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Anne Bronte, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, 1848
I reread *The Tenant of Wildfell Hall* because I had seen the most unhinged terminally online review which was arguing it was not a feminist work because Helen is too much of a doormat and does not immediately leave her husband. This is similar to the insights I have seen where Oscar Wilde is accused of queerbaiting because there is no open ( Read more... ) -
Yuletide letter
Hello,
Thank you so much for writing for me! I already love it!
The A Team (2010) - I would very much love a Face/Murdock story, but would be equally happy with something about them being competent at their job and best friends. I am totally happy with 1970s or 80s backstory.
Porridge - I would very much like a Fletch/Godber fic but anything funny ( Read more... ) -
Frances Fraser and Nettie Palmer (eds), Centenary Gift Book, 1934.
Frances Fraser and Nettie Palmer (eds), Centenary Gift Book, 1934.
In my desire to own the complete works of Mary Grant Bruce, I have just tracked down a fundraising booklet produced in 1934 for Women’s Centenary Council (of Victoria). The booklet states that the Council would be devoted to a fund for a memorial to pioneer women, and the internet ( Read more... ) -
2023 books
So, books of 2023.... a pictogram would be helpful.
125 books in total, of which 54 were new to me.
The majority were fiction, with 20 being magazines, 10 short story collections, 3 art books, 1 poetry collection and 37 non fiction works (mostly biographies).
The publication date of the books I read is gradually changing as the 2020s continue. And ( Read more... ) -
Ethel Turner, Gum Nut Leaves, 1900
I just acquired another rare Ethel Turner, a copy of *Gum Nut Leaves* (1900). It only went through one edition, which is why it is really hard to find.
The book is very obviously an early work, back when Ethel Turner was writing the children’s corner at the Australian Town and Country Journal. Under the pen name Dame Durden, she wrote short ( Read more... ) -
Louisa May Alcott, A Garland for Girls, 1887
Louisa May Alcott, A Garland for Girls, 1887
This 1887 book is a collection of seven short stories aimed at girls, each themed around a flower. The stories are about learning patience, perseverance, modesty, and cheerfulness. We are very much in *Little Women* territory.
Indeed, these are exactly the sort of stories that Professor Bhaer encouraged Jo ( Read more... ) -
Yuletide
Thanks for writing a fic. I love it already.
Rosemary Sutcliff - Slash, for preference, but anything focussed on their life after the end of the book would be great.
Avenue 5 - Billie being competent. Perhaps Ryan managing a rare moment of competence.
Porridge - Honestly, anything. It calls out for humour but then again the situation is a bit of a ( Read more... ) -
RM Ballantyne, The Coral Island, 1857.
RM Ballantyne, The Coral Island, 1857.
The book is terribly dated, in terms of its biology (coconuts are not soft skinned, you cannot see more easily in warm sea water than in cold sea water). It is even more dated in terms of its values (white folks are not natural leaders, missionaries are not an unmitigated good, South Sea Islanders are not ( Read more... ) -
Lydia M Childs, The American Frugal Housewife, 1829
Lydia M Childs, The American Frugal Housewife, 1829
First published in 1829, this book had gone through fourteen editions by 1834 and continued in popularity for decades afterwards.
I love nineteenth century household guides, because they are such an interesting combination of advice that you could read today (keep your important documents together ( Read more... ) -
2022 book summary
2022 book summary. I read 153 books, which included a lot of magazines (thanks to Elizabeth Bowyer for the magazine subscription).
There were 20 magazines, 9 short story collections and 25 non fiction books, so it was a pretty easy year. Only 48 were new to me.
The first publication date continues to heavily represent the 1920s to 1950s and then the ( Read more... )