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Atalanta by Jennifer Saint: Book Review
I filled my copy of Jennifer Saint’s latest book Atalanta with post-its, which in my case is a sure sign of how much I enjoyed reading this novel, and an indication of definite future re-readings. In Atalanta, Saint does what she does best: gracefully treads the mythical terrain, bringing forth from the margins the enchanting…
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Cozy Spring Reads: Book Recommendations
Spring has finally arrived (the winter was quite obstinate this year) and what better way to enjoy this beautiful season than with a good book? Read on for our top cozy spring reads! The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim With its beautiful setting in a medieval Italian castle and joyous descriptions of nature, this…
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Dystopia in Lord of the Flies by William Golding
1.0 Introduction William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is reminiscent of his predecessors, Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe and Ballantyne’s The Coral Island in his situating the action on an uninhabited tropical island. Unlike his predecessors, however, Golding does not explore British imperialism or resourcefulness but turns to a gloomier topic much more relevant to his own…
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November Reads: 5 Gothic Books that Hit the Spooky Sweet Spot
November is my favourite month of the year, not only because it’s my birthday in November, but also because it’s in the sweet spot between the spooky October and cheery December, and it allows you to enjoy it whichever way you like. In my case, I love to put up my Christmas tree, and keep…
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17 Halloween Gift Ideas for the Bookworm in Your Life 2022
Halloween is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited! I love autumn for its Halloween-themed decor, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING, scary movies, and spooky autumn reads. If you’re a seasonal reader, and you love a good supernatural, spooky, or witchy autumnal read, check out the list that follows. And if you’re doing some…
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The Fell and Summerwater by Sarah Moss: Book Review
“All the other plagues ended, sooner or later […] and people lived and loved and built houses and planted trees and made food and clothes – and stained glass, travelled, even made music and put on plays. Ring a ring of roses. […] And of course life won’t go back to the way it was,…
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In the Shadow of the Kogaionon by Sabina Lungeanu: Book Review
‘It was in those final days of black despair that they turned toward the heavens, seeking the help of the gods. That’s when they saw it, standing tall and proud on the peak of the Kogaionon: the sacred fir tree. Faith returned to our forefathers, for its colossal branches would provide enough fuel to last…
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Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal: Book Review
‘It isn’t the show that counts, but the story you spin.’ Elizabeth Macneal, Circus of Wonders One truly enjoyable thing about the Circus of Wonders is the way Elizabeth Macneal crafts her Victorian atmosphere around the subversive world of the circus with echoes of Frankenstein, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, and the Brothers Grimm. …
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The Dutch House by ANN PATCHETT: Book Review
“I see the past as it actually was,” Maeve said. She was looking at the trees. “But we overlay the present onto the past. We look back through the lens of what we know now, so we’re not seeing it as the people we were, we’re seeing it as the people we are, and that…
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Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro: Book Review
‘Hope, he said. ‘Damn thing never leaves you alone.’ Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun It takes patience to read Ishiguro. Slowly, and carefully, as if trying to pull off a bandaid, he tells the readers a story and deepens their awareness of existential themes revolving around human nature, their inherent flaws, their fragility, and…
Myths & Stories 