feather_ghyll

I read a couple fewer books than last year (47, I think.) As usual, the vast majority were by women and new to me. Most of the children’s books I read were of a higher standard than last year, probably because I’d bought them online (mainly in 2021-22) with greater intentionality than when I physically went into charity shops or second-hand bookshops.

I only read one book by any of the big four, ( Read more... )

The Guides in Hanover Lane: Anne Bradley. Lutterworth Press, 1958. My copy is inscribed 1967.

Once lockdown started, I decided to try to buy books, especially girls own books, online by authors that I’d thought highly of. One of those was Anne Bradley, author of Katherine at Feather Ghyll, the book that gave me the name of this blog.

It feels as though it’s been a while since I’ve read a Guide book. In truth, I always think of books about Guides as Guiding propaganda, in that the authors are trying to promote the movement as A Good Thing for their readers, either Guides themselves or prospective Guides. But when the story is well written and the characters are engaging, that doesn’t matter.

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I see I'm getting round to this a day earlier than last year. Perhaps 'summary' is a better description than 'highlights.'

I read 49 books in 2023, a decent increase on last year, thanks in part to the Good Thing that happened at the end of April. The vast majority were by women and new to me, and had mainly been bought (mostly online) in 2020. But I returned properly to charity shops and bookshops, so I bought more random books, which have gone on my 'to be read' pile.

Most of the children’s books I read were Girls Own books, although a lot were mediocre and some subpar, and I didn’t bother posting about them (be grateful I didn’t review ‘A Girl Governess’ by A.E. Ward.) ( Read more... )

Here's hoping the best for 2024.

The Star of Kazan: Eva Ibbotson, Macmillan, 2004.

I didn’t remember much about this book (only the fate of Rocco the horse, really) so rereading this almost felt like reading a new book, except it had that sense of things proceeding as they ought as so much of Ibbotson’s writing does, and some of that came from some dim memories of first reading it. (This was the my post about it at the time, which also discusses ‘Blue of the Sea’ by L.T. Meade.)

This is the story of ( Read more... )

Happy new year! Here's my 2022 in books, tennis and some other things.

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Waistcoats and Weaponry: Gail Carriger
Finishing School Book the Third, Atom, 2004

As I’ve said before, I enjoy this series, following Miss Sophronia Temminnick of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing School in a streampunk Britain with supernatural elements. I have to admit that ( Read more... )

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

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

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

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The Secret Shore : Lillie Le Pla

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

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

And a reflection, based on these ‘unprecedented times’, I haven’t been a very mindful reader when it comes to the influence of the Spanish flu pandemic on writing from 1918 onwards. I know I’ve talked about the shadow of the first world war on characters in books set in the twenties, but not so much the impact of the pandemic e.g. on attitudes towards hygiene illness and mortality. One example might be here in my review of 'A Head Girl's Difficulties.'

The Great British Sewing Bee has started back, and I am watching it, but via iPlayer, so I expect to post about that at some point.

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

So, Little Women:

Adapted and Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Based on ‘Little Women’ and ‘Good Wives’. written by Louisa M. Alcott.
Starring: Saorise Ronan, Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern.
Rated: U

Although I had prejudices going in (one big one I’ll get to, but one certainly was that it feels as though we only just had the TV adaptation involving Angela Lansbury) and nitpicks going out, this was very good and emotionally satisfying. ( Read more... )