tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63983862428063011742024-03-12T20:01:26.345-04:00Miss Bibliophile.Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.comBlogger736125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-67651596805062934222016-08-11T08:30:00.000-04:002016-08-11T08:30:05.120-04:00Quick Takes<div style="text-align: center;">
Just popping in here with some quick thoughts about a few of the books I've read recently. First up is <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vinegar-girl-anne-tyler/1122650744?ean=9780804141260">Vinegar Girl</a></i> by Anne Tyler. Part of Hogarth's Shakespeare series, which commissions current authors to reinterpret some of Shakespeare's classic plays, this novel offers a modern version of <i>The Taming of the Shrew</i>. This was my first time reading anything by Anne Tyler, who is one of those quietly but widely renowned authors, and I was really impressed with her writing. Her style, at least in this book, manages to convey a compelling drama while still being rooted in the ordinary little facets of everyday life. I also appreciated the direction went she with the story. A modern reinterpretation of <i>The Taming of the Shrew</i> could easily go a very cliche route--I'm imagining something in which Kate is portrayed as some kind of driven "career woman" who needs to be softened. Instead, Tyler takes a more subtle, unexpected route, casting her Kate as the 30 year old daughter of an eccentric scientist whose blunt personality starts to veer toward bitterness as she feels increasingly trapped by her life circumstances. The romantic lead she clashes with is her father's research assistant, an Eastern European immigrant whose visa is about to expire. It's the type of pairing you don't read about every day, and it plays out in a very satisfy way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiT3GBlu1n-4D43ky-rpYa8lTOfKQg_9YXj2AQFVGubWM7gjvNG-qwZtYECnFvV1yLGB2K44I1d5_3Ru7vVjJUdqSgPD5boF4rqj2L3ADNFhmKIUU3TfQdWMtKVTgyzlib3hBYh9CkjJ2/s1600/vinegar-girl-anne-tyler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiT3GBlu1n-4D43ky-rpYa8lTOfKQg_9YXj2AQFVGubWM7gjvNG-qwZtYECnFvV1yLGB2K44I1d5_3Ru7vVjJUdqSgPD5boF4rqj2L3ADNFhmKIUU3TfQdWMtKVTgyzlib3hBYh9CkjJ2/s400/vinegar-girl-anne-tyler.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<br />
Next is a Persephone book, <i><a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/few-eggs-and-no-oranges.html">Few Eggs and No Oranges</a>, </i>the wartime diary of Vere Hodgson that spans the years 1940-1945. You might say that this falls at the more utilitarian end of the diary spectrum. It's not a memoir in which Hodgson has wrapped up her experiences in a neat and tidy package, nor is it secret diary in which she's revealed her innermost thoughts and feelings. Instead, this is a diary that she wrote and circulated among relatives living abroad as a way of updating them on her life in London during the war. She chronicles each day in a brisk way, succinctly recording the work she does, the increasingly skimpy food rations that she eats, and the endless air raids she experiences. There is very little plot beyond this sometimes repetitive chronicling, yet it is compelling in its own way. It gave me a new and deeper understanding of World War II from simply absorbing the daily grind of it through Hodgson's eyes. In a similar way, I also grew to love Hodgson as her wonderful, resilient character was revealed from witnessing several years' worth of her daily activities. At around 600 pages, I'll admit this may not be a book for everyone, but it's a real treasure for anyone who's interested in WWII and the female writers of the period.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VixBEQOiXzY63fNB6d5pFdU7okkQOqna1k6nJg94enYaBT6moZL-4M32cl5wuD5JgV-cxj3Vl-KVCLJwIXYhUvSzcGL34lRN2HetQSK1bCZdZcLgHohdLAO3Ceqd0psOwf7jZnAR4JFS/s1600/few-eggs-and-no-oranges-vere-hodgson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VixBEQOiXzY63fNB6d5pFdU7okkQOqna1k6nJg94enYaBT6moZL-4M32cl5wuD5JgV-cxj3Vl-KVCLJwIXYhUvSzcGL34lRN2HetQSK1bCZdZcLgHohdLAO3Ceqd0psOwf7jZnAR4JFS/s400/few-eggs-and-no-oranges-vere-hodgson.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, a book that didn't quite his the mark for me: <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-of-roger-ackroyd-agatha-christie/1013985735?ean=9780062073563">The Murder of Roger Ackroyd</a></i> by Agatha Christie. I was excited to read this mystery after seeing it highly praised on a few of my favorite blogs in recent months. It's widely thought of as one of Christie's best, with a completely unexpected ending that was apparently very innovative for its time. Unfortunately, I think the vague allusions I had read about this amazing ending were exactly what spoiled the novel for me. From page one I found the characters to be a little dull and the plot a little hard to get into, but I kept reading on high alert, looking at the book from every angle to try to guess the ending. I did eventually hit on it, which made the end of the novel feel like more of a big letdown than a big reveal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS26d9B_5_wNCFqX8bGC_v9sL0RGzHZ14Wmsm76UtUjTd_f6pwfuFlvFnKkpowdxo9VOg8aoyR8ng3mJCXYqZsnEgf8y1sMrgbzcZxM2MFr8scnp5SqxwBms_QFcRNZz0hER9HNoHaZ-7/s1600/murder-of-roger-ackroyd-agatha-christie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCS26d9B_5_wNCFqX8bGC_v9sL0RGzHZ14Wmsm76UtUjTd_f6pwfuFlvFnKkpowdxo9VOg8aoyR8ng3mJCXYqZsnEgf8y1sMrgbzcZxM2MFr8scnp5SqxwBms_QFcRNZz0hER9HNoHaZ-7/s400/murder-of-roger-ackroyd-agatha-christie.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
What are you reading these days?</div>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 222px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1538px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 222px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1538px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-72949778243135345062016-07-22T08:30:00.000-04:002016-07-22T08:30:15.201-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week, the structure shown in the picture below suddenly appeared in front of one of the buildings on my block. I believe it's a <a href="https://littlefreelibrary.org/">Little Free Library</a>, although the lack of any kind of label means that it might only be meant for a select group of people already in the know. I took a chance and added two books to the 3-4 that were already in there. Over the past week they've all disappeared, but the box has yet to be replenished. What to you think--was I correct in my assumption or did I just clutter up a neighbor's mailbox?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwh4ICucJe89SwFBHoCUt-XQtHREm55cAPK9FtpcnmntUkYg5tEPPzV75OmIx-fvULd0yqhu-uYKozQKqu-2zNAun9_iqKw6eA6NcRDOOoDGyP3twmNSotEkMTValysDiAeGC-inkkYHA/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwh4ICucJe89SwFBHoCUt-XQtHREm55cAPK9FtpcnmntUkYg5tEPPzV75OmIx-fvULd0yqhu-uYKozQKqu-2zNAun9_iqKw6eA6NcRDOOoDGyP3twmNSotEkMTValysDiAeGC-inkkYHA/s640/IMG_1205.JPG" width="405" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are a few other things that have caught my eye recently:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/14/nyregion/strand-quiz.html">Test your book smarts</a> with this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/nyregion/want-to-work-in-18-miles-of-books-first-the-quiz.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur&_r=0">quiz</a> that The Strand bookstore requires of its prospective employees. (I scored a 46/50!)<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://bookriot.com/?p=100174">origin of publishers' names</a>.<br />
<br />
I just discovered this <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-moon-janet-hill/1121794028?ean=9781101917930">children's book</a> by a favorite artist.<br />
<br />
And I recently finished Trollope's <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/445700.Miss_Mackenzie">Miss Mackenzie</a></i>, which was enjoyable and might arguably be described as an early precursor to some of Barbara Pym's work. As always, Trollope's delightful character names were out in full force: Mr. & Mrs. Fuzzybell, Dr. Slumpy, and the law partners Mr. Slow and Mr. Bideawhile.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-790903723225796692016-07-08T08:30:00.000-04:002016-07-08T08:30:18.866-04:00Enchanted August<div style="text-align: center;">
As someone who has experienced a fair number of <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2012/08/one-morning-in-maine.html">Augusts</a> <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2012/09/another-morning-in-maine.html">in</a> <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2013/09/snapshots-from-maine.html">Maine</a>, I was eager to read <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enchanted-august-brenda-bowen/1120625365?ean=9780143108078">Enchanted August</a> </i>by Brenda Bowen, a modern day retelling of <i>Enchanted April</i>. Like Elizabeth von Armin's original, the novel features a group of four near strangers who rent a house together for a month, this time replacing the Italian villa with an island cottage in Maine. There they form a sometimes rocky friendship with one another, reflect on issues they have been experiencing with their respective husbands, families, and careers, and begin to reassess their own lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSChYQRt1gWOEOSqJBvhHz480VIZxz3s4wWCI6nkQwrivwbvYTNYxNROlhyphenhyphenAcqLHXiE0Pi5p4depESdlTC8OCuODL8jubqUgyE_qOOWDVOza36pHGMYdWQdQgfHqVzuIPphJQYnkHF2QnP/s1600/enchanted-august-brenda-bowen.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSChYQRt1gWOEOSqJBvhHz480VIZxz3s4wWCI6nkQwrivwbvYTNYxNROlhyphenhyphenAcqLHXiE0Pi5p4depESdlTC8OCuODL8jubqUgyE_qOOWDVOza36pHGMYdWQdQgfHqVzuIPphJQYnkHF2QnP/s400/enchanted-august-brenda-bowen.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been quite a while since I read <i>Enchanted April</i>--long enough for me to wonder if I actually did read it or if I just saw the movie--so it's hard for me to give a complete assessment on how <i>Enchanted August </i>pays tribute to its source material. It does capture the eccentric group of four, successfully updating each of the characters while retaining their key traits from the original novel. Bowen's plot relies on a lot of coincidences that happen among the four vacationers, especially toward the end of the novel, that probably require a bit more suspension of disbelief than von Arnim needed. A few of these plot points made me roll my eyes a bit, but wouldn't be too distracting for anyone who's reading for pure summer entertainment. Another thing that Bowen absolutely does capture is the atmosphere of summer in Maine. The fictional island is set somewhere near the vicinity of Bar Harbor, so many of Bowen's references were familiar from my past vacations there, as were her descriptions of the characters' long trip up to the island, with drives along wooded roads in the rainy dusk and parking lots filled with the "official state car", the Subaru. It all provided a fun way to relive a Maine adventure.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you read any novels set in your favorite vacation spot?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</span></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-58210762797589684502016-06-29T08:30:00.000-04:002016-06-30T13:58:12.057-04:00The Shuttle<div style="text-align: center;">
