Happy Birthday Charlotte Bronte

Writer Charlotte Brontë was born on this day, April 21, 1816, in Thornton, Yorkshire, England.  She was supposedly the most outspoken and ambitious of the Brontës, which was unusual for a woman of her time and background. In fact Charlotte was raised in a strict Anglican home by her clergyman father and a religious aunt …

Death of a Nobel Laureate

It has been confirmed the Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez died today in Mexico City at the age of 87 after battling a long illness.  He is considered the most popular Spanish writer since Miguel de Cervantes in the 17th century and has achieved literary celebrity that has spawned comparisons to Mark Twain and Charles …

This Side of Paradise – F. Scott Fitzgerald

  This Side of Paradise was published on this day in 1920, immediately launching 23-year-old F. Scott Fitzgerald to fame and fortune.  It is a work of a young author, and possesses some fundamental flaws, both structural and thematic. But it is a truly important work, both in the life of its author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, …

Getting Into Bed With Humour

Vintage and Anchor Books often have some amazing images interspersed with their book reviews.  I saw these two and they just made me smile.  It seemed fitting to end the weekend with a book – of sorts.

Book, Books, Books

  Now I don’t know about you but there is very little in life that I consider anywhere close to a good book, except of course a great book. So to start I must admit that I have somewhat confused eclectic tastes in literature and to the amusement of many who know me am quite happy to …