Mintlaw to Moldova with David Copperfield

by Lucy

I like the occasional audio book, it’s a way to imbibe books when driving. I often get language books and sit in traffic trying not to spit at the windscreen in my efforts… Continue reading →

‘So long son, you’ll have a whale of a time!’

by Sarah

Having departed for nautical college last autumn, the time has come for my son to set sail aboard this very ship, on a four month long trip which will take him to South… Continue reading →

Something for nothing, whoo!

by Lucy

Hey! Look! Something free! I am descended from a long line of women who helped out at jumble sales just because it meant they got a good look at stuff before the doors… Continue reading →

Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and prism: General advice for every social occasion

by Sarah

My copy of ‘Little Dorrit’ by Charles Dickens has been languishing for months, way down in the pile of books that I’m currently reading. After I’d had to return the audiobook to the… Continue reading →

Knitting with Dickens

by Sarah

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks with my brow knotted, writing knitting patterns for an American craft magazine. It’s all a little scary and official, but actually quite satisfying to get the… Continue reading →

The interesting but poorly paced life and times of Tristram Shandy

by Lucy

For just over halfway through ‘The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy’ and he is less than one day old. ANd it’s not a small volume. Someone really, seriously should have had a… Continue reading →

Do you have just under 9 hours to spare?

by Lucy

Do you fancy listening to Emperor Palpatine being Satan? Sure you do! This is one of the better Youtube audio books available, a lot of these free audio books are voiced by people… Continue reading →

Ulysses is for life, and not just Bloomsday

by Lucy

Too many writers to mention have been quoted saying something along the lines of anyone who thinks writing is easy is doing it wrong. And the same goes for anyone who thinks reading… Continue reading →

I’ll tell you why, Ishmael. Because men are liars, that’s why.

by Lucy

I’m about halfway through ‘Moby Dick’, and Ishmael is wondering why whales are so poorly depicted anatomically in early paintings and sculptures. Party, because people’s memories are awful and no two descriptions are… Continue reading →

Purgatorio – Bring an autograph book

by Lucy

We join Dante and Virgil on their climb up Mount Purgatory, as they are reaching the level of avarice and prodigality, as like in hell, sinners who sin in an opposite way have… Continue reading →