I just finished reading <i><a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/the-shuttle.html">The Shuttle</a></i> by Frances Hodgson Burnett and I have to say, it might be my favorite Persephone book yet. I know for a fact that I have said this before about other books, but I may really mean it this time. It combines elements that are reminiscent of Ann Radcliffe, Jane Austen, and Edith Wharton, features a heroine that is equal to any of their classic characters, and just may be the latest addition to my list of favorite books of all time.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBy240QGOuvkTmkChWSMCgwxsWqva9cZSl_aUvmgs4JThMMzlGDjfJYmdGqKT5TDKGORV21ktmxFlXQuMslepDozeL6ui3V1kACVk9542TfIzVhDJFfnGuXxv2GsJmogQhvKq20Z-metf/s1600/the-shuttle-frances-hodgson-burnett.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBy240QGOuvkTmkChWSMCgwxsWqva9cZSl_aUvmgs4JThMMzlGDjfJYmdGqKT5TDKGORV21ktmxFlXQuMslepDozeL6ui3V1kACVk9542TfIzVhDJFfnGuXxv2GsJmogQhvKq20Z-metf/s400/the-shuttle-frances-hodgson-burnett.jpg" width="262" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>The Shuttle</i> takes place in the early 20th century, when American heiresses were just beginning to marry into the British aristocracy. The shuttle of the title refers to the steamer ships that crossed the Atlantic, ferrying prospective brides and bridegrooms back and forth across the pond. The novel opens during the first wave of this phenomenon. The wealthy Vanderpoel family (fictional counterpart to the Vanderbilts) marries their eldest daughter Rosalie to Lord Nigel Anstruthers, an evil philanderer hiding behind the mask of a respectable title. As soon as the sweet, simple Rosy reaches England, she's easily overpowered by her husband, cut off from her family and money, and forced to live a reclusive life in Nigel's dilapidated manor house, Stornham Court. This section of the novel is pure Gothic fare.<br />
<br />
Cut to twelve years later when younger sister Bettina Vanderpoel enters the scene as both the heroine of the novel and the hero of the day. Unlike Rosy, Betty is clever, composed, and courageous. She is close with her millionaire father and has inherited his practical business acumen along with his money. She brings both with her to find and rescue Rosy. She sweeps into the Gothic decay of Stornham and immediately begins to rehabilitate both the house and her sister. Gothic elements reappear as Nigel tries to plot and scheme against Betty, but they are always counterbalanced by her modern outlook, one that comes from a world where there's law and order and where people cannot be held captive against their will. This push and pull between the Gothic and the modern reflects the similar dynamic that occurs as American and English cultures mingle throughout the novel. Of course, there is a climatic scene in which Betty nearly does fall prey to Gothic horror at Nigel's hands--I won't reveal any spoilers, though. This is a true page-turner that's satisfying on many levels. (Did I mention that there is a romantic male lead who is at least as dreamy as Mr. Darcy? And characters with wonderfully ridiculous names like Ughtread and Mount Dunstan?) I can't recommend this book highly enough!<br />
<br />
Do you have a "favorite" Persephone book? Or at least a current favorite that has yet to be dethroned?</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-76227263294156200792016-06-24T08:30:00.000-04:002016-06-24T08:30:05.000-04:00Big Little Lies<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/big-little-lies-liane-moriarty/1119367947?ean=9780425274866">Big Little Lies</a> </i>by Liane Moriarty is the story of a group of kindergarten parents whose seemingly petty schoolyard dramas hide deeper secrets that escalate into a criminal act. That's not exactly the kind of story that would normally attract me, but I was intrigued enough to give it a try after learning that Reese Witherspoon had optioned the rights and is making it into a miniseries starring herself and Nicole Kidman. Still, I was skeptical as I started the book. I had just come off a string of mediocre reads and, for the first hundred pages or so, it seemed like this might be another one. As the momentum began to build, though, I found myself more and more drawn in. This turned out to be a completely enjoyable book that left me thinking about it days after finishing.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4ASw43OQIWyWfbOviTlegDYi8fTlGdP7flTyfdjLARmisccvPjRfd2VqMjvrdPiUrfajFzBZEYPOffIXmSNMW_GrBMeJgl4-zRHewDZ5wcI0HVkrcRPp14enQBSbU8C0FVr0gay9NJrF/s1600/big-little-lies-liane-moriarty.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4ASw43OQIWyWfbOviTlegDYi8fTlGdP7flTyfdjLARmisccvPjRfd2VqMjvrdPiUrfajFzBZEYPOffIXmSNMW_GrBMeJgl4-zRHewDZ5wcI0HVkrcRPp14enQBSbU8C0FVr0gay9NJrF/s400/big-little-lies-liane-moriarty.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
My initial lack of interest in the book stems from its synopsis, which makes it sound like something campy and melodramatic. Instead, it's smartly written on many levels. Moriarty's characterization and dialogue is pitch perfect. She balances out the novel's darker plot points with many funny moments, as well as with scenes that offer spot-on commentary on various modern-day social issues and themes. Even better is the way the novel is structured. In most mysteries, the plot surrounding a crime leaves the reader trying to figure out who did it and what the motive was. Here, not only are those two questions unknown, but the actual details of crime itself it a big unknown until the end of the novel. Moriarty cleverly unravels this bit by bit throughout the book. There are a few surprise twists that I was able to guess, plus one final twist that I did not see coming at all. This is a perfect summer read that's thought-provoking in an entertaining way. I can easily imagine this translating onto screen and can't wait to see the miniseries adaptation.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-88450374530732117872016-06-08T08:30:00.000-04:002016-06-08T08:30:00.156-04:00The Light of Paris<div style="text-align: center;">
In my last post I talked about the start of summer reading season. While my own summer reading this year will include, as always, its fair share of classics and British middlebrow novels, I'll also be making a point to read at least a few of the season's new releases. The first such book that I can recommend is <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-light-of-paris-eleanor-brown/1122760250?ean=9780399158919">The Light of Paris</a></i> by Eleanor Brown, author of the very good debut novel, <i>The Weird Sisters.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaNnStKC64iWW3PeskB99yRcWv4BknZoQ1M7qNDn0QmX3xjKXc52HPaOI8xRA5DrbwRqCdKi0oCmVstLNjBtVoFRHnJvSAwxgj2HbQjPFzi_e9J5d0s7n_wtWacCahclcEBls1BZXaytX/s400/the-light-of-paris-eleanor-brown.jpg" width="264" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In <i>The Light of Paris</i>, Brown alternates between two eras with parallel story lines-- a plot structure that I always enjoy. The contemporary half of the story, set in 1999, centers around Madeline, a thirty-something woman who has lost herself by trying to conform to the expectations of others, first to please her cold, high-society mother, then to please equally cold, perfectionist husband whom she married out of convenience. As she contemplates the possibility of a divorce, she returns to her childhood home in a quaint Southern town where she reassesses her life and rediscovers her love of art. While there, she also discovers a set of journals kept by her grandmother, Margie, during the 1920s. They tell the story of how Margie escaped similarly rigid societal expectations by spending a year living in Bohemian Paris.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Neither Margie's nor Madeline's story lines are perfect--the way the former's ended left me a bit unsatisfied while the latter's personal journey felt repetitive at times, with many scenes in which her "heart aches" as she remembers choices from her past. In spite of that, both heroines are likable and easy to root for, and novel's wonderfully drawn settings more than make up for any other imperfections. It turns out that alternating scenes of a charming Southern town and Jazz Age Paris make the perfect combination for a enjoyable summer read. The beautiful descriptions of Paris were especially captivating--almost enough to convert this Anglophile to a Francophile, at least temporarily. This is an ideal beach read, although it's one that may make you want to leave the beach early to go home and rewatch <i>Amelie</i> or <i>Midnight in Paris</i> just to soak up more of the French atmosphere.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)</span></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-91008026656438293372016-06-03T08:30:00.000-04:002016-06-03T10:47:12.369-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
We're finally getting into summer reading season. Are there any books you're especially looking forward to in the coming months? Between several trips to the library, a small spree at my local bookstore, and an order with a few new Persephones on the way, I should be all set for at least the next month. I'm particularly looking forward to reading t<a href="https://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/american-housewife-by-helen-ellis/">his short story collection,</a> which I picked up entirely based on seeing the following quote: "I fix myself a hot chocolate because it is a gateway drug to reading." I couldn't agree more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_jLzLB8jh8QpEYhsk0kZYnTVpWdg2_CX0Af0nkZ3gSoPHy6MvvceBiMlgaq5pvkzTAv3iK2nCnMvuPZ4Afd-hN5gj2IXVe-DF-x3MM9xeAPtjzo_d7Tu3412b5qeXS4E7ePbvaom_PVd/s1600/vintage-vases.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_jLzLB8jh8QpEYhsk0kZYnTVpWdg2_CX0Af0nkZ3gSoPHy6MvvceBiMlgaq5pvkzTAv3iK2nCnMvuPZ4Afd-hN5gj2IXVe-DF-x3MM9xeAPtjzo_d7Tu3412b5qeXS4E7ePbvaom_PVd/s640/vintage-vases.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Some new succulent plants in two vintage head vases. I'm hoping they'll thrive as a result of being placed near the Nancy Mitford books.)</span><br />
