"One morning, not so very long ago, I visited a stretch of the upper River Torridge in North Devon." - Introduction ?
"Have you ever wondered where all that river water comes from, flowing through seasons and years and ages, and how many people have stopped and wondered at the same thing? - Chapter 1: Sacred Beginnings ?
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
Earlier this year I listened to the author‘s 2 hour abridged presentation of this book but I had to own an unabridged copy. I am only 16 pages in but feel confident in saying every woman should own, read and gift this book. I‘m soaking up every word. It‘s just what I needed on the tail end of a year and a half depression. I know I will be gifting this to both my daughters.
pickI was supposed to be reading women's prize nominees, but instead I fell into this beautiful story about loss, minority communities - and mythical fox-people.
And I loved the footnotes. (Sidenotes?)
The first rule of foxes is that you don't talk about foxes. The second rule is well, I shall tell you when we get to that part, but I was so incensed right then that I almost walked out. And perhaps I should have. Turned around, and vanished into the rain-scented night, leaving Shiro smiling in that ring of rapt faces, the bright oil lamps making a charmed circle against the dark.
But curiosity has always been my weakness.
One of my closest friends gave me a beautiful hard back copy of In The Beginning by Virginia Hamilton. I love folklore and this book is gorgeous. I loaned it to another friend just before her apartment building caught fire. Her entire family had to jump from a second story window. I had to resist the urge to ask her if my book was okay. I had to get another copy. #sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern
pickThis book has no right to be as fun and as thoughtful as it is. And look at that utterly lovely cover. Full review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7404829354
so-soA short, playful story …. Of which I think I only got about 30%. I listened, and enjoyed the narrator‘s voice… but was easily distracted and wasn‘t paying close enough attention. 🤷♀️ love this cover though.
pickAn examination of cunning folk in history, from their heyday to when they began to lose their influence. Cunning folk are practitioners of folk magic, which is different from witchcraft, no pact with the devil is assumed. It's a fascinating and well researched book and a must read for anyone interested in this topic.
pickIt took me a while to read this, but I really enjoyed it. Maitland mixes personal impressions of British forests with history, ecology, forestry and fairy tales, and does so in an engaging way.
I liked her retelling of the stories, some as storyteller variations of the original, some taking a different narrative perspective, some as sequels, and some reimagined in the modern day.
I particularly liked her Hansel and Gretel, the siblings grown,👇🏻
so-soBook #4 of 2025: “Scary Stories 3”
Natalie moved out a couple weeks ago and left behind some absolute treasures so I took a short trip down Scholastic memory lane ❤️ What classics.
