Category Archives: Fiction

A few book recommendations and …

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Lizzie Ross

I’ll start with some brief book recommendations, and end with a woeful tale that ends happily. Despite the disruption of home repairs, I’ve managed to finish several books since the end of April, and May is only half-done. A suggestion … Continue reading →

Posted in #LoveHain, Adventure, Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction, Libraries, Nonfiction, Science fiction | Tagged Alberto Manguel, Ann Scott-Moncrieff, Paul Scott, Ursula K Le Guin | 5 Comments

Another quick recommendation

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Lizzie Ross

Hernán Díaz, In the Distance (2017) and Trust (2022) Hernán Díaz’s latest novel, Trust, is the May selection for the NYPL/WNYC Virtual Book Club, which aims to get New Yorkers reading (and, obviously, discussing) new books. I heard an interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Fiction, Historical fiction | Tagged Hernán Díaz | 2 Comments

This is why everyone hates moral philosophy professors*

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Lizzie Ross

Occasionally a book cover grabs me, and it turns out the book is #5 in a 12-book series, or something like that. This has happened three times with one particular author, Alexander McCall Smith, who wrote the No. 1 Ladies’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Humorous, School setting, Series | Tagged Alexander McCall Smith | 3 Comments

ULYSSES+

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Lizzie Ross

You may already know that 2022 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, which I first read about 50 years ago, while a senior at university. The professor organized the class so that we read a … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Fantasy, Fiction, Humorous, Newbery Award, Poetry, short stories, ULYSSES+ | Tagged E E Cummings, E F Benson, E R Eddison, Elizabeth Von Arnim, Hugh Lofting, James Joyce, Katherine Mansfield, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Margery Williams, P G Wodehouse, Rafael Sabatini, T S Eliot, Willa Cather | 4 Comments

Creative thinking

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

REMINDER: This was written in February, aka BCEW (before COVID evicerated the world). I can’t think of many novels about new ideas — about how the thinkers came up with them, rather than the consequences to the world — but … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Australia, Fiction, New Zealand | Tagged Bruce Chatwin, Sylvia Ashton-Warner, WG Sebald | 11 Comments

Have you forgotten something?

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Despite being set in two different centuries, nearly 100 years apart, the books in today’s post share one element: a blinkered Euro-centric view of life “down under”. Read on to see what I mean. In A Town Like Alice (1950, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Am reading, Australia, Fiction, Historical fiction, History, New Zealand, Travel | Tagged Lady Barker, Nevil Shute, Paul Theroux | 2 Comments

Furthest south

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

To kick-off my themed posts over the next few weeks: I give you books set in New Zealand and Australia, many by Kiwi and Aussie authors. If you’re following me on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll know why. Here, though, I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Culture clash, Fiction, Historical fiction, New Zealand, Travel | Tagged Keri Hulme | 1 Comment

In the near future

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Lory at The Emerald City Book Review recently wondered if her readers had reading plans for the year. Excellent question, if only because it gives me a chance to prep you for what’s to come on this blog. My usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Am reading, Australia, Fiction, Historical fiction, History, New Zealand, Travel | 11 Comments

Quickly, now

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

A big trip is coming up, and before departure I’m racing through some last minute e-books from the NYPL (see below). Can’t send them back un-read! I’m also pulling out a nearly abandoned manuscript to revive/revise for a writing retreat … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Am revising, Fantasy, Fiction, Humorous, short stories | Tagged Diana Wynne Jones, Ellen Oh, Kaui Hart Hemmings, Soman Chainani | 10 Comments

Weird combinations and scary dreams

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Yep, I’m definitely craving odd-ball books these days. Here are 2 more for your consideration: Fragile Things, Neil Gaiman (2006, 2013, NYPL e-book). Another collection of Gaiman’s writings, most of which come a là macabre. The book includes short stories … Continue reading →