The Content Reader

From the back cover: "Dublin, 1918. At the end of the First World War, Lilly Bere and her sweetheart Tadg are forced to flee Ireland for America. They plan to marry and forge a new life together, in the hope that their past will not catch up with them. Seven decades later, Lilly, mourning the loss of her grandson, tries to make sense of her own life and the lives of the people she has loved. At once epic and intimate, On Canaan's Side is a novel of memory, war, family ties and love." Another master piece by Barry, who is one of my favourite authors. He never disappoints you. This time he tells the story of Lilly, an Irish girl who has to leave Ireland when her husband is accused of collaboration with the English. Set just after World War I, it is another enchanting story by Barry. Lilly looks back at her life and the different paths it took. Must revenge and sorrow follow you all your life? Don't you deserve a little bit of happiness? "Because the ingre...

Another week and another challenge for a good book beginning and interesting quotes from page 56. This week I have found On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry. A short review will be up on Monday, 30 September. Book beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader "Bill is gone. What is the sound of an eighty-nine-year-old heart breaking? It might not be much more than silence, and certainly a small slight sound." The Friday 56 hosted by Freda´s Voice "Amazement and delight were Mr Eugenides' bywords. When Bill was going into the army, just a couple of years ago, Mr Eugenides bought him a copy of Homer in translation, which Bill dutifully brought with him to the war. In this way, Bill and I, on very separate occasions, received the same book, in different editions and translations, as a gift."

The Classic Club spin #21 for books to read until 31 October 2019, turned out to be #5. Book #5 on my list  is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoj. It is a book I wanted to read for a long time, but it is a very thick one. I have a beautiful, old hardback translated from the Russian by Constance Garnett and illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg. It is printed by Doubleday & Company, Inc. in New York in 1948. As you see from the image below, the illustrations are beautiful. It will feel special to read this version. And as you see...I have already read the very famous beginning of this book.

Time for another Classic spin . It is a favourite challenge of mine and guides me towards reading the classics. I have updated my list with a new book, to replace Orlando.  Here is my updated spin list. 1. The Master and Margarita by Michail Bulgakov 2. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Carter 3. Daisy Miller by Henry James 4. The Book Thief by Mark Zusak 5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoj 6. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce 7. Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence 8. Child Harold by Lord Byron 9. House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 10. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 11. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway 12. The Wings of the Dove by Henry James 13. A Merchant in Venice by William Shakespeare 14. Jaget och det undermedvetna (Die Beziehungen zwischen dem Ich und dem Unbewußten) by C.G. Jung 15. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding 16. Moments of being by Virginia Woolf 17. Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 18. The Divine Comedy by Dante (reading) 19....

This week, I have chosen the book Gloved Heart  by Charlotte Brentwood. A historical fiction, with an unusual story line. My review under link above. Book beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader "Screams echoed in every corner of the room, and in her mind.   There was agony, humiliation and confusion... Her dress torn, her skin ripped, and a man intent on possessing her, no matter the cost. She had never felt more helpless, worthless, or alone.    Amy woke with tears pouring down her cheeks, but the incessant cries she could hear were not her own.    It was the consequence of that hideous night: a baby born of sin. Motherhood had been thrust upon her, her life irrevocably altered." The Friday 56 hosted by Freda´s Voice "Henry was inwardly bubbling with anticipation at the idea of spending some time with her as he took her home, completely alone. But first there was a job to be done, and it was more challenging than shift...

20 Books of Summer 20 Books of Summer was hosted by 746 books , and I daringly joined in the end of May. It was at a time when my reading was at its highest. Even in June I finished 11 books. Looking at the list now, I realise is a little bit on the ambitious side. Some of the books are rather thick and take time to read and consider. Having read only four books from the list is somewhat a failure. My summer reading was SLOW! I was travelling, camping, had visitors and visited family, so there is a little bit of an excuse. From having read 11 books in June, I went to 1(?) in July and 7 in August. We are already a third into September and I have only read one book. What is happening? 1. Ashdown-Hill, John - Eleanor, the Secret Queen -  Read 2. Barry, Sebastian - On Canaan's Side -  Read 3. Boyd, William - Ordinary Thunderstorms -  Read 6. Freud, Esther - Mr Mac and Me -  Read 10. Larkin, Philip - The Whitsun Wedding (poetry) -  Started 14....

Charlotte Brentwood reached out to me in 2014 to ask if I wanted to review her first book The Vagabond Vicar . I accepted with pleasure, being a fan of historical fiction (review under link). She has recently finished her second book, Gloved Heart , and I am happy to have the opportunity to review also her second novel. From the back cover we learn: "Amy Miller is struggling to come to terms with her new life as a mother, while being a reluctant guest in a rigid gentry household. A victim of abuse, she is determined to never trust a man again.   Henry Russell has loved Amy for as long as he can remember, but his family want nothing to do with her. A chance encounter with Amy rekindles a friendship which might save both of them. The discovery of a secret which holds the key to Amy’s past will change them forever, and jeopardise any chance they have for happiness. Can Henry show Amy that true love will give her everything she could ever need?" The gen...

In 2019 this challenge is hosted by Andrea @  Carolina Book Nook . It extends from January 1 to December 31, 2019.  You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates. For more info use link above. The six examples of subjects we want to find in the title are: A precious stone/metal  -  The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams A temperature  (ex. In Cold Blood, Love in the Time of Global Warming) A month or day of the week  (ex. Tuesdays with Morrie, March) A meal  (ex. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, A Feast for Crows) Contains the word “girl” or “woman”  -  Eleanor, The Secret Queen - The Woman who put Richard III on the Throne by John Ashdown-Hill   Contains both the words “of” AND “and” -  Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende 3/6 I am just signing up now, and have read three out of the six subjects. Hope to finish by the end of the year. 

Hello again. Long time no see! It has been quiet on this blog for some time. From mid-July I have been travelling, seen family and have had visitors. A busy time which gave no time neither for blogging, nor for reading. In July I only finished ONE book! Scandalous, but what can you do. We have been camping among other things. We visited the island of Gotland and Fårö on the SE coast of Sweden. Wonderful place and more about that later. This picture is from the mainland, but it is not so bad to fall asleep and wake up to this view! Now things are calming down, but I have been reluctant to come back to the computer. I have tried to follow my usual blogs, commenting some, and even following a read-along of Moby Dick. Slowly, slowly, I also have finished a few books. Mostly thrillers which tend to be easily read. I have had a few thoughts during the summer on where I want to go with my blog. I am still thinking and planning a few changes. They will be revealed soon. I did manage to...