Easter in the Subtopics

The meaning of holidays - or holy days - like Easter has changed and will continue to changes and so it should. Most people know that Easter was a Spring Equinox festival. Eostre was a goddess of renewal and spring. Eggs were a symbol of new life and the promise of spring after the harsh … Continue reading Easter in the Subtopics

Pocket Bookclub votes again

Unable to break with tradition, the Pocket Bookclub had our end-of-year do at Cormorant Bay Cafe Sadly, the cafe will be closing next month. SEQ Water will not renew the lease. I can't begin to explain what this means to our local community. But this is a post about books, not meeting places. As usual, … Continue reading Pocket Bookclub votes again

6 Degrees from a Dickens Christmas to a home in Toyland

It's #6 degrees time (well its Sunday not Saturday but yesterday was otherwise engaged). Time to link six books in a chain starting with: Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, surely one of the most often retold stories. Also, Wikipedia tells me, responsible for popularising the phrase Merry Christmas. So, there you go. Merry Christmas. One … Continue reading 6 Degrees from a Dickens Christmas to a home in Toyland

Six Degrees of Separation from Vanity to Solitude

It's first Saturday of the month and time for #6degrees hosted by Kate at booksaremybestandfavourite. You can play too. Vanity Fair is one of these books you have to stop and think. It's really famous. Have I read it or do I think I have read it because it is so famous? The answer is that no … Continue reading Six Degrees of Separation from Vanity to Solitude

# 6 degrees from Rebellious Boys to Naughty Girls

It's time for s #6degrees hosted by Kate at booksaremybestandfavourite. "The Outsiders," by SE Hinton is one of those books people read in English class. Is that right? Not me. I read it long, long ago because I wanted to, not because I had to. The first book I remember being 'set' for English was Alan Marshall's autobiography … Continue reading # 6 degrees from Rebellious Boys to Naughty Girls

“I left the baby on the bus and now I’m going to fall into a delirious fever”

Pocket Bookclub is not enamoured with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or the monster in the book.  This a story we retell and reimagine over and over. In fact, Frankenstein is 200 years old this year. It has captured our collective cultural imagination but the source just did not stand up for us. Let's start with who … Continue reading “I left the baby on the bus and now I’m going to fall into a delirious fever”

Two Books, One Story

There have been tears at my desk. The apparently easy migration from wordpress.com to self hosted wordpress.org has been fraught. Every step has been a drama. I don't know why. As the result,  I have two Pocket Bookclub events to write about. Tim Winton's, The Shepherd's Hut and Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton. Lucky … Continue reading Two Books, One Story

#6degrees – opium dens, zombies and nightmares

I have had a weekend to treasure with family and bonfire and beef brisket, hence I am a little late with this month's #6degrees hosted by Kate at booksaremybestandfavourite. This chain commences with Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Somehow this whole series has passed me by despite being adapted into a tv show, … Continue reading #6degrees – opium dens, zombies and nightmares

#6degrees from tipping points to magic points

I keep losing track of time and the date for #6degrees passes by without my participation. I get so annoyed at myself. I missed The Poisonwood Bible which I love. But this month here and on time.  Six degrees of separation is hosted by booksaremybestandfavourite. You can play too. This month we start with The Tipping … Continue reading #6degrees from tipping points to magic points