Like most people, I read a variety of topics and am interested in a lot of things. While I enjoy nearly all of what I read or see on TV, there are very few items that seem to stick with me for years and years after the fact. I really wanted to dive into the ones that have that stickiness – the ones I keep coming back to time and again. I hope to be the kind of writer that can create books that ‘sit’ with people. That they think about afterward. And maybe not everyone that reads my books will think or feel that way, but if at least one person does, then it matters.
Why did I choose Jane Eyre? I will always choose Jane Eyre. It has everything I ever wanted in a book and continues to deliver year after year. Jane is a complex heroine with deep feelings and a strong personality. She wants so much from life, is aware of her station, and yet demands respect and to be treated as an equal.
I’m not gonna lie, the spooky atmosphere and romantic ideal of Edward Fairfax Rochester are huge draws as well! I read this book during my formative years and I loved the intrigue and the romance. I still do. I just keep coming back to this book over and over again. I will likely ask to be buried with one of my many copies.
Introduction and Notes by Dr Sally Minogue, Canterbury Christ Church University College.
Jane Eyre ranks as one of the greatest and most perennially popular works of English fiction. Although the poor but plucky heroine is outwardly of plain appearance, she possesses an indomitable spirit, a sharp wit and great courage.
She is forced to battle against the exigencies of a cruel guardian, a harsh employer and a rigid social order. All of which circumscribe her life and position when she becomes governess to the daughter of the mysterious, sardonic and attractive Mr Rochester.
Murderbot! OMG, everyone who reads this book loves Murderbot. I think we all identify personally with she/him/it. Since it hacked its governor module, Murderbot just wants to be left alone to watch its soaps but can’t because pesky humans keep almost getting killed. This sci-fi series does what a lot of our old faves do (Star Trek – I’m looking at you) and uses a non-human character to showcase what it is that makes us human. (If you can cheat on your desert island, try to bring the whole series!)
All Systems Red by Martha Wells begins The Murderbot Diaries, a new science fiction action and adventure series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or lain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. In a corporate dominated s pa cef a ring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by…
I assumed for a long, long time, that any non-fiction book by extraordinarily intelligent people must be impossible to read – I guess school textbooks got me in the habit of low expectations! But this book really opened my eyes that some experts not only have a gift to understand their subject, but also have a gift to share their knowledge in an easy, compelling way. If you ever looked up at the sky and wondered Why? What? How? Go read this book.
Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries? These are just some of the questions considered in an internationally acclaimed masterpiece by one of the world's greatest thinkers. It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory. To this day A Brief History of Time remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and…
It’s another classic but classics are classic for a reason! This one also showcases a lead (Elizabeth) who knows exactly where she is in life but also sees where she wants to be. I hesitate to use the term ‘strong female lead’ as it’s become a bit over-used in the last decade (or more!) and can often mean someone contrary or aggressive. But that’s not what Elizabeth is like. They are just themselves. Strong, opinionated, caring, intelligent. They also happen to be women.
Jane Austen's best-loved novel is an unforgettable story about the inaccuracy of first impressions, the power of reason, and above all the strange dynamics of human relationships and emotions.
Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is illustrated by Hugh Thomson and features an afterword by author and critic, Henry Hitchings.
A tour de force of wit and sparkling dialogue, Pride and…
I’ve read this book twice and have post-it notes jammed into it all over and will need to read it again before I tackle the sequel. This book is so good at asking questions. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of answers, but that’s also what makes it so delicious to read. It just makes you think. Makes you wonder. The gap between the question and the answer is a magical place – like the anticipation of unwrapping a present on your birthday, but just before you figure out what it is. I want to live in that moment.
Could the story of mankind be far older than we have previously believed? Using tools as varied as archaeo-astronomy, geology, and computer analysis of ancient myths, Graham Hancock presents a compelling case to suggest that it is.
“A fancy piece of historical sleuthing . . . intriguing and entertaining and sturdy enough to give a long pause for thought.”—Kirkus Reviews
In Fingerprints of the Gods, Hancock embarks on a worldwide quest to put together all the pieces of the vast and fascinating jigsaw of mankind’s hidden past. In ancient monuments as far apart as Egypt’s Great Sphinx, the strange Andean…
Jade leads a structured life: Routine job. Caffeine addiction. No serious relationships. And now, she can spontaneously set things on fire with her mind. Well... perhaps “normal” was never in the cards for her. As she questions her own sanity and spirals out of control, a man appears on her doorstep and tells her that, like him, she’s a witch.
Pulled in all directions, her unbridled magic draws dangerous attention and Jade wonders if she’s made the worst mistake of her life by joining a coven, or if she’ll even live long enough to regret it.
My book is fantastical historical fiction about two characters who're wrestling with the monstrosity of their grief.
It takes you into London high society, where Ambrose tries to forget about how much he misses Bennett and how much he dreads becoming as cold as their Grandfather. It takes you to the family's country manor house, where Mattie isolates and old ghosts start to come out of the woodwork.
It's a story about loss and depression; it's a story about friends who don't let you walk through the valley of death alone.
Ambrose Bancroft returns to London society with his younger sister, hoping they'll leave ghosts of memory behind. They have only each other left. While Ambrose attempts to draw Mattie out, dragging her to balls and threatening to seek suitors for her, his sister recoils from his meddling. Finally, when Ambrose compels her to attend art class before she's ready, Mattie paints something horrific enough to banish them from society in public disgrace.
At Linwood Manor, Mattie and Ambrose aren't as alone as they think. Taking advantage of Mattie's desperate need to find freedom, a vanishing room lures Ambrose's sister into…
