It's interesting that the guest posts of Stephen Hall and Judith Renton (both of whom to my knowledge read fantasy as adults) chose practical children's adventure stories. I don't want to denigrate the wonderful authors they chose, but maybe in the days when we were growing...
Stephen Hall works and lives with his family in Edinburgh, playing board games and walking the dog when not Munroe-bagging. He has been part of my life for a long time, being my younger brother, and is also responsible for the maps in the “Tales...
If you want to start a conversation, just ask for people's views on children's TV or literature! You may not have been expecting a post this week, but I've been grateful to be inundated by several readers (two so far) eager to share their own...
We all have our favourite authors from childhood; and the best ones last into adult life too. Who is your favourite? Long ago, I put together my top three: and, be warned, I’m going to post about all of them. (Honourable mentions: AA Milne, Tove Jansson, Arthur...
On Thursday President Donald Trump (not the "heavy-weight" of my title) was acquitted by the US Senate. The day before, he gave his State of the Union address, with supporters cheering “Four more years.” Those who, like the Blogger, find this depressing, may wish to be...
I recently had the pleasure and privilege of reading “Between Boy and Man”, the first novel (of three) by the late Peter Farquhar. Published by AuthorHouse in 2010, it tells a contemporary story set in a co-ed public boarding school, giving the perspectives of some staff...
It’s now respectable to like and enjoy Agatha Christie, and I do, as I think previous posts have amply shown. I've read nearly all the Christies, most of them more than once, and they are a great go-to comfort read; but some of them are perhaps...
Imagine that you are walking past a lonely graveyard at night, when you hear a terrifying shriek, improbably smell garlic or blood, and see white things flitting about. You run home as fast as you can, lock the door, and then start to wonder. What...
I boasted on Facebook that I was given eleven books for my birthday (thank you very much to the donors!) This is just as consumerist as boasting about any other item I have bought or someone has bought for me, but never mind. Many of...
Most people in Britain today who are even half-literate will have heard of CS Lewis, and a large proportion will have read one or more of his books, or had it read to them. When you think about it, this is quite impressive for someone...