All the Writings

Northanger Abbey Chapters 1-5: A Dramatic Beginning and a Discourse on Novels

February 10, 2024

In Want of a Good Book

(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

R: So we begin Northanger Abbey, the second to last of Jane Austen’s novels that we’ll be writing about. I believe I’ve only read this one once, and other than the protagonist’s name, I remember nothing about it.

S: Although I had seen some movie adaptations for the first four we’ve read I tried to come at the books as one who knew nothing about the stories, which has been a lot of fun. With this one I’m completely in the dark!

R: Our introduction to Catherine Morland is humourous and cheeky. The young woman is one of ten children. What Austen writes about her mother gave me a bit of a giggle: ‘Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, she lived on–lived to have six children more–to see them growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself.’ This seems to be a poke at the trope of the heroine’s mother having died in childbirth (obviously not funny in actuality), but it must have been as common as it is now in novels.

After the introduction, Catherine is invited to join the Allens, friends and neighbors of the Morlands, for a trip to Bath.

S: I laughed at that sentence as well. There is such wit and tongue-in-cheek in this first chapter. I appreciate how Austen introduced Catherine Morland as a heroine-in-training and says that, as of yet, she has nothing really heroic in her to even be considered as a heroine. There are so many delicious sentences in these first few pages, one of which I happen to very much enjoy is, ‘But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way’. I have a feeling I’m going to giggle quite a bit during this read.

R: Chapter 2 moves right along with Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. Allen arriving in Bath and getting settled. One of their first activities is attending a very crowded ball where they know no one. I think this must have been a public ball. I assume that means that anyone can attend; whereas I would surmise that only invitees would attend a private ball.

S: Even more delicious sentences are found in Chapter 2! The reader can sense Catherine’s disappointment that nothing has yet introduced ‘them to the hero’ she assumes she will undoubtedly encounter, and yet she is nonetheless enthralled by everything around her. Mrs. Allen reminds me of a mix between Mrs. Jennings with her know-how of style and dress from Sense and Sensibility and Lady Bertram with her general demeanor from Mansfield Park. I honestly feel as if I’m reading a bit about how I felt in life as a seventeen-year-old: I was the heroine and any small nod to my beauty was well received. I, like Catherine, always felt out of place and felt as though I stood out in the crowd. In all honesty none of this was probably true, but rather than contenting herself with conversing with Mrs. Allen, Catherine instead longs for both more and less – to be danced with but also to not stand out.

R: In Chapter 3, we find our heroine at another ball, dancing with a young man, a clergyman by the name of Mr. Tilney. I think I like him very much! He is quite funny. Saying of Catherine, of what she might write in her journal later: ‘was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense.’ This may be the best introduction of what I assume is the male protagonist in all of Austen’s books so far! I do so love nonsense. He reminds me a little of Mr. Bennet in that way.

S: This was a short but fun chapter and I was sad it was over so quickly for I, too, enjoyed Mr. Tilney and I hope he ends up being a good guy. He makes me think of Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice but he also reminds me a bit of Frank Churchill from Emma so I’m not sure how to view him yet. I am further puzzled by Mrs. Allen’s character as now she reminds me of Mrs. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility with her long-windedness. Also, I’m glad Mr. Allen is looking out for Catherine; he reminds me of Mr. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility.

R: The next day, we find Mrs. Allen complaining that they have no acquaintance in Bath, only to encounter a former friend and schoolmate named Mrs. Thorpe. Catherine and Mrs. Thorpe’s daughters become fast friends, finding that their brother and hers are known to each other as well. Catherine and the elder Miss Thorpe become particularly friendly.

S: ‘Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.’ Possibly this is written in jest, but it is nonetheless a sweet sentiment. In a strange way, Catherine Morland reminds me of Harriet from Emma – very naive, very innocent, very hopeful. I am a bit concerned if Miss Thorpe will indeed remain a friend and am also wondering if she may become a sister-in-law. This chapter raises so many questions: Will Catherine catch the fancy of both Mr. Tilney and Mr. Thorpe? Will she be persuaded to be matched with one of them when she really loves the other? Will Miss Thorpe fall in love with Catherine’s brother, Mr. James Morland, but leave him because her mother wants better for her since she has little money left? Or is Mr. Tilney engaged to Miss Thorpe? I think it would be satisfying if Catherine, whose father is a clergyman, married a clergyman, but we shall see.

R: Catherine looks in vain for Mr. Tilney everywhere she goes. I find myself wondering what an ‘undressed’ ball is: ‘He was nowhere to be met with; every search for him was equally unsuccessful, in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls, was he perceivable;’. Actually, what on earth are pump rooms, anyway? This may call for some investigation.

S: This was a very funny chapter! I, too, was unsure about what the Pump Room was. According to the interwebs, this refers to an historic building named the Grand Pump Room which, indeed, is located in Bath.