<br />
Speaking of hot chocolate, it's completely out of season but I've been on a kick of making it from scratch lately and <a href="http://www.vogue.com/13397361/ultimate-hot-chocolate-recipe/">this recipe</a> hits it out of the park.<br />
<br />
Some of the best <a href="http://flavorwire.com/501536/jane-austen-zingers-the-15-best-disses-and-one-liners-from-pride-and-prejudice">zingers from Jane Austen</a>.<br />
<br />
And a newly discovered site that reveals the <a href="http://www.shadycharacters.co.uk/">secret life of punctuation</a>, plus a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07bzdbz">BBC interview</a> that includes an interesting discussion about getting punctuation to look the way that you want something to sound.</div>
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 83px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 144px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-44281115332307038802016-05-25T08:30:00.000-04:002016-05-25T08:30:38.214-04:00Desk Dispatches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In my last post, I gave a glimpse of my "new" desk, which is really just my restyled dining table. In theory, it has always served the dual purpose of table and desk, but it was pushed against the wall and only rarely used as a desk, generally for onerous chores like doing my taxes. After seeing some inspiring desks on instagram, I decided to give mine a simple makeover. I rotated it 90 degrees to face the windows, pulled up a comfortable armchair and a little bench where I can rest my feet, and replaced some stray place mats with a goose-neck lamp and some other pretty accessories. Now it's become a cozy spot that I enjoy sitting at almost every day, and it can still be called into action as a dining table when guests come over.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRopvYfxHIK9mwVIriCMR883eyI2RWDOoHUwWNoiVYfOcE4JaZJcpPT4UCt-yjahhNhktW8lrY6OYo4qBO0vSpI1hyWpi8GqSKNtltrXZ1YgTq1LlWoHM1iKb-lDNudPyHxJ5MMHduqYx/s1600/desk-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRopvYfxHIK9mwVIriCMR883eyI2RWDOoHUwWNoiVYfOcE4JaZJcpPT4UCt-yjahhNhktW8lrY6OYo4qBO0vSpI1hyWpi8GqSKNtltrXZ1YgTq1LlWoHM1iKb-lDNudPyHxJ5MMHduqYx/s640/desk-1.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're wondering whether these photos were staged, the answer is, yes, a bit. A helter-skelter pile of books has by now found its way back onto the desktop. But of course I <i>always</i> have tea and a plate of macarons at the ready.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOzsYYEI4ErIs8XBmntSyzVQ8wSZytsOD58KyZOu_FPpSN1w9yAjRbLfZt5xMLJ5G32zCTpH4hUTjNYDspF1BSJcgzYNZK82RgvHuyaIxUk-lUwhBLdKS2QLKBWjyLNUt1dWqTY33oN6M/s1600/desk-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOzsYYEI4ErIs8XBmntSyzVQ8wSZytsOD58KyZOu_FPpSN1w9yAjRbLfZt5xMLJ5G32zCTpH4hUTjNYDspF1BSJcgzYNZK82RgvHuyaIxUk-lUwhBLdKS2QLKBWjyLNUt1dWqTY33oN6M/s640/desk-2.jpg" width="359" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Have you rearranged anything in your home lately?</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-36036010512077962252016-05-20T08:30:00.000-04:002016-05-20T08:30:22.636-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never been big on listening to podcasts, but over the past few weeks I've been starting to enjoy them. One that I've discovered is <a href="http://www.theamericanedit.com/category/podcast/">The American Edit</a>, which focuses on various designers, businesses, and entrepreneurs who are trying to build new made-in-America brands. It's very tied into the "slow" anything movement, the reviving interest in where clothes and products come from and how they are produced, and the focus on quality over quantity. On a completely different note, there's also <a href="http://songexploder.net/">Song Exploder</a>, which features interviews with bands breaking down one of their songs note by note. There's something strangely thrilling to me about hearing, say, a piano melody that I had never noticed before isolated from a song and hearing about what went into recording it. And continuing with the musical theme, I've also been enjoying exploring the archives of the BBC's<i> </i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr">Desert Island Discs</a>, which asks famous figures to choose eight songs, one book, and one luxury item to bring with them onto a desert island. Although I'm not sure if this one is technically considered a podcast, it does comprise nine decades worth of archived episodes (I'd particularly recommend the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mykr">Barbara Pym episode</a>, and the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b079m78n#play">Tom Hanks episode</a> is unsurprisingly delightful).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LVcf8ewm9NuNNG3UmqOaFYWTp6ImUkKZQw-eAyfQn7PHDYE-DsyfUJeg__ssP1jKeEsWvxKJ4L19zbnJCXq7ia3uOWeBe9DVtN6aJKfPXU-mkL6QckqciBzStT1vAwXaG2ny53hrmyTH/s1600/desk-overhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LVcf8ewm9NuNNG3UmqOaFYWTp6ImUkKZQw-eAyfQn7PHDYE-DsyfUJeg__ssP1jKeEsWvxKJ4L19zbnJCXq7ia3uOWeBe9DVtN6aJKfPXU-mkL6QckqciBzStT1vAwXaG2ny53hrmyTH/s640/desk-overhead.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A view of my newly rearranged desk (more on that soon).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please do let me know if you have any favorite podcasts--I'm eager for recommendations! In the meantime, here are a few recommendations of my own.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
F. Scott Fitzgerald is so often associated with the East Coast or Paris, but his <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/travel/f-scott-fitzgerald-st-paul.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur&_r=1">Midwestern roots</a> run deep.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/69960-judy-blume-bookseller.html">Judy Blume is a bookseller</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A <a href="http://dcist.com/2016/04/never_too_late_for_a_blind_date_90-.php">bookstore blind date</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://awfullibrarybooks.net/">Awful Library Books</a> highlights some of the funniest, strangest, and most outdated books that get <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/weeding-the-worst-library-books">weeded out of libraries</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://londonist.com/2016/05/londons-biggest-bookshop">London's biggest bookstore</a> basically sounds like it's the size of a mall.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this might just be the best <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/4/26/11505036/hamlet-david-tennant-judi-dench-benedict-cumberbatch">tribute to Shakespeare </a>you'll ever see--highly worth watching!</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-20340781734633263762016-05-16T08:30:00.000-04:002016-05-16T08:30:19.793-04:00The Master<div style="text-align: center;">
Although the title of <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/master-colm-toibin/1100367185?ean=9780743250412" style="font-style: italic;">The Master</a> by Colm Toibin refers to the novel's subject, Henry James, it could easily refer to Toibin himself and the way that he is apparently a master of characterization and narrative voice--at least, that's my opinion of him after reading both this and his lovely novel <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6398386242806301174#editor/target=post;postID=3696289717101944101;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname">Brooklyn</a></i>. The tone of each novel is so different that it would be easy to believe that they were written by two different authors. In <i>Brooklyn</i>, he draws a nuanced and intimate portrait of a young Irish girl on her own for the first time. In <i>The Master</i>, he focuses a similar lens on a middle aged Henry James, but uses a completely different writing style that mimics James's own style, with long sentences that slowly reveal the most minute occurrences and thoughts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3LE5WoFjZGRjCaBW48uBtTrdnq5h9lctzf9P-8yEAOmc0wfO2wJcqiCwRUI6IbjooI7rv2LnA1JRWC6qMMfQVKmCfh4dvBWB8F_4rve0YyNpsQmcVGYDgd3Ol355xrnE1a-WrzD67AqS/s1600/the-master-colm-toibin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3LE5WoFjZGRjCaBW48uBtTrdnq5h9lctzf9P-8yEAOmc0wfO2wJcqiCwRUI6IbjooI7rv2LnA1JRWC6qMMfQVKmCfh4dvBWB8F_4rve0YyNpsQmcVGYDgd3Ol355xrnE1a-WrzD67AqS/s400/the-master-colm-toibin.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is no strong plot line running throughout <i>The Master</i>. Instead, each chapter focuses on a different episode in James's life, and in particular the different, often unconventional, relationships he had with family, friends, and potential lovers. The threads that do connect each segment of the novel add up to create a picture of a self-contained, highly observant, witty, and often lonely writer. The fact that the writing style does take a similar tone as James's work does mean that the pace can feel like it's dragging a bit. Just like many of James's novels, I found <i>The Master</i> to be a slow start. Once I got beyond the first third, though, I was completely drawn into it. The portrait of James's life was so interesting that I'm sure it will inspire me to read more of his novels in the future, despite the fact that those are reading experiences that <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2010/05/henry-james-fatigue.html">I sometimes regret</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-50549023755719993522016-04-15T08:30:00.000-04:002016-04-15T08:30:00.155-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the more interesting pieces of bookish news that I've seen this week is that the founders of <a href="http://www.outofprintclothing.com/">Out of Print</a> clothing have just launched a new app called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/litsy/id1037017919?ls=1&mt=8&utm_source=Out+of+Print&utm_campaign=b121240b85-Litsy-OOP-20160408&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd1ab00e0b-b121240b85-68407529&mc_cid=b121240b85&mc_eid=39e5a9203b">Litsy</a>. From what I can tell, it seems like it combines features from Goodreads and Instagram to create a new social app of book lovers. I'm intrigued, especially if it's more independent than the Amazon-owned Goodreads, although my reading lists are already so entrenched there that I can't imagine fully switching away from it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdXgTuZu302_JfQiCRNkABvcOI_D7d1FcZA35syQConeQRewGjI2ysuw82yP1_2ACrvC8wztcysrtz2F6z15mjrX308aKIwmD6Ot1NKYwmeydBWTp7xZ2SHHFd5NwjFGBA1uKm35Skeaq/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdXgTuZu302_JfQiCRNkABvcOI_D7d1FcZA35syQConeQRewGjI2ysuw82yP1_2ACrvC8wztcysrtz2F6z15mjrX308aKIwmD6Ot1NKYwmeydBWTp7xZ2SHHFd5NwjFGBA1uKm35Skeaq/s640/IMG_1076.JPG" width="405" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(a vegan chocolate peanut butter doughnut--aka the prettiest spring treat that I had recently)</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2016/04/writers-who-spied?