Book 12/52 – The Machine Stops & The Celestial Omnibus, E.M. Forster (1928 & 1911). Yet another lend from a friend. Happy Easter everybody! Or happy bank holiday if you are non-religious/non-chocolate worshipping. I hope you’re making the most of the long weekend – or maybe like me you are getting in a load of reading and National Trust house visiting with the family. I … Continue reading 12: The Machine Stops – E.M. Forster
Book 11/52 – To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf (1927). The Last Bookshop, Bristol – 2 for £5 A mid-week treat for all you book lovers out there! I decided to catch up by reading a couple of little books this week, so here’s the 1st instalment. I have been meaning to read To the Lighthouse for ions – especially since having read Orlando a few … Continue reading 11: To the Lighthouse – Virginia Woolf
Book 6/52 – Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (1813). The Last Bookshop, Bristol – 2 for £5 It’s Sunday, which means new book review! I have another friend visiting this weekend, from the London area (honestly people are obsessed with Bristol-they’re all using me as a hotel), so we are heading out for brunch in a bit. Cannot beat a good Sunday brunch. I picked … Continue reading 6: Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass I decided to have a little trip down memory lane a couple of weeks ago and picked up a copy of probably one of the most prolific children’s books in the world. I have not read this book in such a long time, and I kind of felt like it was time to reflect. Alice’s Adventures in … Continue reading Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll
‘Choose us. Choose life. Choose mortgage payments; choose washing machines; choose cars; choose sitting oan a couch watching mind-numbing and spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fuckin junk food intae yir mooth. Choose rotting away, pishing and shiteing yersel in a home, a total fuckin embarrassment tae the selfish, fucked-up brats ye’ve produced. Choose life.’ So. I watched Trainspotting, the 1996 film, a couple of weeks ago and … Continue reading Trainspotting: Irvine Welsh
The Complete Short Stories, Volume One: 1944-1953 No matter who you are, you have probably heard of Roald Dahl. Literally, he is one of the most prolific British authors ever. The man who brought us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches and Matilda was a big part of my childhood – who did not love The BFG? For my birthday a friend gave me this collection of … Continue reading Roald Dahl
The Great Gatsby Since it is almost Christmas (Christmas Eve!!!!) I thought I would take a moment to talk about one of my top 3 favourite books of all time. Despite the fact that I love this book – seen the film and theatre versions – I actually do not own my own copy of this book, instead I have to make do with a … Continue reading Favourites: F. Scott Fitzgerald
I have a friend who has been harking on at me for a good year to read anything by Khaled Hosseini. It has been on the To Do List for ages now – whilst on holiday I actually had a period to sit down and read and thought I would give The Kite Runner a go. I mentally prepared myself for a tear-jerker, I am never very … Continue reading The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini
As it seems that I am apparently a fan of the odd short story, I’ve been reading a bit of Chekhov lately and thought I should keep you up to date. As one of the best novella writers, known for his ability to capture human nature and the significance of everyday events against the backdrop of the hopelessness of life. You have guessed it, this is not going … Continue reading The Lady with the Little Dog and Other Stories: Anton Chekhov
Sorry for the little break book hunters, I’ve been off on a Christmassy jolly to Lithuania. Details on my resulting journey to Foyles in London will be included later! Anyway. I have been meaning to read Catcher in the Rye for several years now. A friend recommended it, having studied the text at school. I just never get around to buying it, until now. It made … Continue reading Catcher in the Rye: J.D Salinger
old book smells 