A Cineaste’s Bookshelf
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REVIEW: AN UNMARKED GRAVE by Charles Todd
Those who are suffering from a bit of Downton Abbey withdrawal and enjoy a cozy mystery should read this book. Battlefield nurse Bess Crawford is alerted to an unaccounted for corpse in the shed turned makeshift morgue. Interest piqued and always dutiful, she intends to report the findings to the Matron. Before she can, she is struck… Read More »
REVIEW: THE UNSEEN by Katherine Webb
This is the first novel I have read by Ms. Webb but when she started with an epigraph page with quotes from William Wordsworth, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudolph Steiner, I knew I was in for a well-wrought story. She certainly knows her literary stuff. The novel straddles the span of a century —… Read More »
Penguin Acts Out - Part the First
It should be pretty easy to guess what the Penguin is up to in this one…Read More »
REVIEW: FOOLING HOUDINI by Alex Stone
Part memoir, part essay, part history, Fooling Houdini is an incredibly readable book. We’re brought along as Stone remakes himself from a haughty know-it-all who is publicly disgraced to humble student who finds his master. The author had always dabbled in magic tricks and illusions. He writes: Eventually my fascination with the mysteries of magic,… Read More »
BOOK BLOGGER HOP - Book Club
Do you belong to a book club, either online or in real life? Not as such… I generally pick such a disparate books that its rare that they (or I) want to read the same things. I have yet to find a group of people to match my bizarre tastes. I love 19th century classics (Wilkie… Read More »
REVIEW: THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty
For this one, you have to think back, imagine a time when Victorian mores hadn’t yet lost their grip. For women, hair was still worn long (as were skirts – no pants), yet they were about to win the right to vote. There was a constant tug between the past and the future. It must… Read More »
REVIEW: JEZEBEL by Irene Nemirovsky
This is the first of Nemirovsky’s novels I have read. I’d heard her story and was intrigued. She was born in 1903 in Kiev to wealthy family, who immigrated to France. Well-educated, she became a prolific and respected writer in Paris. However, her life and talent were cut short when she died in 1942… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 12: Beyond the Blog
Although I certainly haven’t reached my writing goals, by any means, I have done some freelance writing. For a time, I was actually making a good bit of money doing it too. There were even a few months that it covered the rent, free and clear. But as the economy tanked, local outlets (the ones… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 12: Books and Networking
Today’s topic is about networking “in the real world”, bringing those online relationships to another level. I admit, this is something I’ve been working on, but I’m no expert. Still, I will share an examples of how books and book reviewing are a part of my “real” life. Living in Savannah, we are lucky enough… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 12: Giveaways
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER. I’ve got two books for giveaway for this year’s Armchair BEA. I should mention I have not read either; I’m merely hosting a giveaway. The description from the publicist: In Such a Pretty Fat, Jen Lancaster learned how to come to terms with her body. In My Fair Lazy, she… Read More »
ARMCHAIR BEA 12: Introduction
Writing once again from Virtual Booth #221b… This will be my second Armchair BEA. ◊ Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging? I am a director of a nonprofit performing arts venue in the South. I hold a Bachelor’s in… Read More »
Undershaw Saved!
The home which Conan Doyle built in Surrey has been saved from development! Thanks to the banding together of fans and preservationists around the world. But there is still plenty to do. Please visit the Undershaw Preservation Trust’s site to find out how you can help – from the UK or abroad.Read More »
REVIEWS: Meh...
These are the reviews that I dread. I try to find something positive about each book I read, but sometimes a book just doesn’t fly for me. Still, my plan is to give a fair description here so you, the reader, can decide. Perhaps you will find a book here that becomes one of your… Read More »
REVIEW: THE QUEEN - A LIFE IN BRIEF
By Robert Lacey This is certainly London’s time to shine. A fabulous royal wedding last year, a Summer Olympics in just a few weeks plus Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee! She is only the second monarch to have reigned over Britain and its commonwealths for 60 years (Queen Victoria being the first). This small… Read More »
Penguin English Library
In anticipation of the release of the latest edition of the Penguin English Library, the folks on twitter asked us readers what we’d like to ask the editor of the series. I sent in a number of queries, some of which he answered! You can watch the video here: Penguin English Library – Simon Winder… Read More »