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/writerswhospiedtheunsurprisinglinkbetweenauthorshipandespionage">Writers who spied</a>, plus recommendations for five <a href="http://electricliterature.com/the-literary-spy-novel-five-recommendations/">literary spy novels</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In honor of the 400th year anniversary of his death, Hogarth Press is launching an intriguing series of <a href="http://crownpublishing.com/hogarth-shakespeare/">novels that offer modern interpretations of Shakespeare's works</a>....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and Emma Bridgewater has launched a pretty <a href="http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/invt/1skp020002">commemorative mug</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An interesting article about <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/reese-witherspoons-new-role-power-broker-1460054342">Reese Witherspoon's influence as a literary tastemaker</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shaheryar-malikleaves-leaves-stacks-books-new-york-city-social-network_us_56f95ef6e4b014d3fe239668">mysterious stacks of books</a> seen around NYC recently were actually an <a href="http://www.madebysherry.com/readingproject">art project</a>. I wish I had encountered some of these!</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-73426408325215378772016-04-11T08:30:00.000-04:002016-04-11T08:30:17.017-04:00Bright Star<div style="text-align: center;">
Although in theory I'm a person who likes going to Broadway shows, in actuality--particularly in recent years--it takes a lot to motivate me to spend the time and money to go see a certain show. All of the necessary motivating factors converged recently for <i><a href="http://brightstarmusical.com/?gclid=CPieude9_8sCFcdehgod4PMDsQ">Bright Star</a></i>, the new musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. After seeing the pair interviewed about the show, which incorporates music from the two bluegrass albums they wrote together, I began listening to said albums, which fit right in with the genre of Americana music that I love. Once I started listening, I couldn't stop. Each song is so evocative that listening to one feels akin to reading a short story. A glowing review from a coworker sealed the deal and convinced me that I had to see the show.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS8T-YBu7bsP6u8Fua_XMCFEDBqM3YzhAYK9Um0lzDbwypTrbw8h2G-8kLVCN3kqduyqNeMmGXCXdAGn1vrNUO0JNBnmOnUkPpjRBEe6UBPpxTMcYAdObtbtTNrI9jLx1Tu66h3GfosIE/s1600/bright-star-cort-theater.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS8T-YBu7bsP6u8Fua_XMCFEDBqM3YzhAYK9Um0lzDbwypTrbw8h2G-8kLVCN3kqduyqNeMmGXCXdAGn1vrNUO0JNBnmOnUkPpjRBEe6UBPpxTMcYAdObtbtTNrI9jLx1Tu66h3GfosIE/s640/bright-star-cort-theater.JPG" width="405" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Snapped outside the theater.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i>Bright Star</i> is loosely based on an historical newspaper headline. The plot hinges on some surprises so I won't give away too much other than to say that it tells the story of the female editor of a Southern literary journal and a young solider just home from World War II who aspires to be a published writer. There are scenes in a bookstore and plenty of literary name-dropping, making it the perfect show for a bibliophile. All of that is really just a side-note, though, and pales in comparison to the way the story unfolds on stage. The action jumps back and forth between the 1940's and the 1920's, and from scene to scene the female lead, played by Carmen Cusack, either ages or goes back in time--sometimes literally right in front of the audience's eyes. It's a great acting performance that's enhanced by innovative staging. There are no flashy special effects; everything is done out in the open, like when the supporting cast members move around the set pieces, but it's done in such a creative, choreographed way that it feels magical.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdM15w1qwTlkPnBjxQhgiF0NLwh_NhzAwvebFlvqRe8wQd7zxbPUaXe1MVd5vCqwFsCbSR87TLK5HWlhJaeK4rFEziCY1-U2s9GsrYzwxhcs0y4AqR1E4k4Y31j_ud1J7VaIAM-c_5oOK/s1600/bright-star-band-stage.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdM15w1qwTlkPnBjxQhgiF0NLwh_NhzAwvebFlvqRe8wQd7zxbPUaXe1MVd5vCqwFsCbSR87TLK5HWlhJaeK4rFEziCY1-U2s9GsrYzwxhcs0y4AqR1E4k4Y31j_ud1J7VaIAM-c_5oOK/s640/bright-star-band-stage.jpg" width="540" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image via <a href="http://variety.com/2016/legit/reviews/bright-star-review-steve-martin-edie-brickell-broadway-musical-1201738313/">here</a>)</span><br />
<br />
An even bigger highlight than all of that is the show's music. It's performed by a small bluegrass band that is in costume and front-and-center on stage. They sit inside a wood framed house that serves as the center piece of the set and that gets pushed around the stage for different scenes. The songs are recognizable from Martin and Brickell's albums, although with slightly altered lyrics in some cases. Hearing them performed within the context of the story and by different voices gives them an added emotional punch. I know I'm going to be listening to the Broadway cast recording once it comes out (and I never listen to Broadway soundtracks).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97h4wL2wxGX5Rq9OIUoknQEVTiDUFvjWHvHFKbqZWYDidQqLz9v0aO0S-mIkqsCuz1Vfp1Oe4CSCyLpVZR6_LcX0WhVQJcTAJnxtuKUltj2shKm2l1F6ECexE6C9pKKYMxFJJ5lfXLu5R/s1600/bright-star-broadway-costumes.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97h4wL2wxGX5Rq9OIUoknQEVTiDUFvjWHvHFKbqZWYDidQqLz9v0aO0S-mIkqsCuz1Vfp1Oe4CSCyLpVZR6_LcX0WhVQJcTAJnxtuKUltj2shKm2l1F6ECexE6C9pKKYMxFJJ5lfXLu5R/s640/bright-star-broadway-costumes.JPG" width="540" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BDOcSZql3I6/?taken-by=brightstarbway">here</a>)</span><br />
<br />
The final rave I'll give is for the costumes, especially for the female characters, who wore structured dresses and hats during the 1940's scenes and floral farm dresses for the 1920's scenes. All were pretty and perfectly conveyed their time period. I really can't speak highly enough about <i>Bright Star</i>. I would see it again if the opportunity arose and I'll be rooting for it to win some Tony awards (although it's chances may be slim since <i>Hamilton</i> is also in the running this year, which is a bummer).</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-17363173942190050682016-03-25T08:30:00.000-04:002016-03-25T08:30:05.480-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm taking a couple of days off for a long weekend, which will see the coincidence of Easter weekend with the <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-sale-recap-part-1.html">giant book sale</a> that has become an annual event for me. Wish me luck for some nice Spring-like weather and some good book finds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kDMWvI8dkVmv8gfUvoe022RyE_nFTKddB150f7Yc5lhNgBndluIpOYsbwh8ae0D6SkOuOHvWls6uMzKRUTOmODRmZC7sufJDCPLkE7ciShb-kQgyGlGPf-7qPu_CvN9E3xftBd0ev3CX/s1600/millie-the-easter-lamb.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kDMWvI8dkVmv8gfUvoe022RyE_nFTKddB150f7Yc5lhNgBndluIpOYsbwh8ae0D6SkOuOHvWls6uMzKRUTOmODRmZC7sufJDCPLkE7ciShb-kQgyGlGPf-7qPu_CvN9E3xftBd0ev3CX/s640/millie-the-easter-lamb.tiff" width="540" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Millie last Halloween, but equally appropriate as an Easter lamb.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some links you can check out while I'm up to my elbows in piles of old books:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Julian Fellows writes a <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/features/spotlight/downton-abbey-s6-e9-julian-fellowes-letter/">letter to fans</a> and alludes to a <i>Downton Abbey </i>movie...or musical?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In case you were wondering, <a href="https://twitter.com/LitCritTrump">this </a>is what Donald Trump would sound like as a literary critic.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2016/03/17/stone-cottage-filled-with-books-in-the-english-countryside/">book lover's dream cottage</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The benefits of <a href="https://hello.jcrew.com/2014-10-oct/alice-gregory?srcCode=AFFI00001&siteId=MBK8Lt5asE8-oZAuJscyB%2FiJiwPQ3aLxRw">finding a personal uniform</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the <a href="http://camillestyles.com/wellness/howtoimproveposture/">benefits of good posture</a>.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-78764670345166603382016-03-22T08:30:00.000-04:002016-03-22T08:30:17.138-04:00Found in Books, Vol. 1<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my favorite things about buying used books is when you come across surprises left inside by the previous owner, like an inscription or a little scrap of paper or forgotten note stuck between the pages. I've shared some of my discoveries in the past--like this <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2014/02/heat-lightning.html">dedication from an author</a> and this <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2009/12/amelie-esque.html">secret message in a library book</a>--and now I've decided that I will start to chronicle them more formally here in a little "Found in Books" series. My latest find was a piece of notepaper tucked into a used copy of <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/modern-classics-lark-rise-to-candleford-a-trilogy-flora-thompson/1121207501?ean=9780141183312">Lark Rise to Candleford</a></i> by Flora Thompson.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One side lists items needed for some type of DIY sculpture project. The crafter jotted down ideas for blocks that included: "Play Doh or clay which is built up, squeezed, dried, fired; Marble--stone cut down; Wood-shaped; Bronze" and a list of supplies that included synthetic wax, paraffin wax, and beeswax.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u9LgBMtCby7dsuvfW0TCCphy9r5e7QR4hMj98Vg2nQG2vmJF6GVF0exM14r0ygU7qWiL7A60ekIfvgp_eHVKLRJJDPv0vD2LFNItARX9EQHtFHMPmUmQJYB5R6iMoiHvFAqjxpPVAcWK/s1600/note-found-in-lark-rise-to-candleford-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u9LgBMtCby7dsuvfW0TCCphy9r5e7QR4hMj98Vg2nQG2vmJF6GVF0exM14r0ygU7qWiL7A60ekIfvgp_eHVKLRJJDPv0vD2LFNItARX9EQHtFHMPmUmQJYB5R6iMoiHvFAqjxpPVAcWK/s640/note-found-in-lark-rise-to-candleford-1.jpg" width="405" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the flip side is what appears to be a draft of a birthday poem that reads as follows:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"We are all so happy you're still alive</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now you've reached the age of 85.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
