According to reliable internet sources today is German Beer Day, Lost Dog Awareness Day, English Language Day, Talk Like Shakespeare Day AND World Book Day. I never knew April 23 was so exciting, moreso even than making the beast with two backs, thou rump-fed ronyon! Since I don’t have any German Beer, my dog is not currently lost (and I’m quite ( Read more... )

I like to pre-order books. By the time they arrive I’ve completely forgotten about them and it’s just this happy surprise that past me has sent to present me… and then I can pay it forward by pre-ordering some more books to send to future me. It’s this whole booky time-travel cycle thing I’ve got going on. And it works out really well too. Rarely ( Read more... )

Intentions are terrible things, mainly because they are so very difficult to follow through. I intended to record my travel goings-ons here in at least a semi-regular fashion, but alas there has been ever so much to do and I have neglected to write about it in favour of doing it. In an attempt to not be so woefully behind, here are my ANNE LAND ( Read more... )

I first read the Anne of Green Gables books when I was around the age of the little redheaded orphan at the start of the series. I loved them. Periodically, I’d go back to them over the years for another reading and they always held up - they still made me laugh and my heart still went out to Anne in her various predicaments. There were also the ( Read more... )

The kitchen bench top of my childhood home protruded out beyond the actual counter and into the walkway space between the kitchen and dining area. It was curved and sleek, cleverly stealing additional surface space for cooking prep. The only problem was that I always ran right into it. There must have been a time, as a toddler, when I could ( Read more... )

George Clooney got engaged - what’s next? Flying monkeys? A sequel to ‘The Breakfast Club’? Vampires wearing garlic garlands as a haute couture fashion trend? A reality show that doesn’t demean its contestants? There were certain things I came to believe were immutable and permanent, and George Clooney’s singlehood was one of them. I don’t know ( Read more... )

A good unread book sitting on my desk is the acutest form of torture. I’ve had work to do tonight but my eyes keep straying back to Jasper Fforde’s latest Thursday Next novel with the kind of hypnotic pull that usually only a lemon tart or something decadently chocolate would have over me. I’ve reached over a number of times, stroking the cover and ( Read more... )

I’m reading a very funny book at the moment and, perversely enough, that’s got me thinking about the books that have absolutely shattered me. I can only think of three that have really ruined me - in the sense of breaking me down to a blubbering, gasping, snotty, semi-hysterical mess. I’ve cried over a lot of books (and not all of it has been ( Read more... )