Book Surprises I got a lovely surprise this week. I finally bought a copy of Rachel Swirsky's collection, How the World Became Quiet. When it arrived, it was an immaculate ex-library book (which sadly looked unread), and when I opened the cover, I saw this: I love it when something secret appears in a used … Continue reading Book Blatherings – March 31st
My Week in Short Stories – March 22nd – March 28th
I suppose I've been reading strange stories this week in an attempt to make the "real" world seem a little more normal. Anyway, onward! 3/22/20 - 3/23/20 Rapture Julia Elliott 3/23/20 Tooth, Tongue, and Claw Damien Angelica Walters 3/24/20 Blood Intan Paramaditha 3/25/20 The Organ Runner Lidia Yuknavitch 3/26/20 Your Clothes a Sepulcher, Your Body … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – March 22nd – March 28th
My Week in Short Stories – March 15th – March 20th
Well, looks like we'll all have more reading time, eh? Hope you're doing okay. Here's what I read this week: 3/15/20 The Lovely Kisselthwist Karen Heuler 3/16/20 Wolf Trapping Kij Johnson 3/17/20 The Scattering Daisy Johnson 3/17/20 Orange Dogs Marian Womack 3/18/20 The Zhanell Adler Brass Spyglass Helen Marshall 3/18/20 El Arbol (The Tree) Cynthia … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – March 15th – March 20th
Bookish Witterings – March 21st
Short Story Recommendations Looking back through the favorites tab on my short story spreadsheet, it would seem I favor a harrowing, post-apocalyptic short story. Not so bloody intriguing now we're living it though, is it? Anyway, here are some recent favorites of mine, on the themes of apocalypse, isolation, and endings in general. Probably not … Continue reading Bookish Witterings – March 21st
My Week in Short Stories – March 7th – March 14th
I think we can all agree, it's been quite the week. If you're reading this, I hope you're okay, physically, mentally, and professionally. I'm trying to remain as calm as possible for my family, and I think I'm doing okay. The reading continues, so here we go! 3/8/20 In Praise of Cracks Clare Fisher 3/8/20 … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – March 7th – March 14th
Book Burblings – March 14th, 2020
Let's try and forget that everyone has gone mad for just a second, shall we? I'm trying to battle uncertainty with familiarity, by listening to Roald Dahl's The Witches while I write this. It's narrated by Miranda Richardson, who obviously does a tremendous job. The bit with the girl trapped in the painting is still … Continue reading Book Burblings – March 14th, 2020
My Week in Short Stories – March 1st to March 7th
This week, I had a couple of days where I didn't read any short stories. This has been a rarity this year, but I'm trying to get through the new David Mitchell novel, and until about halfway through, it's been a bit of a slog. Anyway, we're not here to talk about long-form literature. Let's … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – March 1st to March 7th
Literary Mumblings – March 7th 2020
It's been a funny old week. I finished the audiobook of Angela Carter's Wise Children, which I enjoyed immensely. The characters were wonderful, and Tracey Ullman was a hilarious narrator. But now I have a feeling I have very often - what the bloody hell do I listen to next? I gave Derren Brown's Happy … Continue reading Literary Mumblings – March 7th 2020
My Week in Short Stories – Feb 22nd to March 1st
I've been making the "Lousy Smarch weather" joke all day, and neither my husband or daughter (aged three) laughs. I'm wasted on this audience. Wasted. Anyway, another week of bloody marvelous short story reading for me. I've read a few crackers this week, more about those shortly. Here's the complete run-down: 2/22/20 Carter's Back Flannery … Continue reading My Week in Short Stories – Feb 22nd to March 1st
Bookish Ramblings – Feb 29th
Subscription Boxes I LOVE a good subscription box. I'm lucky enough to live in a place where you can essentially get anything you want delivered to your door, so thoughtful, bespoke book services are very much my jam. I've subscribed to Powell's magnificent Indispensable for a year or so. Each box contains one gorgeous signed, … Continue reading Bookish Ramblings – Feb 29th
California Reading 