[two lines that I can't decipher]</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This will be a gala year</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New hip to swing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So you will walk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You'll meet more people</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To talk & talk.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No longer you'll need the arm of Frank</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And your pony will be your own shank.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You're going to have some much fun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When down to the beach you'll run & run."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2JMtnmybMtpQTY-Z7_Wjlca2YNyv00jvog48I-JwABdXy4HSFF9dpTP2ReDycUlN6nKde47ltap-ncJN2dNBwCEFMfnQK_Keq6j71vg90_OuKj0LUpkc_f3iLMBNuTuJrwiAekogDWSX/s1600/note-found-in-lark-rise-to-candleford-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2JMtnmybMtpQTY-Z7_Wjlca2YNyv00jvog48I-JwABdXy4HSFF9dpTP2ReDycUlN6nKde47ltap-ncJN2dNBwCEFMfnQK_Keq6j71vg90_OuKj0LUpkc_f3iLMBNuTuJrwiAekogDWSX/s640/note-found-in-lark-rise-to-candleford-2.jpg" width="405" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This may very well be the only ode to a hip replacement ever written. I'm left with so many questions after reading it. Was the hip replacement a success? Did the birthday person make it to the beach that year? And, more importantly, what became of Frank once his arm was no longer needed?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What's the most interesting thing you've ever found in a book?</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-81540486413689580912016-03-17T08:30:00.000-04:002016-03-17T08:30:01.567-04:00WWI in Books<div style="text-align: center;">
Last October, I <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-home-front.html">wrote about</a> how everything I was reading and watching seemed to align around World War II. Now I've jumped back by a few decades to focus on World War I, with two of the best books that I've read recently both set during that time period.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQUR7bLB62rIk1yoKPUepsuTbTF8EbqEH0FEiYm-xReJhF4ZRL41u9p32Z5ZAt6tEemfupHur_UzJVIhfmbUxe1G1RMroU0CVuEyDF6z-0qv55XwRl0gnpX-bOhWwBFSrSU3f-h_6hxic/s1600/vera-brittain.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQUR7bLB62rIk1yoKPUepsuTbTF8EbqEH0FEiYm-xReJhF4ZRL41u9p32Z5ZAt6tEemfupHur_UzJVIhfmbUxe1G1RMroU0CVuEyDF6z-0qv55XwRl0gnpX-bOhWwBFSrSU3f-h_6hxic/s640/vera-brittain.jpg" width="540" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Vera Britain, image via <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/24/vera-brittain-testament-of-youth">here</a>)</span><br />
<br />
First, I finally got around to reading the memoir<i> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/testament-of-youth-vera-brittain/1001835440?ean=9780143039235">Testament of Youth</a></i> by Vera Brittain. Published in the 1930's, it looks back on Vera's life when she leaves her place at Oxford to serve as a nurse during the war. Brittain writes about her experiences at the various hospitals she's posted at, both in England and abroad, about the deaths of her fiance and her brother, and finally about her subsequent return to Oxford to complete her studies after the war. It's easy to see why <i>Testament of Youth</i> has been considered one of the definitive literary accounts of WWI. Although Brittain brings 15 years' worth of perspective to her narration , she extensively uses excerpts from the actual diaries she kept during the war. The effect of that combination makes for one of the most compelling and moving books I've read in any genre.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJmppqhQMwwbq-8BxFa90rxGKnPSLkBI5jFfxjVF5W6i_T_awjIcNdJuV7Yy4z2U-OL2sqFVf4Tnx0NGGgPkIGvtGhgp0BKvPP0OAbHlfjeJufQW7XPnIEGXpSILl73ec66S6QT_zutNA/s1600/Wake-Anna-Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJmppqhQMwwbq-8BxFa90rxGKnPSLkBI5jFfxjVF5W6i_T_awjIcNdJuV7Yy4z2U-OL2sqFVf4Tnx0NGGgPkIGvtGhgp0BKvPP0OAbHlfjeJufQW7XPnIEGXpSILl73ec66S6QT_zutNA/s400/Wake-Anna-Hope.jpg" width="263" /></a><br />
<br />
After reading <i>A Testament of Youth</i>, I can see how it probably serves as source material for more recent works set during that time period, from the early seasons of <i>Downton Abbey</i> to <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wake-anna-hope/1115191604?ean=9780812995138">Wake</a></i>, the 2014 novel by Anna Hope. As the book's description points out, the word wake has several meanings: to emerge from sleep; a ritual for the dead; and a consequent or aftermath. Set just after the war, <i>Wake </i>illustrates these different meanings by using three different story lines in which three women interact WWI veterans in different ways. Their stories end up being intertwined, and are also woven into a narrative that follows the journey of the body of an unknown soldier as it is removed from its resting place in a French field and makes it way to London for a ceremonial burial. This was a beautifully written novel with smart plotting and character development. I can give it the highest compliment I can think of lately, which is that I can easily imagine this being a novel written by a beloved but forgotten mid-century writer only to be reissued by <a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/">Persephone Books</a>. Happily, it was written by a modern author, a fact that leaves me eager to read what Anna Hope writes next.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-32896678469692882352016-03-11T08:30:00.000-05:002016-03-11T08:30:04.537-05:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
After such a long radio silence, is it bad form to pop up here just to comment on the <i>Downton Abbey </i>finale? I hope not. I think it's safe to assume that all of us fans of the show aren't ready to stop talking about it quite yet. There were a lot of good things about this final season (along with a few questionable things--was anyone really interested in the endless hospital storyline?) and I was glad to see things turn out well for pretty much every character, but I thought the final episode itself could have used a few more dramatic moments. I've grown so used to drastic twists and turns throughout the series as a whole that it felt strange to have the finale play out so smoothly. And while I did like Violet's closing dialogue, my ideal alternate ending would have been something that connected the past to the present day--perhaps having the last shot fade out to show modern visitors lining up to tour the house as a historic site, underscoring the ongoing theme of the disappearing aristocracy. What do you think? How did you like the finale?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NCj94nUCNf-dpAVbs_1UMl7552yJ99COrV7DsYjbDf9VNSZ-QfyaOdIwhlWkv18whhWtLE1V6MgQd7vwCfHBe5R0Cj6b6e06zYHowHebHnvNXejkrrcwzze5sd_m1u4CUNjnXxgXFUQR/s1600/downton-abbey-mary-and-henry.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NCj94nUCNf-dpAVbs_1UMl7552yJ99COrV7DsYjbDf9VNSZ-QfyaOdIwhlWkv18whhWtLE1V6MgQd7vwCfHBe5R0Cj6b6e06zYHowHebHnvNXejkrrcwzze5sd_m1u4CUNjnXxgXFUQR/s640/downton-abbey-mary-and-henry.jpg" width="540" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image via <a href="http://us.hellomagazine.com/film/2015110928142/downton-abbey-finale-recap-season-six/">here</a>)</span><br />
<br />
I have quite a few links to share today, some of which I've accumulated over the past couple of months. They're not all the most current, but they are worth a look:<br />
<br />
Keeping with the <i>Downton Abbey</i> theme, here's <a href="http://time.com/4245221/downton-abbey-withdrawal-reading/">what to read</a> and <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2016/03/period-drama-recommendations-downton-abbey.html">what to watch</a> to avoid withdrawal.<br />
<br />
Or you can wait for Julian Fellowes's next work, which is planned as an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/business/media/new-julian-fellowes-project-belgravia-treads-new-digital-ground.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0">app</a>.<br />
<br />
An interesting look the effect <a href="http://www.salon.com/2016/01/13/lena_dunham_mindy_kaling_aziz_ansari_were_not_buying_their_books_but_were_paying_for_them_in_other_ways/">high profile celebrity memoirs</a> have on the rest of the publishing industry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a14055/misty-copeland-degas-0316/">Misty Copeland as a Degas</a> ballerina.<br />
<br />
This <a href="https://www.instagram.com/albumplusart/">cool instagram account</a> offers its own take on famous works of art.<br />
<br />
A way to <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/17/11036614/punctuation-visualization">visualize famous novels</a> based on their punctuation.<br />
<br />
And as you may have heard, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/21/amazon-books-opens-seattle-independent-bookstores">Amazon's first brick-and-mortar store</a> is open. I think I would prefer to visit <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/25/oldest-bookstore-in-america-and-resident-ghost-moravian-book-shop-pennsylvania">the oldest (and also haunted) bookstore in America</a>.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-81622062429436672792015-12-04T08:30:00.000-05:002015-12-04T08:30:00.971-05:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
It's hard to believe that we're into December already! Have you been doing anything festive for the holidays yet? The twinkle lights and the Charlie Brown Christmas album have been on nonstop in my apartment this week, and later tonight I'm heading up to Newport, RI for the weekend. I'm excited to check out their holiday festivities and hope to report back with some pictures next week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pkShc0XvteR2GTMEvaW4qGqGiwYynKmYZrwTHb_FqMFWs0S3lfUJnhLMxHL_xaoAsS15pRIP4A8dOMVXR_3P7itnVxdmswohpv3hJUou4BxEHXUDTCMh5vdaJJoIM5Lyr03Gm1Iudscn/s1600/DSC_3934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pkShc0XvteR2GTMEvaW4qGqGiwYynKmYZrwTHb_FqMFWs0S3lfUJnhLMxHL_xaoAsS15pRIP4A8dOMVXR_3P7itnVxdmswohpv3hJUou4BxEHXUDTCMh5vdaJJoIM5Lyr03Gm1Iudscn/s640/DSC_3934.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(bit of sparkle for the mantle)</span><br />
<br />
