Posts Tagged ‘novels’
‘Tis the season … to gift books!
I’m not one of those people who want or expect lots of expensive gifts under the Christmas tree, but I do appreciate the ever-thoughtful gift of books! Christmas is always a good time for me to curl up, a steaming cup of tea or cocoa at hand, ready to crack open the covers of a brand-new…
Read MoreHow cool is this? #Booksonthesubway
I absolutely LOVE this idea. And now I find myself kicking myself, why one earth did I not discover this when I spent all of last August in New York? Okay, definitely time to get back to scour the subway for these books. The idea is remarkably simple. Every few days, Books on the Subway carries…
Read MoreThe art of translation
Every translation is an act of negotiation. -Umberto Eco I only recently saw this quote from the recently deceased Italian novelist, Umberto Eco. He would certainly have known about this first-hand, as his novels, especially his most famous, The Name of The Rose, were translated into numerous languages. But Eco was also a linguist and semiotician, so he…
Read MoreWomen’s Fiction Reading Challenge
Funny that I just discovered this challenge (as 2016 comes to a close) over at the excellent Book Date web site. The Women’s Fiction Reading Challenge 2016 is a challenge to read a certain number of Women’s Fiction books in a year: you choose the level of your commitment, and it ranges anywhere from less than…
Read MoreAre you NaNoers gearing up for November?
It’s almost that time of year again! The air starts growing crisp, the days (sadly) start getting shorter, and it’s time to remove your writer friends from your speed dial. No point in inviting them out for dinner or drinks in November because they will be glued to their seats after work taking on an…
Read MoreDoes sloppy author research drive you crazy?
I recently picked up a novel by an author who seems to set some of her stories in Italy. This one was set in Rome – my city. It had a gorgeous cover, and I’d never read any of her work before, so I picked it up. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy anything about the book:…
Read MoreIt’s (not quite) Monday. What are YOU reading?
Always love discovering new book blogging sites through other sites I enjoy. That’s why I was pleased that Emma from Once Upon a Littlefield pointed me towards The Book Date. I like this blog challenge – ‘It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?’ – for those of us who blog fully or partially about books as a prompt…
Read MoreSorry to have missed this year’s Matera Women’s Fiction Festival
Around this time of year, I find myself engaged in the (pleasurable) task of writing up what I’ve learned at the annual Matera Women’s Fiction Festival. Matera is a very special town in southern Italy where writers of women’s fiction and women writers of all genres gather to learn about changes in the industry, to…
Read MoreI completed my Goodreads Challenge 2016
2016 is not yet over, but a recent burst of enthusiastic summer reading means I’ve wrapped up my Goodreads Reading challenge early. Even if it’s only for fun, always nice to get things in before deadlines. I know some people criticize the Reading challenge, calling it a useless check-list, but I enjoy participating each year. I’ve…
Read MoreThe origins of greatness
“Everything important always begins from something trivial.” – Donald Hall A great quote from the American poet Donald Hall. As any student of history knows, many of the greatest wars and tragedies in history were sparked by events that, with the benefit of hindsight, appear trivial and easy to avoid. Likewise for authors. Howard’s End…
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