Noises Off

Title: Noises Off Writer: Michael Frayn Publishing House: Anchor Date of Publication: August 27th 2002 (first published January 1st 1982) Rating: 5 stars ‘’And God said, “Where the Hell is Tim?” And there the Hell was Tim. And God said, “Let there be doors that open when they open, and close when they close.” A famous actress who has invested…

Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales

Title: Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales Writer: Various edited by Ellen Datlow Publishing House:Pegasus Books Date of Publication:February 7th 2017 Rating: 4 stars ”But you have mistaken me, O Bird. Can you not hear? I am the silence and the piping and I am coming. And it is I- I who am terrible.” O Terrible Bird by Sandra…

The Memory Police

Title: The Memory Police (original title:密やかな結晶) Writer:  Yōko Ogawa (translated by Stephen Snyder) Publishing House: Pantheon Date of Publication: August 13th 2019  (first published 1994) Rating: 5 stars ‘’Long ago, before you were born, there were many more things here; my mother used to tell me when I was still a child. ‘’Transparent things, fragrant things…fluttery ones, bright ones…wonderful things…

A Little House In A Big Place

Title: A Little House In A Big Place Writer: Alison Acheson (illustrated by Valeriane LeBlond) Publishing House: Kids Can Press Date of Publication: May 7th 2019 Rating: 5 stars ‘’She stood at her window and waved to the train engineer who passed every day and she wondered. About where he came from and where he went. And if she might…

Rain: Four Walks In English Weather

Title: Rain: Four Walks In English Weather Writer: Melissa Harrison Publishing House: Faber & Faber Date of Publication:March 3rd 2016 Rating: 5 stars ‘’The village is far behind me now, its squat church tower lost in trees. The lane I walk is flanked by hawthorn hedges, and on the regress glossy hart’s tongue fens funnel the rain so…

Bone China

Title: Bone China Writer: Laura Purcell Publishing Books: Raven Books Date of Publication:September 19th 2019 Rating: 5 stars ”This is the bitterest winter I can recall. Too cold, even for snow. A world washed innocent and white might bring me some comfort, but no – this is the season of sleet and gunmetal skies. Everything is grey and cold….

Home In The Woods

Title: Home In The Woods Writer: Written and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler Publishing House: Nancy Paulsen Books Date of Publication:October 1st 2019 Rating:5 stars ‘’Snow falls in a blanket of diamonds all around the shack. The jack pines sway above as we fall asleep close together. But Mum stays awake into the night, whispering to the stars…’’ Wisconsin,…

22 Czech Legends

Title: 22 Czech Legends Writer: Alena Ježková (illustrated by  Zdenka Krejčová) Publishing House: Práh Date of Publication: 2007 Rating: 5 stars The literary journey to the Czech Republic continues… Who was the brave squire that fought against the bandits and led to the founding of Krumlov Castle? In a beautiful fortification, the White Lady of Krumlov appears to soothe the…

Witches Sail In Eggshells

Title: Witches Sail In Eggshells Writer: Chloe Turner Publishing House: Reflex Press Date of Publication: June 11th 2019 Rating: 5 stars ‘’They should never have come. This wasn’t a place well-suited to winter. Even under the frost, the minigolf course had been thick with leaves when they’d crossed it yesterday, and they’d found the boating lake frozen solid, a…

Old Prague Legends

Title: Old Prague Legends Writer: Based on legends retold by by Magdalena Wagnerová (translated by Ivan Guittierez, illustrated by Nemcova Lucie) Publishing House: Plot Publishing House Date of Publication: 2010 Rating: 5 stars ‘’The city was named Praha- ‘’threshold’’ – and just as long ago people would bow before the threshold when they entered a house, they bow today…

Rituals to Observe: Stories about Holidays from the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction

Title: Rituals to Observe: Stories about Holidays from the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction Writer: Various edited by Ethan Laughman Publishing House: University of Georgia Press Date of Publication: September 1st 2019 Rating: 5 stars ‘’It can always be a happy season if there are rituals to observe.’’ Once October arrives, the world goes festive. In Greece, we celebrate…

The Hundred and Ninety Nine Steps & The Courage Consort

Title:The Hundred and Ninety Nine Steps & The Courage Consort Writer: Michel Faber Publishing House:Canongate Books Ltd Date of Publication:April 1st 2010 Rating: 5 stars ”Within minutes, of course (or was it hours?), her head was disjoined from her neck, and the seagulls were screaming.” Siân is a student of archeology and has recently joined an…

Patience, Miyuki

Title: Patience, Miyuki Writer:  Roxane Marie Galliez (illustrated by Seng Soun Ratavanah Publishing House: Princeton Architectural Press Date of Publication: October 1st 2019 Rating: 5 stars ‘’Blue earth, orange moon, Spring was all dressed up and ready for her first day of the year. Miyuki was ready, too. She was already up and running through the garden.’’ Little Miyuki is…