Read Charlie’s post and you’ll find out!)
What would some classic Manhattan book locations cost today? The scoop on the homes of Harriet M. Welsch, Stuart Little, and more from Cityrealty.
And if you’re pining for a more exotic getaway, check out these vintage-style space tourism posters from NASA.

Image of the Month

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: April 2016

Review of the Month

Brian of Babbling Books highlighted a fascinating-sounding story by E.M. Forster that veers into science fiction territory, giving some astonishing insights into the future (i.e. now). Be sure to read the comments, too.

This month, I’m moving Reading New England reviews into this monthly link summary for easier reference. Thank you all again for your participation! And remember, everyone, it’s not too late to sign up.

Reading New England

Avid Series reader found Death of a Turkey to be a worthwhile cozy mystery set in small-town New England.
Carstairs Considers was won over by a Massachusetts historical mystery, Delivering the Truth.
Anastacia had mixed feelings about a Stephen King novel set in Maine, The Long Walk.
At Monica’s Bookish Life, thoughts about another Maine book, Olive Kitteridge. (Monica would like to have seen more of Olive — I agree!)
A Good Stopping Point wants us all to know about a neglected Maine classic, Spoonhandle by Ruth Moore.

Bookish Travel

A literary map of the Moscow Metro shows places associated with Russian writers and poets.
The cave inhabited by the real woman who inspired Island of the Blue Dolphins may have been found.
A house thought to be the original model for Jane Eyre’s Thornfield Hall will be opened to the public.
If you’re traveling to Tokyo, you can sleep inside a bookcase at a unique hostel.

Creative Collections

The Quince Tree offers a lovely Spring reading list. What would you add?
A beautiful collection of words and images on the theme of Tulips comes from Beyond Eden Rock.
Fourth Street Review came up with a “six degrees of separation” chain based on A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Good Questions

Does it matter who the author is? at Adventures of a Bibliophile.
Are historical novels literary? at Mirabile Dictu. (I don’t agree with her negative conclusion, but she follows it up with a terrific list of recommendations that somewhat belie her dismissal of the genre.)
When is a small thing big enough to make you walk away from a book? from Charlotte’s Library.

Image of the Month

quiz a map c13471 39 — A nineteenth century spoof map of the land of Matrimony, from the British Museum.

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: March 2016

Review of the Month

Jenny’s review of Claire Harman’s new biography Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart hilariously gives us the five “Bronte-est” things that happened within its pages. For a more serious assessment of the same book, see this review from Gudrun’s Tights. And if you can’t get enough of this crazy family, there’s…

More Brontemania

Announcement! Girl with Her Head in a Book is hosting a week of Brooding about the Brontes in April, and it’s going to be tons of fun. I was honored to be asked to contribute a guest post, and there will be many other exciting components as well. Join us!
Santiago Caruso takes us on a tour of the illustrations he created for the recent Folio Society edition of Jane Eyre.
An interesting article from The Atlantic on how Jane Eyre helped to create the modern idea of the self.

Bookish Travel

Wildmoo Books takes us to the National Steinbeck Center. I love seeing the camper trailer from Travels with Charley!
From Literary Ramblings, some wonderful thoughts about the Sicily of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels.
A Lit Major Abroad goes to Scotland, and Walter Scott’s mock-medieval-style home.
Mirabile Dictu offers a list of books that involve camping, from The Lord of the Rings to The Buried Giant.
If you have some extra time and cash on your hands, you can be an amateur archaeologist at the site of the creation of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Behind the Books

The science and satire of Gulliver’s Travels, from the Guardian.
Publishers Weekly offers a look at the editorial process behind The Portable Veblen.
A look at the visual history of War and Peace, from Folio Society illustrator Igor Karash.

Image of the Month

Photograph by Fay Godwin of Top Withens, believed to be the original “Wuthering Heights” – found here

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: February 2016

Review of the Month

At Literary Ramblings, a truly epic review of War and Peace (both the book and the miniseries) has gotten me even more excited to take the plunge into that sea of words myself. And I have to give honorable mention to Majoring in Literature, for summing up Eugene Onegin in “one really terrible sonnet.” (Actually, it was pretty impressive!)

Here are some of the other interesting links and lists that I’ve come across lately:

Great Minds

New England author John Irving’s top ten list has some of my favorites on it (hooray, Robertson Davies!).
Leo Tolstoy’s list of books that influenced him most offers some serious food for thought.
Brain Pickings compiles a lifetime reading list based on the work of Oliver Sacks.

