The ancient word for today is hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. In the Middle Ages, writers didn’t make reference to hedgehogs, but to urchins. This term for the spiky diminuitive animal is still favoured in some English dialects. We still have the lingering remnants of this etymology in the form of sea urchin, which is literally aContinue reading “Ancient word of the day: Hedgehog”
Tag Archives: books
Book Review: All That Holds Between by S.J. Lee
A cosy and quirky mystery set in the near future in a Taiwanese town about lost memories, the bonding experience of delicious food, omnipotent technology and the human connections we all crave to be happy.
What’s some movies everyone else loves but you hate?
I’ll go first and give you my reasons…which nobody asked for haha… The Green Mile: Ultra sad and overly dramatic, it seemed to fetishise the poor guy who was on death row, which I didn’t like. The English Patient: Loved the book but hated the movie. Glacially slow and the acting was a bit pompous.Continue reading “What’s some movies everyone else loves but you hate?”
Book Review: Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
A sexy dark and glittering jewel of a novel featuring Sapphic vampires and crumbling old Victorian estates with a cast of believable and enjoyable characters. You will want to get drawn into this one, but you may not be able to stop!
Quirky insights into lost worlds: Ex Libris book plates
Passionate devotees of books from throughout history share a common thread with all of us modern-day bibiophiles, they longed to celebrate their books and mark their ownership with an Ex Libris book plate. Ever since Pharaonic Egypt, marking one’s ownership of a book has been a thing. Ex Libris bookplates are more than the stamped or printed marks denoting ownership. They represent the taste, values of their owner, how they saw themselves and the aesthetic styles of the eras when they were made.
Book Review: Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan by Shikibu Murasaki
A life-affirming collection of Japanese writing and poetry from the 11th Century AD. Written by aristocratic ladies in waiting to the empress of Japan they reflect the preoccupations, passions and obsessions of women born long long ago.
Beautiful maps & beautiful Welsh tales: The Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is a magical and mythical Celtic classic from the thirteenth century or earlier. It’s thoroughly Welsh and is considered a masterpiece of medieval literature. The Mabinogion has given rise to all of the stories by Tolkien, Le Guin, Martin and countless more. The stories are the very genesis of the Arthurian tales ofContinue reading “Beautiful maps & beautiful Welsh tales: The Mabinogion”
Book Review: Oddbody by Rose Keating
Rose Keating’s debut short story collection, Oddbody features macabre body #horror #tales with funny and unexpected twists and turns. #ShortStories #Fiction #RoseKeating #Books #Bookstodon #BookReview
Book Review: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
Wind in the Willows meets Sherlock Holmes in this delightful cosy mystery novel, the first in the series. It’s set in a forest village inhabited by larger-than-life woodland creatures with quirky personalities and a vividly rendered plot to sink your teeth into. #BookReview #Review #Books #Cosy #Mystery #Fiction #Animals #Detective #Novel #ShadyHollow #JuneauBlack
Book Review: The Maid by Nita Prose
The Maid is a heartwarming and sharply observed cosy mystery #novel that feels like a gigantic warm hug and a hot mug of cocoa. The story invites you into the world of Molly Gray, a twenty-something hotel maid who has suffered many set backs in her young life but who nonetheless takes immense pride in her work. #Maid #Fiction #Books #BookReview #Book #Review #Cosy #Mystery
Content Catnip 