In the meantime, here are a few little treats from around the web:<br />
<br />
Although we're already a few days into December, I have to share this great idea for an <a href="http://www.readingmytealeaves.com/2015/11/a-clutter-free-advent-calendar.html">advent calendar</a> focused on Christmas activities and experiences.<br />
<br />
A fantastic idea for a <a href="https://emilybooks.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/the-member-of-the-wedding/">literary "hen party"</a>. (Plus a nice discussion of <i>The Member of the Wedding.)</i><br />
<br />
My <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/iamoxfordcomma">favorite new Twitter account</a> to follow.<br />
<br />
Celeste Ng perfectly captures my feelings about Elena Ferrante's novels in her <a href="http://www.themillions.com/2015/12/a-year-in-reading-celeste-ng-2.html">Year of Reading</a> over on The Millions, saying, "don't be put off my the list of characters at the beginning" (I almost was) and "when you hit that gut-punch of a last line, be prepared to run out and get the next book" (I did, every time).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Love to see a <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/the-cold-world-of-barbara-comyns?sourceId=L000018761&st=EML">mid-century British female writer</a> garnering some attention from B&N.<br />
<br />
Have you heard of the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/sothebys-spotlights-rare-books-1449077210?mod=WSJ_article_EditorsPicks_4">Roxburghe Club</a>, an exclusive society of bibliophiles with only 40 members?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
And last but not least, these <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Frostbeard?section_id=10828667&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1">literary candles</a> would be the perfect stocking stuffers for book lovers.<br />
<br /></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-40551872935796397052015-12-02T08:30:00.000-05:002015-12-02T08:30:00.541-05:00Etty Hillesum<div style="text-align: center;">
I recently finished reading <i><a href="http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/an-interrupted-life-the-diaries-and-letters-of-etty-hillesum-1941-43.html">An Interrupted Life: The Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum, 1941-43</a></i>. I probably would not have sought out this Persephone book had I not come across a copy at a <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-sale-recap-part-1.html">book sale</a>. There I picked it up for its signature grey jacket, barely glancing at the title. Upon further research, I saw the book described as a young adult's answer to Anne Frank. This is a simplification, but apt in the sense that it's a work that should be taught alongside the works of Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98-aMi2WT7cBFgd1_7mwrvMDWLBlI7jO-ma1FvJQ-XxrI8azoR56-NJebduCRobtPwb9lfhy59BqR-D3sJP1ufDalCsWSEcZ0Gv5-JB34EFIm2kYlnddg0q35Al8NrFAA4vseTu9LC-WV/s1600/Etty_Hillesum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98-aMi2WT7cBFgd1_7mwrvMDWLBlI7jO-ma1FvJQ-XxrI8azoR56-NJebduCRobtPwb9lfhy59BqR-D3sJP1ufDalCsWSEcZ0Gv5-JB34EFIm2kYlnddg0q35Al8NrFAA4vseTu9LC-WV/s640/Etty_Hillesum.png" width="406" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Born in 1914, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etty_Hillesum">Etty</a> was twenty-seven and living in Amsterdam in 1941, during a time when its Jewish population was beginning to be deported by the Nazis. Etty lived in a house with several bohemian housemates, gave Russian lessons, and worked for the Jewish Council. She began studying with Julius Spier, a psycho-chirologist who combined Jungian analysis with palm reading. They developed a close friendship that at times veered into a love affair, and Etty grew to view herself as a disciple of his teachings. With Spier, Etty undertook the study of Biblical, religious, and philosophical works, and found her own spiritual development as a result. This is the basis of most of the diary entries in the first half of the book. The second half is made up of letters Etty wrote to her friends in Amsterdam after she was sent to the Westerbork camp in 1942. Through these, she paints a picture of life in a camp where Jews waited to be deported to other concentration camps farther East. Etty and her family were themselves deported to Auschwitz, where they died in 1943.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a difficult book to write about, or make any attempt to review. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it, although I found many parts to be very inspiring. This is especially true of the Etty's diary entries, which show how she relied on her inner spirituality to find happiness and a sense of peace even as the conditions for Jews in Amsterdam were growing more dire. At the same time, though, the diary entries feel somewhat repetitive as Etty continually revisits her relationship with the much older Spier, which can seem questionable at best from a modern perspective. I found the letters in the second half of the book to be more engaging and was fascinated by Etty's descriptions of her year at Westerbork. Her portrayal of the camp is that of a microcosm of the outside world. Its residents somehow find a modicum of normalcy even in the face of the atrocities that occur on a daily basis. Friendships are made, cliques are formed, and Etty's resilient attitude shines through it all.<br />
<br />
Etty's writing is interesting and inspiring, yet also very difficult to encounter at times. The strength she exhibits in the face of horrific events is truly heartbreaking and I found myself reluctant to pick up the book at times. What kept me going was a certain sense of duty to reading her story. As far as I can tell, Etty is not as well known as she should be--at least not here in the U.S. She deserves a more prominent place in the canon of WWII and Holocaust literature and I'd encourage anyone to seek this book out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-36962897171019441012015-11-13T08:30:00.000-05:002015-11-13T08:30:01.057-05:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
This week I reread Colm Toibin's lovely novel <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brooklyn-colm-toibin/1100364345?ean=9781439148952">Brooklyn</a></i>, prompted to pick it up again after seeing ads for what looks to be a very good <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2381111/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">film adaptation</a> that's just been released. This second reading confirmed that it's as good as I thought it was when I <a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2010/07/brooklyn.html">read it the first time</a>, although I cringe a bit when I see what I wrote about it in 2010. That post lacks a bit of depth, to put it kindly, and I literally have no idea what I thought the "small parallel to <i>Pride and Prejudice" </i>was--certainly nothing that I noticed this time around. It's so fascinating how our frame of mind can influence our reading. Now, writing from what I hope is a wiser and more insightful vantage point, I would describe <i>Brooklyn</i> as a quiet but perceptive look at a young Irish woman trying to figure out her place in the world. I highly, highly recommend this novel, especially to any fans of Persephone or Virago Classics. This novel could easily sit among those because of its focus on the minor yet fascinating domestic struggles that make up a life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlswuLkU6vlOn-dyfpRfe1rPiaBtOsk3i8wzOY0CoRzMNUU_6k4QCVcNFMAY9TI1J9jDZHSsVtVsygPkgUgxxKJGZiBr67fy3qV5qhsJcLLNJWDM4QAw_IiESocNY_QYuwcl4lqrdCnE6/s1600/fall-foliage-at-the-mount.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlswuLkU6vlOn-dyfpRfe1rPiaBtOsk3i8wzOY0CoRzMNUU_6k4QCVcNFMAY9TI1J9jDZHSsVtVsygPkgUgxxKJGZiBr67fy3qV5qhsJcLLNJWDM4QAw_IiESocNY_QYuwcl4lqrdCnE6/s640/fall-foliage-at-the-mount.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A few other things that caught my eye:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you were a <i>Reading Rainbow</i> fan as a kid, then I'm sure you can understand these <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/brentbennett/problems-only-book-lovers-understand#.tdqX2vlx4">book lover problems</a> (starring LeVar Burton!).<br />
<br />
A long read about an <a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/123352/my-25-star-trip-amazons-bizarre-new-bookstore">early visit to Amazon's new bookstore</a>.<br />
<br />
A short read about <a href="https://emilybooks.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/ali-smith/">Ali Smith's new project</a>.<br />
<br />
This looks like a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25241571-sad-the-dog?ac=1">sweet children's book</a> (discovered via <a href="http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2015/11/sad-dog-by-sandy-fussell-tull-suwannakit.html">this post</a>).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/9781101875551">Jhumpa Lahiri's next book</a> sounds interesting.<br />
<br />
And Barnes & Noble is once again doing their <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/holiday-gift-guide/signed-books-by-acclaimed-authors/">Black Friday signed books promotion</a>. I'm not entirely sure what I think about this. I like that it encourages the gifting of books, but I'm hard pressed to think of a current author whose signature I would go out of my way to get.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-60464554838829617382015-11-11T08:30:00.000-05:002015-11-11T09:19:04.057-05:00Golden Age of Television<div style="text-align: center;">
