In the last few years, I started writing poetry again. I'd done it in fits and spurts since childhood, but was never really satisfied with my efforts. Then a personal crisis gave me a new impetus, inspiring me to produce one or even two or three poems a day, for several months. I found this … Continue reading A new writing (and publishing) impulse
This week I am featuring my Library of America edition of the Hanish novels and stories by Ursula K. LeGuin. These are LeGuin's major science fiction works, spanning the whole course of her long career, linked by the notion that different worlds were settled at some point by people from a planet named Hain. It's … Continue reading Shelf Control: The Hainish Novels and Stories
I hope you'll continue to indulge me as I do more wrap-up posts, which are mostly for my own edification. Last year was the first time I assembled a post reviewing all my fiction reading for the year, and it was interesting to see what patterns emerged. I noted that there were a lot of … Continue reading My Year in Fiction
I have not been good about posting my progress on this project, but I didn't read so many books for it in 2022, so it's simple enough to list them now. See the books I've read so far on the Around the World project page. In January I started out the year with the long, … Continue reading Around the World project update
It's always difficult to find the balance between making too many reading and blogging plans, which causes me to feel stressed out and unjoyful, and not making any plans, which robs me of the pleasure of anticipation and accomplishment. There are some challenges and projects that I want to keep long-term, while others come and … Continue reading Plans for 2023: Something old, something new
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
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
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
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
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
