For fans of Downton Abbey…Carols and Chaos is set in the same rose-tinted alternative time frame (albeit a hundred or so years earlier).

*** BOOK: This Organic Life–Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader AUTHOR: Joan Dye Gussow YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2001 REVIEW: *** This book was given to me by a dear friend recently.  She praised it highly, and as she is rather smart and has good taste, I had high expectations.  I wasn’t disappointed.   *** It’s not really … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves: This Organic Life — Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader →

There’s plenty to like and plenty to dislike about Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. 

Allie Brosh is finally back!

*** BOOK: The Cat Who Went to Heaven AUTHOR: Elizabeth Coatsworth YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1930  REVIEW: *** This fable concerning a cat, an impoverished artist, and an old housekeeper, which won the Newbery Medal for excellence in children’s literature in 1931, is not about the afterlife, or about comforting a child after the loss of … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves:
The Cat Who Went to Heaven →

*** NOVEL: The Truth About Unicorns AUTHOR: Bonnie Jones Reynolds YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1972  REVIEW: *** In these crazy times, I’ve been reading formulaic mystery novels for comfort.  There aren’t too many surprises to be found here: the attractive young people aren’t the guilty parties, and they will find love once all misunderstandings (personal and … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves: The Truth About Unicorns →

*** NOVELLA: The Strange Library AUTHOR: Haruki Murakami YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1983 REVIEW: *** This story first appeared in print in 1983, but I read it as a stand-alone and rather exquisite 2014 paperback.  It’s small, with a virtual flap cover, a font like a vintage typewriter, and fascinating and gorgeous illustrations (art direction and … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves: The Strange Library →

*** NOVEL: Rose Cottage AUTHOR: Mary Stewart YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1997  REVIEW: *** There are a great many books that depict English villages as full of sinister activity and populated by murderers, blackmailers, and nasty writers of poison pen letters.  Miss Marple’s home of St. Mary Mead (described in various Agatha Christie novels) as William … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Rose Cottage →

What’s particularly interesting about this mystery novel is the fact that it was written by an English professor at Columbia University, Carolyn Heilbrun.

An entertaining compendium by James Lipton (yes, that James Lipton).