S: I wonder, again, if Isabella Thorpe is in love with Mr. Tilney or with a friend of his; Austen never actually says that Catherine gave his name, although I suppose it’s implied. The relationship between Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe is rather funny for as civil as they are to each other it does sound like they’re trying to one-up the other and Mrs. Allen reminds me a little bit of Mrs. John Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility with her pride.

R: I love how Austen addresses the reader at the end of Chapter 5 regarding the reading of novels! So far, this book seems to be far more directly humourous than the previous ones, and it’s working for me.

S: Austen’s rant against those who shame novels has been my favourite part so far, so much so that I laughed aloud after reading it and proceeded to read it aloud to my friend who was also very amused. From reading the first five chapters I’m honestly surprised this is not one of people’s favourites of Austen’s novels. Admittedly, I had to start it over three times before I finished the first five chapters, but I’ve laughed or giggled so much in these few pages I’m glad I was tenacious.

Chapters 6-10 will be discussed in March!
On Upcoming Reads – Winter 2023-2024

January 28, 2024

The Sesquipedalian Speaks
Thursday, 21 December 2023, marked the first day of Winter. December was an unusually busy month with (for me) an uncharacteristic amount of travel, so it’s only now that I’ve had a chance to sit down and think about what I’d like to read this Winter.

Last year was such a strange year of reading for me, but as I looked back at my Upcoming Reads – Autumn 2023 list I was surprised to see that I’ve actually read quite a number of the books on this list:
- Among the Shadows, by L. M. Montgomery (review here)
- Famous Ghost Stories, by Amelia B. Edwards, Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe, Algernon Blackwood, and Edith Wharton (review he r e)
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving (review here)
- Tom’s Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce (review here)
Unfortunately, I didn’t end up rereading The Life Giving Table: Nurturing Faith Through Feasting, One Meal at a Time, by Sally Clarkson.

I will have to come back to:
- Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
- Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
I’m still working on:
- The Complete Father Brown Stories, by G. K. Chesterton
As with The Complete Father Brown Stories, a number of the books I’ve begun during this new season are ones that will take me a longer amount of time to finish reading, so it may be a while before reviews are written for these:
- Praying the Bible, by Donald S. Whitney
- Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals: A 52-Week Devotional, by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney
- Taliesin, by Stephen R. Lawhead
- The Life Giving Table Experience: A Guided Journey of Feasting through Scripture, by Sally Clarkson, Joel Clarkson, and Joy Clarkson
Some of you may know I (Stacy) have a website called Bookshelves and Tea I started in April 2020. This site originally began as a way to encourage those with younglings in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since grown to feature author interviews and, as of January 2024, The Sesquipedalian Speaks! I’ll still be contributing to In Want of a Good Book at All the Writings but from now on I’ll be focusing most of my blogging time at Bookshelves and Tea. If you’ve enjoyed any of the posts under The Sesquipedalian Speaks you can now find them and future posts at Bookshelves and Tea.
Emma: Discussion Over the 1996 Movie Adaptation with Gwyneth Paltrow

January 27, 2024

In Want of a Good Book

S: Happy New Year! We are back and happy to discuss the 1996 Emma movie adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow. I confess I was never interested in watching this adaptation and, in all honesty, I don’t know why. It really doesn’t make any sense considering there were so many Jane Austen adaptations released during this period of time that I have seen and enjoyed: the Emma Thompson adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, the A&E adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and Clueless (a modern interpretation of Emma) were all released in 1995, and another version of Emma starring Kate Beckinsale was released in 1996.

R: I think this may be the only adaptation of Emma that I’ve seen. It’s not one of my favourites of the novels, so while this movie adaptation is somewhat enjoyable, I’m not particularly excited about it.

S: The introduction and conclusion with Emma’s paintings of everyone and all the places was a neat way to give an overview and summation. I also enjoyed that she kept a diary since quite a bit of the book takes place in her mind. Further, the marriage of the Westons at the beginning of the movie was not in the book but I think it was a great addition and introduction to some of the main characters.

I was quite pleased with how the actors played their roles even though a couple of them were a bit different from what I had in my mind. Mr. Knightley was less stoic than I had read him and thinking back on the book this interpretation makes sense: he cares for people. Miss Bates was more bubbly than I envisioned and also more nervous. I never read her as a very nervous character but this interpretation works.

R: I don’t care at all for how Mr. Knightley was portrayed. I saw a little more of the book version when he and Emma had their first big disagreement about Harriet marrying Mr. Martin, but otherwise, I did feel that his personality came through well.

S: Ah, yes; that was a good scene and has a lot of comedy in it, with Emma shooting the arrows worse and worse each time Mr. Knightley says something that she disagrees with or convicts her of her actions. I also enjoyed the outdoor tea scene with everyone even though I cringed watching it because of Emma’s rudeness. Here again, I think the Mr. Knightley and Miss Bates characters are played well. I appreciated how the Emma character is torn between wanting to cry because she knows she was wrong and yet feeling prideful and not wanting to hear Mr. Knightley’s rebuke. Mr. Knightley’s sadness over her blunder is executed well. That scene is really sort of the climax of the novel as Emma begins to change for the better after that altercation.

