For reasons relating to the sad passing of callmemadam (please see her blog for details), I have popped back to Livejournal, and see that I...just stopped posting here in February 2022. If you're wondering why, I'd point you to reputable international news sources abouut what happened then and the nationality of LJ's current owners. I kept on posting on ( Read more... )

It's about time I posted this, as I’m now in the process of taking down the Christmas decorations.

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The Santa Klaus Murder: Mavis Doriel Hay The British Lbrary (Crime Classics) 2015

I had thought that the only fictional books Doriel Hay had had published were the duology I’ve reviewed previously, but having come across this, apparently not. That and its seasonality appealed. I meant to read it last Christmas, but failed, so made sure I managed to ( Read more... )

The School at Skelton Hall: Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, Girls Gone By Publishers, 2008

I almost feel unworthy of posting my reaction to ‘The School at Skelton Hall’, because after I read it, I went back to read Ruth Jolly’s considered introduction for this GGBP edition, which discusses the plot, setting and the creation of a new school by E B-D for the ( Read more... )

The Secret Shore : Lillie Le Pla

This book has to have been influenced by ‘The Secret Garden’. (Disclaimer: I haven’t investigated the publishing dates.)

Despite her Scottish name, Sheila McLeod is ( Read more... )

The Big House: Helena McEwen (Bloomsbury, 2000)

I very much admired Invisible River, therefore I got this book and it was next on my ‘To read’ pile, but when I started it, I was regretting not skipping it, because it opens with the narrator as a grieving woman. She’s at the big house of the title, on the verge of selling it, and the bulk of the ( Read more... )

I went to see this last week, but I could only post this now.

So, Little Women:

Adapted and Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Based on ‘Little Women’ and ‘Good Wives’. written by Louisa M. Alcott.
Starring: Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern.
Rated: UAlthough I had prejudices going in (one big one I’ll get to, but one certainly ( Read more... )

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Die Laughing: Carola Dunn Robinson 2011

For various reasons, I’ve read this murder mystery in snatches, a chapter or two here, a chapter or two there. Although it’s a whodunit, this worked out well. ( Read more... )