Quick List

Dear Reader,

My winter reading list is now three weeks overdue. :-( I had planned to write a review to go along with this reading list, as is usually the case, but I'm afraid that I have many other commitments pressing in on my time. (Aside: I've noticed that my posts of late seem to beginning on this very same melancholy, apologetic tone. I'm going to have to do something about this, sooner rather than later.) 

On a more positive note, I have quite a few intriguing posts planned for the near future, so that is something for you, dear patient reader, to look forward to. I also thought I might as well get the tedious matter of my winter reading list out of the way first, so I won't have to worry about it later one. Some of the following books actually form the last part of my 2011 Reading Challenge and it would by unfair if I bid adieu to the year 2011 without some mention of them. So without further preamble: 

1. Strait is the Gate by Andre Gide
2. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
3. Pretty Persuasion by Olivia Kingsley
4. Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie
5. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
6. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (Confession: This very tempting book has been waiting on my bed-side shelf for well over a month now. I haven't touched it yet because I'm waiting for the holidays to begin before I become completely consumed by it, as will inevitably happen as soon as I touch it.) 
7. Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch
8. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
9. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
10. The Once and Future King by T.H. White   

Now I must go fetch myself an essential cup of tea. Being British, and knowing very well about all the stereotypes, I truly believe there is no problem that I can't solve without having a cup-o-tea first. So a merry winter to all, and to all a good-night. 

Nida

winter Hauntings

A (late) Happy New Year Dear Reader,

Fear not, for I have not abandoned you in this new year. My time has been occupied by odious exams that began in the first week of January, and the next semester started the week after. And amidst all the bombardment of information, I've also been trying to recuperate from this long suffering flu. Altogether, not a most auspicious start for the year 2011, but I'm hoping and praying that things will get better sooner.

It has also not escaped my notice that I will be finishing my undergraduate education within the next four and a half months. Gulp! This is something I'm not looking forward to. Not because of the impending thought of "what to do next?" (I've always known what to do next) but entirely because I'm loath to depart from my Uni,which has been a second home to me these past three years, and to leave behind my friends, Collective Codename: the Sisterhood, that have been as an extended family. But I cannot think about this right now or I'm likely to go into a long sentimental tangent that would bring tears into the eyes of the most hardened of hearts. 

On a side note, I've set up another page for this blog, the link to which is also in the side bar. It has my favourite Life: as I see it pictures so far. Enjoy.

Moving on. For some unfathomable reason, I have been drawn into to the dark world of ghosts and death in this particularly cold and snowy winter. I have quite a list compiled of chiefly chilling books. Currently I'm reading The Ghost Writer by John Harwood. But of course, my obvious first choice in this case is was The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. I fineshed reading it on the 16th of December, some time ago now but I thought I might as well review it for you, dear reader, anyway.

 I'm not usually much of a 'ghost story' person but since it has been quite some time since I read either Labyrinth or Sepulchre (both by Kate Mosse), I had quite forgotten how much I enjoy Mosse's stories and style of writing. The Winter Ghosts did a great job of reminding me of it. It's about one man's journey to escape the inner ghost of his older brother, only to find himself tangled into a haunted web of conspiracy that took place hundreds of years ago.

What captured my attention particularly in this some-what tragic love story was not the characters but the setting. Mosse describes the scenery in such a way that the mountains, the village, the trees, even the weather, take up a life of their own and speak out as if characters themselves, mourning their history, the suffering that they have witnessed. It leaves one both chilled to the bone and feeling surreal at heart.

On the whole, The Winter Ghosts can now be found among my favourite books. A truly compelling read.


I guess that's all I have to say for today. Until next time with another Book, another Blog and another Review.

Nida

bye-bye Snow

Dear Reader,

I'm in the wintery-festive mood lately for obvious reasons. And since I've had no place to go, I'll sing (even with my sore throat) "Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snnnnooooowwwww"... ( these pictures are a few days old now but click the images to properly see all the snow falling action)

If, like me, you're reading this from London, or anywhere in the UK: I hope you enjoyed the snow and remember to drive carefully. If not then I hope you have a nice, warm and cozy winter holiday (unless you're in the southern hemisphere in which case, enjoy your summer and still drive carefully anyway).

Nida