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Author Archives: jenny
Miserable, Not Romantic: The Happy Ever After of Marrying a Scoundrel Explored in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë is a book about what happens if you actually marry Mr Rochester or Mr Willoughby. Helen marries a careless but charismatic man and finds that her influence quickly wanes after their marriage. … Continue reading
Posted in British, Classic, Diarial, General adult audience, Novel, Pastoral novel, Realism, Romance, Social Novel, Victorian
Tagged 19th Century, British, Brontë sisters, classic, divorce, domestic abuse, drama, ethics, fiction, grace, relationships, substance abuse
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Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan
Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan is a book about… well it took me a while to decide. The first time I read it I thought it was about the experience of a child living in a world of seemingly … Continue reading
Posted in Australian, Contemporary Children's, Picture Books, Under 7 years
Tagged 21st Century, 7 and up, Australian, coming-of-age, fantasy, fiction, good out loud, humour, illustrated, rules, siblings, society, under 7s, whimsical
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The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is one of my favourite books. It’s a book about the Christian life written in the form of letters from a senior to a junior devil, who is tasked with sabotaging the spiritual life … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Christian, Christian Living, Christian Non-fiction, Classic, Comedy, Epistolary Novel, Fantasy, Fiction, General adult audience, Novel, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult
Tagged 20th Century, British, C.S. Lewis, Christian living, Christianity, classic, discipleship, epistolary, fiction, good for spiritual health, good out loud, home front, The Inklings, wartime, WWII
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Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Five Children and It, written by E. Nesbit and first published in 1902, is about a strange-looking Psammead (also known as a sand fairy) who grumpily grants one wish a day. But somehow the wishes always seem to go wrong … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, British, Children's Classic, Children's Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel
Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, British, children's classic, fairies, fantasy, fiction, humour
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Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Where is the Green Sheep? written by Australian author Mem Fox and illustrated by Judy Horacek is a board book full of contrasting concepts, rhymes and, most of all, sheep. There are blue sheep and bath sheep and clown sheep … Continue reading
Hornblower by C. S. Forester
The Hornblower novels by C.S. Forester are a terrific blend of plot and characterisation. Set during the Napoleonic wars, they are action packed and fast moving but this action also serves to develop the complex character of Horatio Hornblower. Even … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Classics, British, Episodic Novel, Fiction, General adult audience, Historical Fiction, Novel, War Story, Young Adult
Tagged 20th Century, action, adventure, boats, British, classic, drama, fiction, historical, humour, Napoleonic Wars, navy, travel, war novel, wartime
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A Void by Georges Perec (trans. Gilbert Adair)
What to say about this book? A lipogram writ by a Parisian of Oulipo’s school, using all but our fifth, most significant sign. Now (amazing!) put in words for a Briton or Australian too. A cast looks for a missing … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Classics, Classic, Fiction, French, General adult audience, Mystery, Novel, Parody
Tagged 20th Century, classic, fiction, French, humour, Lipogram, Murder, noir, Wordplay
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The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis is the first (chronologically) in the Narnia series. If you’ve never read Narnia then start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but make sure you come back to the prequel. It’s a … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Century Children's, 7 years and up, Allegory, British, Children's Classic, Christian, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Speculative Fiction
Tagged 20th Century, 7 and up, animals, British, C.S. Lewis, children's classic, Christianity, classic, good out loud, Narnia, The Inklings, whimsical
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I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith begins “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink” and is the delightful story of an impoverished family living in a crumbling castle in the early 20th century. It has a delightful cast … Continue reading