This month, looking for something to keep my mind off current events, I came across author Lissa Evans in my TBR. Some time ago I had enjoyed a movie based on one of her novels, Their Finest, and wanted to look into her writing. I did get around to that book eventually (originally titled Their … Continue reading In a Time of War #MarchMagics2025
Today, over at Calmgrove the Witch Week post is a discussion of Joan Aiken's The Serial Garden, stories in which magic mixes with modern family life in a way that can be hilarious, creepy, or lyrical, or all of these and much more. I hope you'll enjoy our lengthy but fascinating discussion, which includes my … Continue reading Witch Week Day 5: Magical short stories
Head to Calmgrove for the schedule. The theme this year is the wonderful works of Joan Aiken, in all their variety and splendor. I'll be contributing on Saturday (the Felix Brooke trilogy) and Monday (our discussion of The Serial Garden) and will remind you of those posts, but there's so much more. I hope you'll … Continue reading Witch Week is here
Well, I thought I might read a Moomin book or two for Moomin week but ended up going on an absolute binge where I finished reading all the novels -- six of them this summer in addition to the two I'd read previously. I did it in a completely mixed up order, thus: Finn Family … Continue reading The marvelous Moomins for #Moominweek #WITMonth
As I make my way through the latter books of the Oz series, I notice how Baum kept trying to get outside the confines of Oz. Perhaps he realized that giving it an all-powerful and all-knowing ruler put something of a damper on conflict and adventure, or perhaps the land had been circumscribed in a … Continue reading #Ozathon24: More adventures outside Oz
The third book of the Oz series starts with a storm at sea, seemingly far away from Dorothy (who lives in Kansas) and from Oz (which is surrounded by deserts). But we soon learn that Dorothy is journeying on a ship with her uncle Henry, whose health has been broken down by the hardships of … Continue reading #Ozathon24: Bringing the Sun Underground
With the third book of the Oz series, we have the return of Dorothy and her meeting with the newly discovered ruler of Oz, along with a plethora of new characters including a feisty chicken, a mechanical man, and the underground Nomes. With its blend of excitement, humor, and suspense, it's one of the best-constructed … Continue reading #Ozathon24: Ozma of Oz
For this month's Ozathon posts, be sure to visit The Book Stop, where Deb will be hosting the wrap-up. The Marvelous Land of Oz was L. Frank Baum's follow-up to his breakout success, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As a child, I was always a bit puzzled by how different Book 2 was from Book … Continue reading #Ozathon24: A Land of Life
Much as I love reading, L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz probably had a greater influence on me through the movie version, which I watched on TV every year -- this was before recordings made it easy to watch our favorite films at the touch of a button. It was a kind of … Continue reading #Ozathon24: Journey into the heart
I'm so happy to be hosting an Ozathon - that is, a book-per-month readalong of the 14 Oz books by L. Frank Baum. Even if you don't manage to read all the books, you're welcome to join any time and sample some of the series. I'm looking forward to this journey with you. See the … Continue reading #Ozathon24 begins: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
