An April Night by Lucy Maud Montgomery The moon comes up o’er the deeps of the woods, And the long, low dingles that hide in the hills, Where the ancient beeches are moist with buds Over the pools and the whimpering rills; And with her the mists, like dryads that creep From their oaks, or … Continue reading
*It is known* that I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary YA fiction around here. Actually, that’s kind of an understatement. Until recently I pretty much avoided this sub-genre like the annoying popular clique at my high school. Rolling my eyes as mentions of it passed me by on twitter, and scurrying down back alleys … Continue reading
Oh my goodness! I need to start learning Japanese A.S.A.P! Studio Ghibli recently announced that they will be venturing on to the small screen, and their first project will be based on Astrid Lindgren‘s Ronia the Robber’s Daughter. Set in a mythical Medieval Sweden, Ronia is the daughter of a chief of bandits, who spends … Continue reading
I always find it impossible to say which of Roald Dahl’s books is my favorite, but it’s usually a close tie between Fantastic Mr. Fox and Matilda. Here’s a link to a lovely little interview from NPR with Roald Dahl’s daughter Lucy Dahl, in which she reads an excerpt from a letter he wrote to … Continue reading
One of my favorite children’s books is Elsa Beskow’s Children of the Forest. I love how it tells the stories of this little woodland family through the seasons, particularly the autumnal scenes of foraging for mushrooms on the forest floor. It makes me want to grab a basket, a book, and a thermos of tea … Continue reading
There’s a a spectacularly eerie song, called “Danse Macabre” composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, that is woven through the narrative of Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season. You should definitely listen to it if you’re thinking about reading this book. It’s fevered, emotional, dark, at times frenzied, rich and innovative; a tone poem set for orchestra that is … Continue reading
“Female characters should be people. Flawed, glorious, interesting, enthralling people. Let them dye their hair and pierce their ears without going “wah wah wah I’m so bad at being a girl wait hey look suddenly I’ve gotten a makeover and I’m gorgeous.” Let them have female friends. Let them fuck up. Let them have bad days, and … Continue reading
At first glance, white tea appears soft and delicate, and one doesn’t expect any surprises from this subtle blend. However, once brewed the White Peony tea takes on another character entirely, as if its true strength is only emboldened when tested with hot water. It gives off a floral aroma, but a rich taste of … Continue reading
The title of Susan Dennard’s A Darkness Strange and Lovely essentially sums up my literary experience of this enriching sequel. While I read her first book, Something Strange and Deadly, and thoroughly enjoyed it, I knew at the end that there was much to be explored and I found myself waiting on tenterhooks for Part … Continue reading