List Love

A list of traveling-with-family memoirs from Bay State Reader’s Advisory has some very tempting titles.
And this list of alternate history mysteries from By Singing Light just sounds like too much fun.
For Valentine’s Day, a wonderfully eclectic list of books with “heart” in the title from Books on the Table.
For her 400th post, Views from the Tesseract has put together a great list of 100 SF/F books that influenced her, with some wonderfully obscure titles along with the big names. (Is there anyone else out there besides me who has read Under Plum Lake?)
Beth Fish Reads points out seven recent releases that riff on classic authors and heroines. I haven’t read any of these, but I would like to!
And for those who long to find underrated masterpieces of the past, here are 10 female coming-of-age stories you’ve never heard of.

Tips for Book Clubs

For a good discussion, don’t try to please everyone, advises River City Reading.
If you’re looking especially for coed book club suggestions, here are some from Sarah’s Book Shelves.
And if you’d like to win over your book club to nonfiction, here are suggestions from the Massachusetts State Book Awards, courtesy of Bay State Readers Advisory.

Good Questions

Why are children’s books so tough on parents?, at What Me Read, is an interesting look at a well-known literary phenomenon.
Should there be a genre between fiction and nonfiction? at Educating Alice. I think that would be very helpful!
What are the things to keep in mind while reviewing? For those of us who still write book reviews, Calmgrove has some very helpful thoughts on this question.

Look Again

A look into the creation of the new picture book Swap!, from Seven Impossible Things.
Mirabile Dictu visits the university library and finds some marvelous murals by Grant Wood.
An exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology examines the intersection of fairy tales and high fashion.
When is a book not a book? Another NYC exhibition of fabulous fake books opens at the Grolier Club.

Image of the Month

CaucusRace — Monica Edinger’s illustration of the Caucus Race from Alice in Wonderland, used by permission of the artist. Click here for more information.

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: January 2016

Review of the Month: The Song Collector

This month I was intrigued by a review at The Captive Reader that expresses appreciation for seeing an author come through with the best she is capable of, even after some not-so-successful attempts. I hadn’t heard of Natasha Solomons but I’ll definitely be seeking her out now.

Here are more of my favorite posts and articles from this month:

Food for Thought

A thoughtful consideration of the journeys we make through myth and fiction, from Calmgrove.
At She Reads Novels, we’re asked to consider: with historical fiction, do you like to read broadly or narrowly–that is, about many different periods and topics, or concentrating on only a few?
And here’s a stirring defense of historical fiction by author Sherwood Smith, at Book View Cafe.
If you just need a lift, read this lovely holiday story about generosity and gratitude, at The Gilmore Guide to Books.

Getting Visual

The world of PG Wodehouse, as seen in the covers of the complete edition from Overlook Press.
The best in book art from 2015, from My Modern Met.
From BuzzFeed, an amazingly detailed map of literature that was created by a 17 year old.
Think adult coloring books are a new trend? Think again. (via the New Republic)

List Love

Just in case you’re suffering from a dearth of books to read, Brooklyn Magazine offers a massive list of books to look forward to in 2016.
And from the Millions, another huge list of 2016 nonfiction.
If you’re particularly interested in forthcoming science fiction and fantasy, there’s a list for that too (from io9).
If you prefer books that have stood the test of time, Alexander McCall Smith recommends some of his favorites at the Telegraph.

From Page to Stage (and screen)

A very thorough review of the National Theatre production of Jane Eyre, from Bookish Whimsy.
And another thoughtful review of the opera version of Bel Canto, at Wildmoo Books.
In memory of Alan Rickman, his best bookish roles courtesy of Book Riot.

Image of the Month

(c) Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation – Source

An Audience in Athens during ‘Agamemnon’ – William Blake Richmond (1884)

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: December 2015

Review of the month: The Swerve

This month, I’m highlighting a book about religious and intellectual history that looks awfully relevant in light of today’s cultural strife. Thanks to Tales from the Reading Room for bringing it to my attention.

Elsewhere this month:

Behind the Books

From the Guardian, the story of the real Winnie-the-Pooh
Feed Your Need to Read takes us on a tour of Virginia Woolf-related sites
The Public Domain Review shares fascinating insights into the science behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Joan Aiken’s American roots, from the Joan Aiken blog
In an NPR interview, SPQR author Mary Beard busts some myths about Ancient Rome

Don’t Miss These

Slate shares picks for the best overlooked books of 2015
More books you might have missed in 2015 from River City Reading
An eclectic selection of the best science books from 2015, at Brain Pickings
Not just from this year, here’s a helpful BuzzFeed gathering of SFF books by women of color

Let’s Discuss

From Books on the Table, a great discussion of movies and books
How has blogging changed your life? A heartfelt post from Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Spurred by masculine intolerance for Little Women, a spirited defense at A Room of One’s Own.

Image of the Month

LiteraryCards — Literary Christmas Cards, found here

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: November 2015

Review of the Month: The Middle Window

My favorite review this month had to be the one in which Simon of Stuck in a Book fought his “natural aversion to historical fiction” to find at least partial pleasure in a novel most readers — even fans of the author — detest. I love it when our reading expectations are turned upside down!

