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emmaj_xo's reviews
91 reviews
The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain by Ian Mortimer
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
A great introduction to the history of the Regency period - perfect for Ausenites and Bridgerton fans to gain some background knowledge. The audio is well read and made great background listening since I was familiar with most of the topics discussed. It’s difficult to give a fair rating because I think it does well at what it’s trying to be - it’s an entertaining overview. Although, for those who already have a good understanding of the period, there’s little new here to hook you.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What is there to be said that hasn’t been said? There’s something to the fact that however familiar I am to the ending, having read this before and watched adaptations, I still could not put the book down for the last 100+ pages in anxious expectation.
Perhaps with future rereads I’ll develop an even deeper appreciation for the novel so many hold as a favourite. I cannot deny her unrivalled wit and clever sense of humour.
Perhaps with future rereads I’ll develop an even deeper appreciation for the novel so many hold as a favourite. I cannot deny her unrivalled wit and clever sense of humour.
Five Empresses: Court Life in Eighteenth-Century Russia by Evgenii V. Anisimov
informative
medium-paced
3.5
This is an accessible and interesting overview of the five empresses that ruled Russia in the 18th century - and the coups and political scheming that kept them in power. There are detailed accounts of Russian Royals who met terrible fates - be they be murdered or imprisoned since childhood - and it’s the bloodier side of history that interested me as much as the scandals in Court. Anisimov’s conversational style whilst accessible can sometimes lean into more personal opinion and judgment than I’m comfortable reading in history. Let the facts speak for themselves, you don’t need to tell me an obviously morally bad action is bad. Overall I enjoyed this, and it’s introduced me to parts of Russian history I’m interested in reading more about.
Summer by Edith Wharton
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is my first Edith Wharton and I adored this. The short, Summery novella felt like the perfect pick up for a warm June weekend. I certainly got more than I expected in this Feminist tale about a woman’s choices (or lack thereof) and a wonderful, flawed character at its centre. I must read more from Wharton in the future.
Jane Austen at Home: A Biography by Lucy Worsley
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
An enchanting and enlightening biography about a literary hero. Grounded in the domesticity of her every day life, here we’re shown a nuanced picture that doesn’t attempt to mould Austen into one of her characters like some of her earlier biographers. Worsley brings in important political and social context to the letters between Jane and her family. I’m drawn to wanting to read Austen’s letters now, especially those between her and her beloved sister Cassandra. There is humour and the book is at times deeply moving. For the audio - Worsley reads only the Introduction and the Epilogue, but her witty and passionate voice shines through Ruth Redman’s reading. I think I’ll look out for a second hand print copy as I’m sure I’ll want to revisit this biography again. As I’m sure, future readings of Austen’s novels will be enriched by having read this.
Alice's Adventures Under Ground: The Original Manuscript by Lewis Carroll
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reading the original handwritten manuscript, with Carroll’s original illustrations, was such a delight. This manuscript, gifted to little Alice Liddell, is an earlier version of the story before it was edited and expanded for print. There’s no Mad Hatter yet, or pig baby, which seems remarkable given how iconic the tea party scene became. There is however a lovely, short epilogue about the real Alice and her sisters. The care taken in lovingly and carefully transcribing the work is evident too.
This particular British Library edition is complete with a wonderful introduction explaining the origin of the story and the transcript itself. I particularly enjoyed reading of the circumstances that lead to the little leather-bound book coming into the British Library’s collection.
This particular British Library edition is complete with a wonderful introduction explaining the origin of the story and the transcript itself. I particularly enjoyed reading of the circumstances that lead to the little leather-bound book coming into the British Library’s collection.
The Cleft by Doris Lessing
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is my third Lessing (first in over 10 years) but it feels like a departure from her earlier work. This works more than a book light in both plot and character should, but it doesn’t quite deliver on its interesting premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, and Violence
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A bizarre folk horror tale. Not as shocking as it had been pitched to me, but i think that’s more a matter of taste - and I’ve a strong stomach.
Was an easy, fast pace read for me and i enjoyed the mysterious setting and strange cast of characters.
Enjoyed this enough to read more Moshfegh. I only come away feeling I need to read more folk horror (a genre I love in film) as it fell short of fully scratching that itch.
Was an easy, fast pace read for me and i enjoyed the mysterious setting and strange cast of characters.
Enjoyed this enough to read more Moshfegh. I only come away feeling I need to read more folk horror (a genre I love in film) as it fell short of fully scratching that itch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Gore
A Friendship in Letters: Robert Louis Stevenson & J.M. Barrie by Michael Shaw
medium-paced
5.0
“To be blunt I have discovered (have suspected for some time) that I love you, and if you had been a woman —“
This collection, for the first time, reunites the letters between Barrie and Stevenson and supplements with a detailed introduction and appendices.
Stevenson (then living in Samoa) and Barrie never met, but the two Scottish writers (in different stages of their career) bonded through their correspondence and admiration for one another. Stevenson was already the much beloved author or Treasure Island and Kidnapped, but Barrie at this time was most known for his early novels and it would be years before he would write and stage Peter Pan.
Many thanks to Michael Shaw for transcribing the once thought lost letters by Barrie - a not so easy feat if you’re familiar with his handwriting! (Stevenson even comments on it in one of the letters). These letters are enlightening, as is the supplementary material that completes this excellent volume.
A must read for fans of either author, or those who - like me - have a particular interest in literary friendships and friendship letters.
This collection, for the first time, reunites the letters between Barrie and Stevenson and supplements with a detailed introduction and appendices.
Stevenson (then living in Samoa) and Barrie never met, but the two Scottish writers (in different stages of their career) bonded through their correspondence and admiration for one another. Stevenson was already the much beloved author or Treasure Island and Kidnapped, but Barrie at this time was most known for his early novels and it would be years before he would write and stage Peter Pan.
Many thanks to Michael Shaw for transcribing the once thought lost letters by Barrie - a not so easy feat if you’re familiar with his handwriting! (Stevenson even comments on it in one of the letters). These letters are enlightening, as is the supplementary material that completes this excellent volume.
A must read for fans of either author, or those who - like me - have a particular interest in literary friendships and friendship letters.
To Have And To Hold: An Intimate History Of Collectors and Collecting by Philipp Blom
slow-paced
2.0
Utterly dull, like reading a Wikipedia page. Took me over 3 weeks to read this relatively short book. Chapters of anecdotes about various collections and collectors but lacking a clear thesis. You’ll leave this having learnt little more than a few “fun facts.” At one point the author goes on a short tangent for a single paraphrase about Autism and hyperfixation in relation to collecting but after realising he doesn’t really know anything about it, drops the topic entirely. I understand the intent was this to be written in a more conversational style, but it’s moments like that that probably could have stayed in the first draft.