There are books that whisper. Books that purr. And then there’s Valmouth - a novella that arrives on the literary stage dressed in ostrich feathers and screaming “darling” before it’s even found its seat. If novels were guests at a country house, Valmouth would be the one caught kissing the butler, flirting with the vicar, … Continue reading Valmouth: Where Decorum Goes to Die (with a Wink and a Fan)
Tag: romance
Whistles, Rhymes, and Ghosts – Oh My! M. R. James’ Guide to Summoning Ancient Horrors with Nursery Tunes
When I think of M. R. James, it’s like I’ve accidentally stumbled into a foggy, overgrown cemetery on Halloween night, while wearing the world’s most embarrassing costume and holding a mysterious old book I definitely shouldn’t be holding. His stories - oh, the stories! - are like that one weird uncle who insists on showing … Continue reading Whistles, Rhymes, and Ghosts – Oh My! M. R. James’ Guide to Summoning Ancient Horrors with Nursery Tunes
Frozen Lives: A Starkfield Symphony of Misery
Prepare yourself, because we’re in for a bit of a journey here - one that’s as layered and compelling as a Starkfield winter storm. I find myself utterly fascinated by the characters in this novel, each of them a study in human frailty and resilience, so after this initial critique, I’ll be diving deeper into … Continue reading Frozen Lives: A Starkfield Symphony of Misery
Ethan Frome
Ethan Frome, a novella by Edith Wharton, written in 1911, offers a veritable banquet of desolation, seasoned with a dash of New England frigidity and garnished with just a sprig of hope, promptly withered. It’s the literary equivalent of being snowed in with nothing but biscuits and existential dread. And yet, within its chilling confines, … Continue reading Ethan Frome
Mills & Boon: Clichés, Tropes, and Cringe
Given my well-known penchant for classic literature, it was only a matter of time before someone challenged my reading habits, urging me to delve into something more contemporary and 'everyday'. One fateful afternoon, amid the humdrum of office life, I found myself the subject of playful ridicule. My colleagues, ever eager to see me squirm, … Continue reading Mills & Boon: Clichés, Tropes, and Cringe
Wording 