Christmas eve. It’s one of the most magical nights of the year, with Christmas so tantalisingly close you can almost taste it – unless you’re a child impatiently waiting for Santa Claus to arrive in which case it’s the longest night of the year – replete with all kinds of Continue Reading
Books
Judging a book by its cover #6: “Rosewater and Soda Bread”
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #5: “Existence” by David Brin
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Rip’d from the pages of my childhood: Agaton Sax by Nils-Olof Franzén
The Agaton Sax series by Nils-Olof Franzén was one of the major literary touchstones of my childhood. Yet another Scandinavian author who reeled me in hook, line and quirky sinker, Franzén crafted a protagonist in the short, round Swedish detective I grew to love, who was intelligent, resourceful and just quirky Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #4: “Beneath the Shadows”
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #3: “The Windup Girl” by Paolo Bacigalupi
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #2: “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake”
The object of this new series, which I am starting in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based Continue Reading
Judging books by their covers #1: “Room”
The object of this new series, which I am starting in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s Continue Reading
Books from my childhood: E L Konigsburg, author of “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”, dies aged 83
* This post originally appeared on writingbar.com Books, like music and certain scents, possess a potent ability to conjure up long-dormant memories. Just how potent was brought home to me when I read that E. L. Konigsburg, author of From the The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Continue Reading
Book review: Great North Road by Peter F Hamilton
* this post first appeared on writingbar.com Diving headlong into one of Peter F Hamilton’s science fiction novels, with their fully-complete worlds, richly-detailed cultures, and authentically-believable characters is so all-encompassing that it’s as if you’re there in person experiencing it all firsthand. Which is quite an achievement since Hamilton, who Continue Reading