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Stories Between the Lines: Classics and the Art of What If
When I was younger, I used to love fanfiction. Whether it was romances between my favorite ships or extended AUs that unpacked beloved worlds, I’d spend hours on hours lost on fan sites, devouring more content. And while many Traditional Readers deride fanfiction as simply wish fulfillment, those online chapters taught me a lot about
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Girlhood and grief in Victorian London: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
Sometimes, the algorithm gets it right. (She said begrudgingly.) A few weeks ago, I saw a new book series all over my feed. “The best book series you’ve never heard of!” “The best-kept reading secret!” At first, being a good Snobby Elitist, I paid the recommendations no mind… But as they kept coming across my
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On Projects, Patience, and the road to Julia Child
Could there be any warmer way to kick off the New Year than with Julia Child? When the days are this dark, I find myself drawn to the warmth of my kitchen. And with the Dutch oven bubbling with a delicious tomato-dal soup, I settled in to learn more about “Our Lady of the Ladle.”
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A Cozy Austen Celebration: Re-reads and re-imaginings
December always feels like a month for traditions—holiday baking, cozy reading, and, this year, something extra special: celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. With presents piled under my tree and the scent of fresh-baked cookies still hanging in the air, I’m feeling especially inclined to honor the season with a few Austen rereads (and one intriguing
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Atahualpa at the Alhambra: What Civilizations Taught Me This Fall
As Thanksgiving approaches, I often start thinking in history. It’s the right time of year to ponder founding stories—of the US and of my own family’s place within it. As my family gathers around the table with a giant turkey, cranberry sauce, and chole, it’s hard not to reflect on the myriad steps that led
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A new puzzle for old friends in Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune
Despite my personal preference for summer, fall is the best season for a cozy mystery reader. The air is crisp; dusk falls just as you get home — perfect for a cozy, dark reading session. And the releases flow fast and furious, both big-name blockbusters and pleasingly puzzly debuts. It’s the former I’ll focus on
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TCO Reviews: The Killer Question by Janice Hallett
The air is crisp, orange is back in season, cinnamon has started to permeate – mystery season is back. And what better way to celebrate than a new Janice Hallett? Long-time readers will know that Hallett is one of my favorite modern crime authors. She’s one of the only authors working in epistolaries today, and
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Reading roundup: Odds and ends
Because I’ve had so much travel since my last roundup, I haven’t had as much time to share my literary wanderings. So I thought I’d do a Very Special Reading Roundup. Some 52 Book Club updates, some TCO reviews, some other fun reads to keep an eye on. 52 Book Club – progress updates We
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A long overdue reading roundup: April-July 2025
I’ve been remiss when it comes to keeping up with my 52 Book Club Challenge roundups. It’s been a busy year, etc. etc. But it’s time for me to catch y’all up on how it’s been going since March. To my surprise / chagrin, I actually have fewer updates to share than I expected. This
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Giving sorrow words: exploring grief and loss in murder mysteries
So. I’ve been a big flake the last few months. In that period, I have: What I have not done, however, is write a non-travel blog post… but not for lack of reading. (In fact, I may have pulled an all-nighter last night devouring a new-to-me fantasy series about djinn.) I’ve read everything from bibliomysteries