“That brain of mine is something more than merely mortal; as time will show.”
Continue reading “An Introduction to Ada Lovelace, The “Enchantress of Numbers””The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Review
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Review
Rating: Four Stars
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an ideal book to read in autumn, being a mysterious page-turner that you’ll need to get through rainy days and cold nights. This book seemed to be everywhere last year, and it did not help that I kept getting it confused with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which was released at a similar time. This was one of the few books I managed to read whilst writing my dissertation and it provided a welcome break.
Continue reading “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Review”
The Way of All Flesh Review
The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry Book Review
Rating: 4 Stars
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Review
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Book Review
“Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”
Continue reading “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Review”
Jamaica Inn Review
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier Review
“The air was cold and strangely still, and the moor itself lay placid and silver in the moonlight. The dark tors held their sleeping faces to the sky, the granite features softened and smoothed by the light that bathed them. Theirs was a peaceful mood, and the old gods slept undisturbed.”
Spring in Winchester II
Spring in Winchester II
‘There is no time like Spring, When life’s alive in everything’
– Christina Rossetti ‘Spring’
Mary Shelley Film Review
Mary Shelley Film Review: 2 Stars
Usually with an adaptation, as I wrote in my review for Mary Queen of Scots, if an adaptation of someone’s life helps to get an audience interested in the history behind the film, then that’s great, and usually worth some historical inaccuracies. Though with this film, I don’t know whether that still rings true. I’ll admit that as I’m very interested in Mary Shelley and the Romantic period as a whole, that I’m probably being too picky about this film, but this just felt like a missed opportunity.
The Romantics: Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Romantics: Percy Bysshe Shelley
People either seem to love or hate Percy Bysshe Shelley. For some, he’s the great poet who fuelled his rage at injustice into his writing, to others, he’s the terrible husband to Mary Shelley. Either way, Shelley is far from a boring poet to discuss. He led an incredibly interesting life, receiving admiration or horror where he went along the way. Shelley’s conviction with regards to his personal and political beliefs, which he powered into his poetry means he has become one of my favourite poets.
Still Alice Review
Still Alice by Lisa Genova Review
Reading this book has made me grateful yet again for studying my degree. I say that, because I know if I had not been assigned to read this, I never would have picked up Still Alice by Lisa Genova. It can be very hit and miss with what I have to read for my degree, but it’s always a nice feeling discovering a book that’s made an impression and getting to analyse and discuss it in detail.
Winter in Winchester II
Winter in Winchester II
O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? – Percy Bysshe Shelley ‘Ode to the West Wind’
My main takeaway from this season is that I’m looking forward to it being over. I realise how bleak that seems to start with, but right now it feels true. That’s not to say that this winter has been terrible because it hasn’t. Already this year alone I’ve made some wonderful memories to look back on, furthered my academic interests and (just about) narrowed down a rough topic for my MA dissertation. On the whole, I’m enjoying my modules and getting into ideas for my assignments (naturally some of them are going to be on the Brontë’s)
Looking back at last year’s post, I wrote it in December, when Christmas fever was high and there felt like a lot to appreciate and enjoy about the season. I delayed writing this until February because I thought it would be interesting to write the same post in what is usually my two least favourite months of the year.
Mentally, winter always feels like a rough period. I’ve been ill quite a bit which hasn’t helped, but my mental health has just felt all over the place. I’m enjoying getting better at being independent and happily spending time by myself, but at the same time really, really missing living with my friends. I feel as though I’m working on tackling my issues though, which is something.
It’s probably weird to publish a post about Winter when this week has seen high temperatures and while the weather is worrying for the state of our planet, it has been nice to enjoy the sunshine and warmer days. I’ve been sitting outside by the river getting university reading done, even in just these few days everything feels lighter. That being said, winter has still crept in at night.
There’s something oddly comforting when I’m walking home in the dark, hearing the tranquil sounds of the river, and seeing the mist rising above it, these frosty nights being accompanied by wonderfully clear skies with dozens of stars. Those moments feel peaceful and make me appreciate how beautiful winter can be too, even though I’m longing for Spring.
Sorry for the short post, have a few things that should hopefully be up in the next week!
Thanks,
Sarah