Have you binge-watched any good TV shows lately? Over the past several months I've been on a streak of watching some fantastic series on Netflix. It all began with <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Friday Night Lights</a></i>. I had known this was a cult favorite but never had a strong interest in watching it until I went on a trip to Austin last Spring. <i>Friday Night Lights</i> was shot on location there and I was curious to see if the show's would match my impressions of the city. Turns out that it didn't match up at all, but after just a couple of episodes I was hooked on the amazing characters, writing, and acting and quickly worked my way through all 5 seasons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgdaHxInRSvTz_pr_zKlN0fW_ElxACap5-CvL67EUG4fZWPV-tyR-Aj4JseW1D6pZQjwL-ZViVgZKLQJaQGcz3GEzv_GcsgjlP6b7RlPqS6_mO_Q8ULqJaxkSEEn3j9q8dBfpyC_MHA0N/s1600/friday-night-lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgdaHxInRSvTz_pr_zKlN0fW_ElxACap5-CvL67EUG4fZWPV-tyR-Aj4JseW1D6pZQjwL-ZViVgZKLQJaQGcz3GEzv_GcsgjlP6b7RlPqS6_mO_Q8ULqJaxkSEEn3j9q8dBfpyC_MHA0N/s640/friday-night-lights.jpg" width="405" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After <i>Friday Night Lights</i> I started watching another show starring Kyle Chandler, the Netflix original series <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3520702/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Bloodline</a></i>. This series centers around the Rayburns, a prominent, successful extended family in the Florida Keys, and follows what happens to them when the black sheep of their family comes back into their lives. The dark and shady dealings that ensue aren't anything unique in and of themselves, but the way in which they are revealed the the viewer is. Each episode flashes forward from the present action to show one of the final scenes of the season. It's fascinating to watch how the family descends from point A to point B when, at first, the two places appear to be worlds apart. The beautiful yet slightly foreboding Floridian setting adds a great sense of place to the show, too.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNj2NQWjHLAF63YUSt6fpylnimMnHiuWDgrTh9FOcrcdNvuIOlVPssKfyICW9d5CD2KDAknFJuj75H-penuAsUX7fjw2dFDy9bQ187BKx1lsKkqNZlgbSPXkykN8xO8zLmifOJ_Tl1AT5/s1600/bloodline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNj2NQWjHLAF63YUSt6fpylnimMnHiuWDgrTh9FOcrcdNvuIOlVPssKfyICW9d5CD2KDAknFJuj75H-penuAsUX7fjw2dFDy9bQ187BKx1lsKkqNZlgbSPXkykN8xO8zLmifOJ_Tl1AT5/s640/bloodline.jpg" width="365" /></a><br />
<br />
Finally, I watched another series full of secrets and lies (aren't they all these days?), <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3021686/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Honourable Woman</a>.</i> Maggie Gyllenhaal plays the part of Nessa Stein, an Israeli-British woman who uses her family's business to try to work toward peace in the Middle East. On the eve of the launch of a big project for the company, the kidnapping of someone close to her sets off a chain of events that sheds light on a traumatic episode from Nessa's past and the machinations of various government agencies. Beaing an eight part miniseries means that <i>The Honorable Woman</i> requires less of a time commitment to watch, which is probably a good thing because the show was actually quite stressful at times. The great acting performances made it well worth watching, though.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrYb85EbTFkVSNsoEx5zVJ6A6RcfQzlgJmjYIL_JOLGCc0FItHOOBSdwhcGOPwB-vVGgVBB030i7bAS2qLO9NEyxGrXvGE5y3wJLUSHVKkeyteflcKUFzYYADSAblKYtCdfdWkPtOmMwT/s1600/the-honourable-woman.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrYb85EbTFkVSNsoEx5zVJ6A6RcfQzlgJmjYIL_JOLGCc0FItHOOBSdwhcGOPwB-vVGgVBB030i7bAS2qLO9NEyxGrXvGE5y3wJLUSHVKkeyteflcKUFzYYADSAblKYtCdfdWkPtOmMwT/s640/the-honourable-woman.tiff" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
What series should I check out next? I just watched the first episode of Aziz Ansari's new show<i> Master of None</i> and it looks promising, and <i>Walking Dead </i>has been saved in my Netflix queue for quite a while now.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-45812984404042339532015-11-03T08:30:00.000-05:002015-11-03T08:30:02.586-05:00Sneaky Pumpkin Pie<div style="text-align: center;">
I did some seasonal baking over the weekend and made one of the easiest pumpkin desserts ever. I'm calling this a sneaky pumpkin pie because it requires only two key ingredients and although it's not quite a traditional pumpkin, it provides a pretty close imitation of one.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs606IicoW2ZSYvd5iBYewN-Mtqu5Gl241Nfq6nQDsYLWwFw5nbVPcBtznzvzC1LW-kPb2azWqu-vGC65kK00qnzEbVEet0JhN705CexqminqoP-PCdEflRhB-Hpx_M2fPxdZdcnlYMtR/s1600/sneaky-pumpkin-pie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs606IicoW2ZSYvd5iBYewN-Mtqu5Gl241Nfq6nQDsYLWwFw5nbVPcBtznzvzC1LW-kPb2azWqu-vGC65kK00qnzEbVEet0JhN705CexqminqoP-PCdEflRhB-Hpx_M2fPxdZdcnlYMtR/s640/sneaky-pumpkin-pie-1.jpg" width="359" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To make this sneaky pie, you'll need a box of yellow cake mix and a 29 oz. can of pumpkin puree. Season the pumpkin puree to your liking using whatever spices of have on hand, either pumpkin pie seasoning or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Then use a hand mixer to blend the dry cake mix into the pumping puree. Pour this mixture into two pie plates (one 11x13 baking pan will work, too) and bake according to the time and temperature given on the box of cake mix. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7Hn8vCHqbbZqmq2UbzeUVgB2tlkOX7Ct5if5OqvMlpe81EnVWVVU5qs-r-8xGukuKkNGS5cQ3h6kvrIGZ-vftLS0YJzH_wWUdoZXr1uJpdyyW9Nquw5ZX2NiC5zxMq1J8HmnOwsQoZOX/s1600/sneaky-pumpkin-pie-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7Hn8vCHqbbZqmq2UbzeUVgB2tlkOX7Ct5if5OqvMlpe81EnVWVVU5qs-r-8xGukuKkNGS5cQ3h6kvrIGZ-vftLS0YJzH_wWUdoZXr1uJpdyyW9Nquw5ZX2NiC5zxMq1J8HmnOwsQoZOX/s640/sneaky-pumpkin-pie-2.JPG" width="540" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
The texture will be less creamy and more cake-like than a true pumpkin pie, but it self-forms a slight crust that allows it to hold its shape when sliced. When topped with a basic cream cheese icing, this could earn a place on the holiday dessert table, particularly if you're looking for a quick way to check a pumpkin flavored dessert off of your baking list.<br />
<br /></div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-3580885091926418332015-10-30T08:30:00.000-04:002015-10-30T08:30:00.903-04:00Friday Fancies<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you reading anything spooky to get in the Halloween mood? I just finished <i>Career of Evil</i>, the third installment of J.K. Rowling's mystery series written under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, and while I didn't intentionally choose it to align with the season, the novel has enough creepy and suspenseful elements to make it a fitting choice for this time of year. Although I don't consider myself to be an aficionado of mystery novels, I absolutely love this series. Private detective Cormoran Strike and his partner, Robin Ellicot, are such rich, likable characters that I find myself more interested in seeing how their characters develop than solving the mystery of the plot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJD5rNLWUDVXgMwh-Yb-bEE09qazo5SOtG7YmuKZ-H-Mdh3s_mXwIdllUB-DKmzFvhwq6hIlqkXapxejy0xb4iNHFQ9wLpwCxffGNEJc_uQoz7S6_uPeAKgXuKZuQsvarijoHh74dYWig/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJD5rNLWUDVXgMwh-Yb-bEE09qazo5SOtG7YmuKZ-H-Mdh3s_mXwIdllUB-DKmzFvhwq6hIlqkXapxejy0xb4iNHFQ9wLpwCxffGNEJc_uQoz7S6_uPeAKgXuKZuQsvarijoHh74dYWig/s640/IMG_0786.JPG" width="405" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are a few other things that have caught my eye lately:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The <a href="http://camillestyles.com/living/diy/the-dress-diy-costume/">funniest Halloween costume idea</a> I've seen so far this year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An essay about <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2015/10/stalking-murakami-by-anisse-gross.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+designsponge%2Fnjjl+%28Design*Sponge%29">Murakami in Hawaii</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/little-library-cafe/2015/oct/22/food-in-books-the-pistachio-cream-puffs-in-elena-ferrantes-my-brilliant-friend">pistachio cream puff recipe</a> to tie in to Elena Ferrante's <i><a href="http://missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-neapolitan-novels.html">My Brilliant Friend</a>. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/bookpatrol/2015/10/26/short-stories-for-the-masses-french-city-introduces-short-story-vending-machine/">short story vending machine</a>.<br />
<br />
And last but definitely not least, my dog <a href="http://www.missbibliophile.blogspot.com/2010/08/introducing-millie.html">Millie</a> has joined instagram! <a href="https://instagram.com/moments_of_millie/">Follow her</a> there and you'll get to see her in her Halloween costume on Saturday!</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-55676481275620508882015-10-27T08:30:00.000-04:002015-10-27T08:30:01.217-04:00The Home Front<div style="text-align: center;">
Recently my reading and my TV watching have aligned around the subject of the home front during World War II. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
First, I've spent the past few Sunday nights watching the miniseries <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4015216/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Home Fires</a></i> on PBS. It centers around the a Women's Institute in a rural village at the start of WWII. The WI's membership comprises a wide cross section of women--old and young, upper and lower class, housewives, shopkeepers, and farmers--and shows the impact the outbreak of war has on their lives. While it's interesting to see such a range of characters portrayed, my favorite thing about the show is its setting. From the neighborly sense of everyone knowing everyone's business in the village to shots of cozy British interiors, I can easily imagine the world of <i>Home Fires</i> being populated by a cast of Barbara Pym characters a few years down the road.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtroEJPbJlMT2syHhkfdI5Np2grgYb3o21k_PZPnDBKoOy8LqU4lrTgj82l1p7DL9vrwp-tqCKB-SfQEjF2ElUmYdoIJTrRmVZglEqb_1rvYKJBYERvH3rqcVTPGee3fLxia57ALqUa5l/s1600/home-fires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtroEJPbJlMT2syHhkfdI5Np2grgYb3o21k_PZPnDBKoOy8LqU4lrTgj82l1p7DL9vrwp-tqCKB-SfQEjF2ElUmYdoIJTrRmVZglEqb_1rvYKJBYERvH3rqcVTPGee3fLxia57ALqUa5l/s640/home-fires.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
