Skip to content
Entering the Enchanted Castle

Entering the Enchanted Castle

Make space for transformation

  • Blog
    • Life
    • Language
      • Books for Adult English Learners
    • Literature
      • Classics Club
      • Around the World
  • Sacred Reading
  • Spiritual Direction
  • My Books
  • About
    • About Lory
    • About the Enchanted Castle
    • Review Policy
    • Contact

Category: Literature

My Year in Nonfiction Update

stack of hardbound books
January 12, 2023January 15, 2023 ~ Lory ~ 6 Comments

Reviewing my nonfiction reading for Nonfiction November makes things a little awkward when it comes to the year-end review, because it's off by two months. So I decided to redo this post, counting from January through December. Here again are the books I found most outstanding, slightly adjusted for 2022: And my complete list by … Continue reading My Year in Nonfiction Update

Stars of 2022

shiny star shaped decoration illuminating dark street
December 23, 2022December 22, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 14 Comments

I've been blogging like a maniac this week, trying to fit in a number of wrap-ups before I take my usual break over the Christmas holiday. I am planning to do a complete recap of my fiction and nonfiction reading for 2022 later in January, but I do want to join in the year-end "best … Continue reading Stars of 2022

#TDiRS22: All shall find the light at last

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 10 Comments

The Dark Is Rising series readalong has reached its end, with the final volume in the series, Silver on the Tree. Although the book takes place at midsummer, it seems strangely appropriate for me to finish reading it on the winter solstice, when The Dark Is Rising begins. (I can't help thinking of that as … Continue reading #TDiRS22: All shall find the light at last

You made me read it: The Country Child

December 20, 2022December 17, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 9 Comments

Alison Uttley, The Country Child (1931) In my last Make me read it poll, The Country Child by Alison Uttley edged out David Copperfield and The Scarlet Letter for the win. I'd had a hard time getting into the first chapter of this fictionalized memoir of the author's childhood in early 20th century Derbyshire, and … Continue reading You made me read it: The Country Child

Neverwhere at Shiny New Books

December 19, 2022December 17, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 4 Comments

I'm honored to have my review of the new Folio Society edition of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere posted as the final post for 2022 at Shiny New Books. Please check it out to learn more about this delectable new edition. Here's the opening of my review: I wouldn’t normally expect much of a book created as … Continue reading Neverwhere at Shiny New Books

Four for Dean Street December

December 18, 2022December 18, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 14 Comments

This month Liz of Adventures in reading, running, and working from home had a fun idea: to read books published by Dean Street Press in December. If you don't already know, DSP has been unearthing classic mid-century women's fiction, Golden Age detective novels, and other overlooked treasures and publishing them in attractive new paperback and … Continue reading Four for Dean Street December

#TDiRS22: Death by Newbery

November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 4 Comments

In our Dark Is Rising series readalong, we've reached the Newbery-award winning The Grey King. Why did this particular book out of the five win the award? I think Greenwitch is a stronger book, although each of them has its points. Now I know that the book was probably an example of the Death by … Continue reading #TDiRS22: Death by Newbery

#NonFicNov: Worldview Changers

November 23, 2022November 22, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 18 Comments

I love this new topic and I am looking forward to seeing what other readers have chosen! Here's the description: "One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is learning all kinds of things about our world which you never would have known without it. There’s the intriguing, the beautiful, the appalling, and the profound. … Continue reading #NonFicNov: Worldview Changers

#BookBloggerSupport22 Challenge: Write a guest post

November 13, 2022November 12, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 4 Comments

One task for the Support Book Bloggers challenge is to write a guest post on another blog, or host one on your own. This month, I reviewed the new Folio Society edition of The Tombs of Atuan for Shiny New Books, a review site founded by book bloggers. I hope you'll check it out and … Continue reading #BookBloggerSupport22 Challenge: Write a guest post

#NonFicNov: Book Pairing

November 9, 2022November 1, 2022 ~ Lory ~ 17 Comments

I love this topic, as I look back to see what serendipitous fiction/nonfiction pairings emerge in the course of my reading year. Visit What's Nonfiction for the linkup. Once more, there were the obvious literary pairings -- Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar with the biography of Plath, Red Comet; Beverly Cleary's memoirs A Girl … Continue reading #NonFicNov: Book Pairing

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts

Welcome to the Castle!

I'm Lory, a passionate reader, emerging writer, and trained listener. I'm glad you're here.

Search this site

Follow Entering the Enchanted Castle on WordPress.com
  • Mastodon
  • LinkedIn
  • Goodreads
  • Bluesky

Post Archives

2025

  • – August (3)
    • Postcards from Switzerland: On the Matterhorn trail
    • A week of sacred reading starts tomorrow
    • Month in Review: July 2025
  • + July (2)
  • + June (3)
  • + May (3)
  • + April (2)
  • + March (2)
  • + February (2)
  • + January (1)

2024

  • + December (6)
  • + November (6)
  • + October (4)
  • + September (8)
  • + August (4)
  • + July (2)
  • + June (6)
  • + May (4)
  • + April (8)
  • + March (7)
  • + February (7)
  • + January (9)

2023

  • + December (9)
  • + November (12)
  • + October (8)
  • + September (5)
  • + August (2)
  • + July (5)
  • + June (8)
  • + May (9)
  • + April (6)
  • + March (8)
  • + February (5)
  • + January (10)

2022

  • + December (10)
  • + November (7)
  • + October (9)
  • + September (5)
  • + August (7)
  • + July (6)
  • + June (8)
  • + May (4)
  • + April (8)
  • + March (10)
  • + February (8)
  • + January (7)

2021

  • + December (9)
  • + November (8)
  • + October (6)
  • + September (4)
  • + August (3)
  • + July (9)
  • + June (6)
  • + May (8)
  • + April (6)
  • + March (19)
  • + February (7)
  • + January (12)

2020

  • + December (5)
  • + November (1)
  • + October (1)
  • + September (2)
  • + August (2)
  • + July (3)
  • + June (1)
  • + May (2)
  • + March (3)
  • + February (2)
  • + January (2)

2019

  • + December (2)
  • + November (1)
  • + October (1)
  • + September (1)
  • + July (1)
  • + June (1)
  • + May (1)
  • + March (2)
  • + February (2)
  • + January (2)

2018

  • + December (3)

Top Posts

  • Die Kleine Hexe: Chapters 1-5
    Die Kleine Hexe: Chapters 1-5
  • Martha Graham's inspiring words on creativity and individuality
    Martha Graham's inspiring words on creativity and individuality
  • #MarchMagics2024: Talking about Diana Wynne Jones and the magic of writing
    #MarchMagics2024: Talking about Diana Wynne Jones and the magic of writing
  • Beyond cold comfort: Four by Stella Gibbons
    Beyond cold comfort: Four by Stella Gibbons
  • Between Egypt and Babylon
    Between Egypt and Babylon
Archive of my former blog
www.blackwells.co.uk
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright

© 2018-2023 by Lory Hess.
All rights reserved.
Do not copy without permission

Credits

Header and newsletter image by Brendan Widmer.
Blog graphics by Waffley Cute Designs.
About page picture by Guilia Priori Art.

Proudly powered by WordPress ~ Theme: Penscratch 2 by WordPress.com.