Hello!
My chosen quote this week is by one of my favourite authors Anne Rice (1941-2021).
“And books, they offer one hope — that a whole universe might open up from between the covers, and falling into that universe, one is saved.”
Anne Rice
Happy Reading
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Bookshop.org | Ebook | Harper Collins | TG Jones | Waterstones
Blurb
The story’s unlikely heroine is Catherine Morland, a remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. While spending a few weeks in Bath with a family friend, Catherine meets and falls in love with Henry Tilney, who invites her to visit his family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic thrillers, lets the shadowy atmosphere of the old mansion fill her mind with terrible suspicions. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry’s mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy? Catherine finds dreadful portents in the most prosaic events, until Henry persuades her to see the peril in confusing life with art.
Review
I first read this book back in 2002 and I must admit it wasn’t my favourite Austen novel and is one of the reasons I never bothered to read it again. However, I decided to give it another go this year because I remembered part of it is set in Bath which is one of my favourite places. I absolutely loved the descriptions of places I love in Bath and kept telling my husband where the characters were.
I am so pleased I decided to give this book another go because I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. Northanger Abbey is a hilarious coming of age and satire novel of the gothic genre. Instead of finding Catherine annoying which I did in my first read I found her adorable, funny and when she let her imagination run away with her I cringed for her but also understood where she had come from. Catherine loved reading novels especially novels by Ann Radcliffe so how could she not help imagining crazy gothic mysteries around every corner. When I read The Mysteries of Udolpho I also saw the potential for gothic mysteries everywhere.
Henry Tilney is definitely a new favourite character of mine from the Austen novels. He loves reading novels and doesn’t dismiss Catherine’s love of reading gothic novels like the pompous John Thorpe who I really could not stand. Tilney is a true gentleman, he takes time with Catherine, he listens to her and enjoys her company. He also forgives Catherine’s mistakes.
Isabella Thorpe is a character much like her brother but it doesn’t become clear straight away. In fact the Thorpe family were just terrible full stop and I could easily see how Austen had been influenced by people she knew in society. The people in society she clearly disliked and had little time for.
I loved this book and would happily read it again and again. I really appreciated this book more now that I am older. I give this book a massive 5 out of 5 Dragons.
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About the author
Jane Austen born 16th December 1775 died 18th July 1817 was an English novelist known for her six major novels. Austen’s novels are known for social comedy and accurate depiction of human relationships.
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. Today has been another busy day of teaching so I am looking forward to some reading later.
My chosen book to feature this week is one that has sat on my TBR pile and Goodreads TBR for a very long time. It is a new author for me but the storyline looked really interesting.
Bookshop.org | Ebook | TG Jones | Waterstones
The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown
1645. When Alice Hopkins’ husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.
But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women’s names.
To what lengths will Matthew’s obsession drive him? And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?
Happy Reading
Hello!
My blogging this week has been a lot better and I even managed to get some reviews done. I have so many books to review and I really want to get them all done before Christmas but I’m not sure I will manage it.
Blog Posts
Currently Reading
I really don’t like having 3 books going at once but somehow it has happened but at the moment I am quite liking the combination.
Happy Reading
Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have managed a little bit of reading today as well as a bit of book sorting.
I am really getting back into my classics at the moment and I ordered this on Tuesday and I have already started reading it. I was not expecting it to be over 1000 pages though!
Happy Reading
Happy Friday Everyone!
My chosen poem this week is by the American short story writer and poet Raymond Carver (1938-1988).
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Raymond Carver
Happy Reading
Just Out of Jupiter’s Reach by Nnedi Okorafor
Blurb
Tornado Onwubiko is one of seven people on Earth paired with sentient ships to explore and research the cosmos for twenty million euros. A decade of solitary life for a lifetime of wealth. Five years into the ten-year mission of total isolation comes a a temporary meetup among fellow travelers. A lot can happen in a week. For Tornado, who left a normal life behind, a little company can be life-changing.
Review
This is the fifth book of The Far Reaches collection and my first book by Okorafor. I also think this book is my favourite of the collection. I would have loved this to have been a full length novel as I just wanted to know so much more.
The first thing I loved about this short story was the science and technology involved in the living ships called Miris. The ships really reminded me of one of my favourite TV shows Farscape. I really found the Miris fascinating and I would love to have learned more about them. I loved how each Miri adapted to whomever lived in them and made things comfortable for them.
Each captain of the Miris is on the ship on their own although some do have pets, they also have AI on board to help them. I loved the story and found the characters unique and interesting. There were a couple of scenes that I found quite sad but they also just added to the story. The story might only be 45 pages long but it really packed a lot in and I enjoyed Okoafor’s idea of what humans travelling the universe would be like and what they might encounter. I really enjoyed this short story and I will definitely be reading more by Okorafor in the near future. I give this story 5 out of 5 Dragons.
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About the author
Nnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ.
Hello!
My chosen quote this week is by the author and lay theologian Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963). He is best known for his works The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy.
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
C. S. Lewis
Happy Reading
WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a lovely day of reading.
What I am Currently Reading
I am about half way through Jane Austen’s Bookshelf and I am really enjoying it. However, it is giving me loads of books that I want to read so my wish list is growing and growing. I have just started a reread of The Hobbit and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
I finished my reread of Northanger Abbey and I absolutely loved it!
What I Think I will Read Next
I am still thoroughly enjoying my nonfiction reading so I’m hoping to read one of these next.
Happy Reading
The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom
Bookshop.org | Ebook | TG Jones | Waterstones
Blurb
334 BC. Alexander the Great is just twenty-one years old when he sets out with a small army to challenge Persia, the largest and most powerful empire in the world.
Together, his Macedonian army marches East into the unknown – winning battles against overwhelming odds, storming impregnable fortresses from the Aegean through to India.
But there is another Alexander. Prince of the Macedonian royal house of Lyncestis, he becomes Alexander the Great’s general and most trusted friend.
Alexander of Lyncestis is between this friendship and the duty to avenge his murdered brothers. And he is under threat, too. Others – Persians, Greeks, Macedonians – see him him as a rival for the throne. For six years of conspiracy and battle, his life hangs by a thread.
For Alexander of Lyncestis is the Shadow King.
Review
Harry Sidebottom is a new author for me but when I saw this book I thought it sounded like a book that was perfect for me and I was right.
The first word I would use to describe this book is ‘immersive’. Once I started reading I was captured by the storyline and couldn’t put the book down. The writing is so descriptive that I could imagine I was there in all these incredible battle scenes. The characters are also all fantastically written. I also loved the maps at the beginning of the book which I could refer to and see how Alexander the Great’s campaign progressed. The other element I liked was the Historical Afterward which gave me more information.
The book is about Alexander of Lyncestis, a man torn between many loyalties but he gave an oath to Alexander the Great and that oath can not be broken. He is also Alexander the Great’s friend and trusted general who has fought in many battles for Alexander the Great. However, he is also a threat towards Alexander the Great and as the book goes on we see just how threatened Alexander the Great begins to feel.
The book is a brilliant retelling and I believe quite accurate account of the life and deeds of Alexander of Lycestis which has spurred me on to do my own research. Alexander the Great is a character from history that I don’t know much about but after reading this book I did some further research into him and plan on reading some nonfiction books to learn more. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons and will definitely be reading more by Harry Sidebottom in the near future.
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About the author
Harry Sidebottom is Lecturer in Ancient History at Merton College, Oxford, and part-time lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He has written for and contributed to many publications, including Classical Review, Journal of Roman Studies, and War and Society in the Roman World.
Lady Book Dragon 