It’s the book-lover’s biggest problem – how to file the ever-growing pile of books jostling for pole position on our shelves. Some file by genre, some by author, and some even file by the colour of the spine. But I suspect every system shares a common feature – that is, filing alphabetically. So here’s my attempt to bring some order to my virtual bookshelf – today we move on to B… Continue reading Filing alphabetically…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: The Secret Thread by Eve Chase, See You in September by Charity Norman, Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer, and The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch read by Anthony Howell. Continue reading TBR Thursday 492…
A Victorian Social Media Scandal: Following the online spat between Miss Esther Summerson and her creator, Mr Charles Dickens, social media has been buzzing, as people line up on either side of the debate… Continue reading Clip‑Clop…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin, Murder at Gull’s Nest by Jess Kidd, The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, and Anything for a Quiet Life by Michael Gilbert read by Christopher Scott. Continue reading TBR Thursday 491…
On Monday, I published a document in which Esther Summerson detailed her mistreatment at the hand of her author – a frightening litany of cruelty! Imagine my surprise when, the following morning, the mail-coach brought me the following missive! In the interests of journalistic fairness, it seems necessary to publish Mr Dickens’ response in full… Continue reading Charles Dickens responds…
While rummaging through a pile of yellowing documents in an old curiosity shop, I came across a folded document, sealed and addressed “To the future”. Naturally I immediately broke the seal and opened it, for who are we if not the future? Imagine my astonishment to find the following… Continue reading Esther Summerson tells her truth…
A look back at the past three months to see how I’m getting on with all the various challenges I set myself. Stats and brief summaries of books reviewed for each challenge – the Classics Club, the Looking Forward Challenge, the King Kong Challenge, the CWA Daggers Challenge, and the Wanderlust Bingo Challenge… Continue reading TBR Thursday 490 – Quarterly Round-Up
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: The Passage of Roses by Tie Ning, Opposite Sully’s Gym by Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson, Maigret and Monsieur Charles by Georges Simenon, and Man of Two Tribes by Arthur W. Upfield read by Peter Hosking. Continue reading TBR Thursday 489…
An invitation to join in a Review-Along of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s most sensational novel – Lady Audley’s Secret! What’s a Review-Along? The rules are simple: read the book at a time and pace of your own choosing, and post your review on the chosen date. If you would like to join in but don’t have a book blog, you are cordially invited to leave your thoughts on the book in the comments section of my review on the day, which is Monday, 1st June, 2026. Read on for more info… Continue reading Time for a Review-Along!
It’s the book-lover’s biggest problem – how to file the ever-growing pile of books jostling for pole position on our shelves. Some file by genre, some by author, and some even file by the colour of the spine. But I suspect every system shares a common feature – that is, filing alphabetically. So here’s my attempt to bring some order to my virtual bookshelf, starting conventionally with A… Continue reading Filing alphabetically…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Headcase by Peter Helton, Crack Down by Val McDermid read by Chloe Massey, and In a Strange Room by Damon Galgut read by himself. Continue reading TBR Thursday 488…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: Triumph and Tragedy by Winston Churchill, Communion by Jon Doyle, Birth Marks by Sarah Dunant, and Saints at the River by Ron Rash read by Megan Tusing. Continue reading TBR Thursday 487…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: Behold, Here’s Poison by Georgette Heyer, John Macnab by John Buchan, Your Money and Your Life by George Milner, and Laughing Gas by PG Wodehouse read by Jonathan Cecil. Continue reading TBR Thursday 486…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: The Dark Philosophers by Gwyn Thomas, The Untouchable by John Banville, The Human Stain by Philip Roth and Arrest the Bishop? by Winifred Peck. Continue reading TBR Thursday 485…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: Gillespie by John MacDougall Hay, No Friendly Drop by Henry Wade, Arabella by Georgette Heyer, and Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow narrated by Edward Herrmann. Continue reading TBR Thursday 484…
…aka different meanings of happiness…
I hadn’t planned a party. The postman had dropped off his usual sack of Valentine cards, champagne, choccies and roses from my hundreds of devoted admirers, but otherwise I anticipated a day like any other – books, snacks, naps. A peaceful day. A normal day. If only I had known… Continue reading The Valentine’s Day Massacre…
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: Whip Hand by Dick Francis, How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz, Rodney Stone by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler. Continue reading TBR Thursday 483…
Setting a new challenge to read 25 books set in 25 different countries – click through to see the new 2026 Wanderlust Bingo card! Continue reading Wandering again…
To ease us into 2026, the Classics Club has set us 26 questions on our reading habits, and classics we’ve loved, hated or haven’t yet read… Continue reading The Classics Club Questionnaire
The current state of the TBR, and a preview of four books I’ll be reading soon: Wolf Moon by Julio Llamazares, A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford, The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and The Cromarty Library Circle by Shona MacLean. Plus a reminder for the Henrik Pontoppidan Review-Along! Continue reading TBR Thursday 482…
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