What is history? Lest anyone think the question meaningless or superfluous, I will take as my text two passages relating respectively to the first and second incarnations of the Cambridge Modern History. Why did I choose to reread a history text book from my first year at uni for the 1961 Club? Good question. I've … Continue reading What is History? | E. H. Carr
No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her. After my recent struggles rereading Emma, it was a genuine delight to fall headlong … Continue reading Northanger Abbey | Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her. Emma Woodhouse is front and centre of Jane Austen's fourth published novel. She is on … Continue reading The Annotated Emma | Jane Austen & David M. Shapard
About thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet's lady, with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large … Continue reading The Annotated Mansfield Park | Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. I have reread Pride and Prejudice so many times I have lost count, but we must be approaching the twenty times mark I think. It was my favourite book throughout my twenties … Continue reading The Annotated Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen
The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex. Their estate was large, and their residence was at Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where, for many generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner, as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance. "I love her, and true … Continue reading The Annotated Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him. … Continue reading Nineteen Eighty-Four | George Orwell
Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of … Continue reading Animal Farm | George Orwell
Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about it. The register of his burial was signed by clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. Adam Burgess has begun a new reading practice that he is calling the Contemplative Reading Project. In many ways it corresponds very … Continue reading A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens #ALiteraryChristmas
In October there were yellow trees. Then the clocks went back the hour and the long November winds came in and blew, and stripped the trees bare. Early in 2022 I read Small Things Like These for the first time. Sadly I was in a bleak blogging phase at the time and all I could … Continue reading Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan
Some people HAVE to finish every single book they start. I'm looking at Mr Books here! I used to be like that, but that was before I started working in a bookshop. In fact, I can think of only two books I bailed on pre-bookshop. One was Gillian Mears' Grass Sister, which was given to … Continue reading #MiniReviews – the DNF edition
Geneva, on the night of October 15, in the year of 1931...Edith and her friend, Jeanne, found themselves in the dining room of the Hôtel des Bergues - Geneva's best - wining and dining in a grand, exuberant, and stately manner. One of the things I fear most when reading a series is the lengthy recap. In … Continue reading Dark Palace | Frank Moorhouse #EdithReadalong
Sadly, on the 26th June 2022, Frank Moorhouse passed away aged 83. He was born on the 21st December 1938 in Nowra, NSW. He was a journalist, writer, novelist and screenwriter. Please see Lisa @ANZ LitLovers lovely farewell here and Sue @Whispering Gums here. As you will see in both posts, Moorhouse's influence has been … Continue reading Dark Palace Introduction #EdithReadalong
Chapter 1: How Edith Campbell Berry Ate Six Courses and Practised the Seven Ways in the Dining Car on the Train from Paris to Geneva On the train from Paris to Geneva, Edith Campbell Berry, at twenty-six, having heard the gong, made her way to the first sitting and her first lunch in a railway … Continue reading Grand Days | Frank Moorhouse #EdithReadalong
There was a time, and it was many years ago now, when I had to stay in hospital for almost nine weeks. When planning my summer holiday reading, I wanted a mix of books. I wanted short stories, I wanted some Australian authors, particularly Gen IV Australian Women Writers, I wanted a Japanese book, a … Continue reading My Name is Lucy Barton | Elizabeth Strout
