Strangely, the title of this novel has always transported me back to a peculiar moment from my childhood. I remember vividly the time I implored my mother to procure a mannequin's hand for me. This odd request came shortly after I had watched the horror classic, The Beast with Five Fingers, a chilling tale about a … Continue reading The Hand of Ethelberta
Category: Literature
The Mouse and the Mousetrap: Rodent Rationality and Barnyard Bystanders
What's this? Another fable? Yes. Well, I'm working my way through them. Some time ago, I found myself in the unenviable position of evicting an unwelcome tenant - or perhaps tenants - from our garage. A mouse, or maybe several, had taken up residence among the clutter. Rather than resorting to the traditional, lethal mousetraps, … Continue reading The Mouse and the Mousetrap: Rodent Rationality and Barnyard Bystanders
The Man & The Image
Here’s another one of Aesop's fables for today, as I slowly savour my way through these timeless tales. Quite literally, these stories are bite-sized morsels, yet each one is packed with a feast of wisdom and insight. Aesop's fables have been around for ages, dishing out wisdom with a side of animal antics and clever … Continue reading The Man & The Image
A Jovial Journey Through Hardy’s Desperate Remedies
Sleep, as usual, is evading me, so here's another little collection of words to pass my time, and to edify you. Maybe. Ah, Desperate Remedies by Thomas Hardy, the novel that dances on the edge of melodrama with the grace of a Victorian lady in a hoop skirt attempting to navigate a tightrope. Hardy, in … Continue reading A Jovial Journey Through Hardy’s Desperate Remedies
James’ Bark & Bite: The Ash Tree
I have an enduring love for the countryside, especially those areas filled with ancient, brooding trees that seem to harbour their own secrets. One such tree caught my eye in the charming town of Cockermouth, Cumbria (UK). Its gnarled bark and twisted branches bore an uncanny resemblance to the features of an old witch, a … Continue reading James’ Bark & Bite: The Ash Tree
Wording 