More of my favorite posts and articles this month:

Halloween Fun

A list of literary ghosts from Girl With Her Head in a Book
Fantastic fictional witches: Lolly Willowes at Majoring in Literature (and again at Heavenali), The Witches of Eastwick from Kate MacDonald
A perceptive review of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, one of the few creepy books I truly love, at the Book Stop
Ghosts of another sort are invoked in this post about writing from Selkie Moon

List Love

A timely list of children’s books to use to talk about world peace, from Nerdy Book Club
An intriguing list of women’s classic fiction at Beyond Eden Rock, with many off-the-radar titles
Fall paperback picks from Books on the Table
Who knew there were so many chickens in literature? Thanks to Mirabile Dictu, now we do.
When reading is truly a lifeline: from Bustle, the most requested books in prisons
Off the Shelf has a wonderful list of books with child narrators
And from the Barnes and Noble blog, Kate Elliott lists ten fantasy novels with strong women

Food for Thought

Girl With Her Head in a Book points out some of the painful questions that can arise around books and friends. What if you don’t love your friend’s favorite book — or vice versa?
Reading and Race: On Slavery and Fiction shares some honest reflections from a white reader, through The Millions
A teaching observation prompts some thoughts about how we all experience being observed in life, at Dolce Bellezza
At the Bookwyrm’s Hoard, musings about the cost of books and reading speed; are we making the most of our “entertainment hours”?

Getting Visual

Color charts and wheels through history, at the Public Domain Review
Some of the beautiful artwork featured on the old “Green Viragos,” from Beyond Eden Rock
Can you spot the right book cover? Tiny differences make a huge impact!
From Fusion, a side-by-side comparison of Richard Scarry’s original Best Word Book Ever with the 1991 revision (which achieves greater gender equity, at least for bunnies and pigs)

Image of the Month

Reading in Bed by Jessie Wilcox Smith, found here

Shared in the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Link Love: October 2015

Review of the Month: I Capture the Castle

I’ve decided to start off my Link Love posts by highlighting a favorite review I’ve found elsewhere. This month it’s an insightful post about I Capture the Castle at the blog majoring in literature. Like all the best reviews, it makes me want to read this favorite classic all over again!

Here are some of my other favorite posts and articles this month:

Language matters

A spelling maven examines the language of Blackadder for accuracy — or lack thereof — at the Oxford Words blog.
From NPR comes an enlightening history of the book blurb. (Did you know that Walt Whitman, king of self-promotion, was the first to print one on Leaves of Grass — on the spine, no less?)
The author of the new book The Wolf Wilder takes a look at wolves in literature, for The Telegraph.

Readers and Recommendations

At She Reads Novels, a quest for historical fiction set in Africa.
Books on the Table shares some thoughts of a bookseller on the demand for “happy” books.
River City Reading has a brilliant idea: creating a Recommendation Starter Pack.
A wonderful piece about teaching reluctant readers at Nerdy Book Club (thanks to Wendy from Falconer’s Library).

Words and pictures

A gorgeous seasonal collection of autumnal prose, poetry and images from Beyond Eden Rock.
I did pretty well with this quiz featuring iconic book covers, from Feed Your Need to Read. How about you?
From Hazlitt, a look back at the beautiful puzzle book Masquerade and the insane hunt for hidden meanings it inspired.
At Book Riot, a collection of bizarre stock photos of books and readers. I’m not sure whether to laugh, or be very afraid.
Becca of I’m Lost in Books alerted me to this great collection of cover images and other art using negative space, at Creative Bloq.
And thanks to Lark of the Bookwyrm’s Hoard for sharing this post about bookish art on Tumblr, from Book Riot.

Better blogging

Nose Graze offers a guest post from Amanda of Nellie and Co. on the eternal question Do you need a niche?
A thoughtful post on measuring blogging success at Read at Midnight. (I like her bottom line: a successful blog is one with a happy blogger.)
At The Book Stop, more good questions about what you choose to blog about (or not).
A disorganised blogger’s guide from Boats Against the Current may make you smile in recognition as it reveals some of the best (?!?) practices of disorganized bloggers. (If you can’t relate to any of these, I don’t want to hear from you).

Literary Pilgrimages

Mirabile Dictu has some helpful advice for An American in London.
More highlights from a trip to London with Sophisticated Dorkiness.
At Monica’s Bookish Life, pictures of a trip through the Hudson Valley make me want to drop everything immediately and go back there.
From Flavorwire, a Halloween-themed tour through some houses of horror (horror writers, that is).
Wildmoo Books offers a booklover’s dream trip to the Morgan Library.