Monthly Archives: December 2012

Andrew Miller, “Pure”

Posted on December 29, 2012 by carolwallace

If I describe Andrew Miller’s Pure as a novel about excavating a cemetery in 18th century Paris, you’re not going to want to read it. And maybe if you’re really, really squeamish the subject matter is going to be problematic. On … Continue reading →

Posted in contemporary fiction, French, historical fiction | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Anywhere But Here….

Posted on December 26, 2012 by carolwallace

No, I did not read Mona Simpson’s Anywhere But Here, though I’m sure that some time I should. (It sounds kind of harrowing but maybe that’s just me.) I just hit a little rough patch. Does this ever happen to … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, horses, mystery, thriller | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

John Galsworthy, “The Forsyte Saga”

Posted on December 15, 2012 by carolwallace

“But wait!” I can hear you protesting. “The Forsyte Saga is the name of that TV miniseries. John Galsworthy wrote individual novels, didn’t he? Surely you read individual books?” I did: they were The Man of Property, In Chancery, and To … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, classic | Tagged | 3 Comments

Ian McEwan, “Sweet Tooth”

Posted on December 11, 2012 by carolwallace

I’ve never really known what to make of Ian McEwan. I often feel that I’m not quite clever enough to really grasp what he’s driving at. Actually Sweet Tooth shines a pretty bright light on this weakness, because like me, its narrator, Serena … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, contemporary fiction | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Just a Thought…

Posted on December 9, 2012 by carolwallace

In today’s New York Times Book Review, Ian McEwan says, “Perhaps the greatest reading pleasure has an element of self-annihilation. To be so engrossed that you barely know you exist.” I totally agree. You?  

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Barbara Trapido, “Brother of the More Famous Jack”

Posted on December 8, 2012 by carolwallace

What if I Capture the Castle were adapted and updated, set in the 1970s and ’80s? What if the narrator, Katherine Browne, were another bookish and naive heroine whose horizons were broadened by a confusing tribe that included several fascinating … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, contemporary fiction, funny | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Penelope Lively, “Moon Tiger”

Posted on December 2, 2012 by carolwallace

Yes. Yes, I agree with all of you who have recommended Moon Tiger. Wonderful as Penelope Lively always is, this is probably her best book to date. (It won the Booker Prize in 1987.) I actually considered going right back … Continue reading →

Posted in anglophilia, literary fiction | Tagged , | 7 Comments