With all of this on my mind, when it came time to start a new book, I naturally gravitated toward <i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/On-Side-Angels-Betty-Miller/9781907429309">On the Side of the Angels</a></i> by Betty Miller, a Virago Classic that I had picked up at a used book sale. Also located in a rural village, the novel centers around two sisters: Honor, a mother of two whose husband is a physician in the local army hospital, and Claudia, a schoolteacher whose lawyer fiance has recently been invalided out of the service after developing a heart condition. Honor tends to be meek and prone to daydreams. Her world centers around her husband and she resents the pull that the commanding officer in his unit seems to have over his actions. Claudia is intellectual and feisty. She has very clear ideas of how she should act and how her life should be. She comes to question these ideas for herself when a British Commando comes to the village. His aggressive demeanor and his reputation for heroic deeds behind enemy lines cause all of the characters, both male and female, to reevaluate their impressions of the home front.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC4GQfk-CRaAdzmaQwhMTx-Xj22gee01BfnmDbsKO_xOhHEto_nZjexNBoynblODvT2LbkNUnmEr7fBUuj6uJrNzIo3uI6qLyIF01qoU2IdMUuucvOM76aPd7lLVi5GuatiBiHZmd59GW/s1600/on-the-side-of-angels-betty-miller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC4GQfk-CRaAdzmaQwhMTx-Xj22gee01BfnmDbsKO_xOhHEto_nZjexNBoynblODvT2LbkNUnmEr7fBUuj6uJrNzIo3uI6qLyIF01qoU2IdMUuucvOM76aPd7lLVi5GuatiBiHZmd59GW/s640/on-the-side-of-angels-betty-miller.jpg" width="349" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One key difference between <i>Home Fires </i>and this book is that while many of the characters in the former are left on their own when their husbands head to the front, in the latter both Honor and Claudia have their husband and fiance present with them. This highlights the different ways that the male and female characters deal with life on the home front. One theme that surfaces in the novel is the suggestion that the characters are actually glad for the war because of the opportunity it offers them to step out of their everyday civilian lives and adopt more exciting roles for themselves. While I felt that this argument could only hold up among people like Miller's characters, whose upper class professions enable them to serve on the home front and who are not separated from their loved ones, I nonetheless found it to be an interesting take that I had not considered before. While it doesn't evoke the kind of cozy atmosphere that <i>Home Fires</i> does, <i>On the Side of the Angels</i> is well worth reading for the new perspectives it offers on this time period and location.</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-17456457845781271922015-10-23T08:30:00.000-04:002015-10-23T08:30:02.528-04:00On Rising Early<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you an early bird or a night owl? As much as I like the idea of waking up early to start a productive day, I generally have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, especially as we enter these darker Fall and Winter months. Surprisingly, the time in my life when I came closest to being an early bird was actually in college, when I would easily wake up early to go to the gym before my classes. Of course, "early" back then meant 8am, so maybe that's not so surprising after all.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm trying to change my mindset about mornings--although first I should backtrack and mention <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene">Yoga With Adriene</a>, the YouTube yoga channel that I've been following. After doing yoga in various forms over the past few years, finding Adriene's channel completely revitalized my practice. Her laid back approach has resonated with me more than any "live" yoga teacher I've taken class with. The channel's mantra is "find what feels good", which, to me, takes on a couple levels of meaning. First, it's the idea that modifying a hard pose or using a prop shouldn't be thought of as something only for beginners, but rather should be considered options to use depending on how your body is feeling on any given day. Next, it can be seen as the idea of trying to find some comfort and ease while you're in a yoga pose that might be uncomfortable, which is also a metaphor for how a regular yoga practice can translate into other areas of life and help you find ease in uncomfortable situations you might find yourself in. I highly, highly recommend the Yoga With Adriene to anyone with a remote interest in trying yoga. The channel has a ton of videos of every length, level, and purpose, as well as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXU591OYOHA&list=PLui6Eyny-UzwxbWCWDbTzEwsZnnROBTIL&index=1">Thirty Days of Yoga</a> program that got me to commit to a daily practice earlier this year. Now I'm doing yoga almost exclusively at home and feel like I've gotten stronger and progressed more than I ever did in public classes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN3xtGaNMCnuKHJuIkZYNhGLAgmh_kV2F2INqXyCPSHTuz2KXEo_3TWo0zMYociPWnxLNqKrZb94qYjl8jDnIPVLEiWEUi-jJlvqrHi61KzYUVvr3BcitgSSSUn-j58XytShpjwd1pEpM/s1600/yoga-with-adriene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN3xtGaNMCnuKHJuIkZYNhGLAgmh_kV2F2INqXyCPSHTuz2KXEo_3TWo0zMYociPWnxLNqKrZb94qYjl8jDnIPVLEiWEUi-jJlvqrHi61KzYUVvr3BcitgSSSUn-j58XytShpjwd1pEpM/s640/yoga-with-adriene.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(image via <a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/">here</a>)</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But back to waking up early. Last week Yoga With Adriene launched <a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/rise/">Rise</a>, a seven day program of yoga practices to do in the mornings. This seemed like exactly what I needed to get myself out of bed a little earlier and free up some time later in the day for other things (like keeping up with this blog!). I haven't made it through the full seven days of the program yet because I've been feeling a little under the weather this week, but I did enjoy the two mornings I got up to practice. So far, so good. And on a related note, I was very intrigued when I stumbled upon <a href="http://mirandasnotebook.com/my-miracle-morning-challenge-aka-why-i-get-up-at-5am/">this blog post</a> about the Miracle Morning program. It actually makes a 5am wake up call sound appealing, although I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that yet. Let's see how this morning yoga goes first.<br />
<br />
Do you have any morning rituals?</div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6398386242806301174.post-22441227085352737182015-10-20T19:30:00.000-04:002015-10-20T19:30:01.400-04:00The Neapolitan Novels<div style="text-align: center;">
The buzz around Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels has slowly built up to a full-blown literary frenzy over the past couple of years. So much has been written about the novels and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Ferrante">mystery of Ferrante's identity</a>. I've seen nothing but praise for the books, but that praise was tempered by descriptions calling the books brutal or bleak often enough to give me pause. I was finally prompted to read them when my local bookstore started to promote and rave about the series. It's such a well-curated store that I trust their recommendations and they did not lead my astray with these. In fact, reading the series turned out to be exactly what it took to push me back to this blog after many months away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yzxQLEHbIcOLgnt4jWJdBvJWOZO_kDz4SAJHmXw-WxMAe6U_a29WQ9mpYYgExPvSzAS5s9fZMBq0EX81ulyjcOiuEyRilGnLhfTfOSjlV8ydEK1GYwEXID6UNPLM03Wd-qDcUgIegLsG/s1600/elena-ferrante-my-brilliant-friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yzxQLEHbIcOLgnt4jWJdBvJWOZO_kDz4SAJHmXw-WxMAe6U_a29WQ9mpYYgExPvSzAS5s9fZMBq0EX81ulyjcOiuEyRilGnLhfTfOSjlV8ydEK1GYwEXID6UNPLM03Wd-qDcUgIegLsG/s400/elena-ferrante-my-brilliant-friend.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Neapolitan series tells the story of the lifelong friendship between Elena and Lila, two girls from the same poor neighborhood in Naples. Both girls are exceptionally bright. Elena is more reserved and is a traditionally good student who advances through the university level. Lila, who leaves school after the elementary level and marries early, has a natural intelligence that is often at odds with the tempestuous life she leads in the neighborhood. The first book in the series, <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-brilliant-friend-elena-ferrante/1109328859?ean=9781609450786#productInfoTabs">My Brilliant Friend</a></i>, begins when Elena and Lila first meet as children playing in their neighborhood and ends with Lila's wedding at the age of sixteen. The second book, <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-of-a-new-name-elena-ferrante/1114778154?ean=9781609451349">The Story of a New Name</a></i>, spans the early years of Lila's marriage and the final year's of Elena's university studies. Although their lives follow different paths, the two girls remain closely linked throughout their lives, even through long periods of separation.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX4FAez0aj06_I2xxAqT1DvL0oRJlNwsM8i2JKN-IwfyPong6wTW_fvfgnVJQk2SmaK6x_RWXEXhfGSxSb14kXUJKeAjp0dOxkJ8uUuTcO8359O2zUt9DRrIpac6PG71SiaFXA1mXFKBx/s1600/elena-ferrante-story-of-a-new-name.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX4FAez0aj06_I2xxAqT1DvL0oRJlNwsM8i2JKN-IwfyPong6wTW_fvfgnVJQk2SmaK6x_RWXEXhfGSxSb14kXUJKeAjp0dOxkJ8uUuTcO8359O2zUt9DRrIpac6PG71SiaFXA1mXFKBx/s400/elena-ferrante-story-of-a-new-name.jpg" width="254" /></a><br />
<br />
Ferrante's portrayal of this complex friendship is the hallmark of the novels, and it's the aspect that has been the focus of much of the praise they have received. The aspect that made the biggest impression on me, however, actually comes about as a byproduct of the way this friendship is portrayed. Through Elena's narration of the novels, she tells the story of her own life, but focuses most heavily on the parts of her life that intersect with Lila's, or that fall under Lila's influence from afar. She is so outwardly focused on Lila and Lila's impact on her life that she is unable to have a true sense of herself other than as she appears in contrast to Lila. There are a few moments in which the curtain is pulled back and she is afforded a brief glimpse of herself as others see her, not merely as a counterpart to Lila. The idea that it can be difficult to see an accurate picture of oneself is very true to life and is skillfully portrayed by Ferrante. Interestingly, she achieves this portrayal by going against the old adage that a good writer should show rather than tell the reader what's happening. Ferrante's style is very formal and verbose, with more time devoted to Elena's summary of events than to long scenes of dialogue. It somehow works to create an overall tone that held me completely enthralled.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I highly recommend these novels, and would love to know what you think if you've read them. I'm now at the halfway point of the series, having just finished <i>The Story of a New Name. </i> I had every intention of trying to spread out the remaining books, but the last few sentences of book two left me so eager to find out what happens next that I'm fairly certain I'll be running to the bookstore this week to pick up <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/those-who-leave-and-those-who-stay-elena-ferrante/1118671568?ean=9781609452339">Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay</a></i>. </div>
Miss Bibliophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433318219707424076noreply@blogger.com2