R: When Mr. Knightley confronted Emma after the tea party was probably his best moment for me.

S: I was disappointed that we do not see as much character development from Jane Fairfax or Frank Churchill, including the manipulative relationship he has with his aunt – there is so much of both of them in the book! It is a rather long movie and I understand that to have added a few more scenes for them would have made it overly long. I’m further reminded that I think the plot moves rather more quickly than I feel like it should for an over two-hour movie. I’m not sure how that works, but there you are.

R: I think I actually hate the casting choice of Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill. His hair is also terrible. I agree that the pacing seems too fast, but it’s a lot of book to cram into two hours. I believe it’s the longest of Jane Austen’s novels.

S: Oh, that’s funny! Come to think of it, I think I had to rewind the movie to make sure it was Ewan McGregor because the hair was throwing me off. Yes, I believe you’re correct – Emma is the longest of Austen’s novels.

I like the added scene of the prayer in the chapel. Although not in the book, it was definitely something that fit well with Emma’s character and, I think, Austen’s background and wit. This movie does that well, showing the humour as well as the seriousness of the plot.

R: I agree about the humour, and I thought Gwyneth Paltrow did a great job showing Emma’s emotions, especially as she begins to realise her culpability in the harm she causes.

S: As much as the Westons were present, I did lament the fact we are never told they are expecting, although we do see Mrs. Weston holding a baby in one of the end credit paintings.

R: They also almost completely cut out Emma’s sister and brother-in-law, which I thought was fine. They would have muddied an already complicated plot, which was already simplified significantly for film.

S: I agree with that. As I say, it is rather interesting which bits they cut out and which bits they added that were not actually part of the book.

R: I liked the final scene between Emma and Harriet. It felt heartfelt and realistic.

S: Do you know that is one scene with which I wasn’t as happy? I’m not sure why; it just felt too – bubbly? I think that’s the word. I’m happy it is in the film because that is such an important relationship in the book and offers closure (or a new beginning!); it just wasn’t my favourite.

R: It’s so interesting how we each reacted to some of the characters and scenes in completely opposite ways.

S: Indeed!

Over all, I am really pleased with this interpretation and I’m glad we picked it to compare and contrast with the book.

R: I didn’t find this to be a bad movie, but it isn’t one that I’m likely to go back to over and over as I do my favourite adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

Next, we are starting our discussion over Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, so if you want, grab a copy and read along with us!
On December Reading Life – 2023

December 24, 2023

The Sesquipedalian Speaks

As busy as this past month has been for me I’ve also been able to make time to read more, which has been so reviving and calming to my mind and spirit. Winter has slowly begun to creep into my part of the world and with the end of the year merrily on its way I’ve begun to think of all the things I’ll need to tackle next year. However, next year is not yet here and so I bring you the final On Reading Life post of 2023.

Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

A Little House Christmas: Holiday Stories from the Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – This beautiful anthology covers the chapters from Little House in the Big Woods (my personal favourite as of right now), Little House on the Prairie, and On the Banks of Plum Creek that focus on Christmas. At the end of this collection is a song complete with the music. This is a book I grew up with but never read and I am so happy I finally took the time to read it. I have read the Little House series and enjoyed the books, the reviews of which can be found in these posts.

Christmas with Anne & Other Holiday Stories, by L. M. Montgomery – I had this delightful collection of stories as a child but, sadly, never read them before they had found another home. Earlier this year, however, I found a copy of them and enjoyed the pleasure of finally reading them. Only a couple of them are from the Anne of Green Gables books; most are short stories from magazines and journals. This collection is a definite reread for the Christmas season and New Year.

Hannah Coulter, by Wendell Berry – Part of the Port William series, this beautiful book tells in first person the story of a woman from her childhood to her old age, 1930s to 2001. It offers the perspective of someone who has lived most of her life in a small farming community and watches sadly and, in a way, expectantly the changes in her family and community as the years pass. There are a few cuss words but I don’t think they detract from the story. When I finished it I wanted to start it again, wishing I could have the pleasure of reading it once more for the first time.

The Life Giving Home Experience: A 12-Month Guided Journey, by Sally Clarkson with Joel Clarkson – I enjoyed reading through and answering the questions in this companion workbook to The Life Giving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson. In many ways it was therapeutic and something I looked forward to at the beginning of each month.

Tom’s Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce – It took me three months to finish this acclaimed children’s fantasy but it was worth it. The pacing for much of the book is slow, and at the beginning the main character has an attitude, being very rude to most people, both of which made it difficult for me to keep reading at first. (There is also an uncle who is very temperamental.) However, as the story progresses so does the main character, Tom, which is very satisfying. I originally began it in October because I thought it was a ghost story but I was (happily) mistaken (although I do enjoy some ghost stories!). I think it would be a fun read aloud, it just has a pacing some people may find too slow.
On November Reading Life – 2023

November 29, 2023

The Sesquipedalian Speaks
I usually look forward to the holiday season and this year was no exception. I had a number of things I wanted to do in November that I either hadn’t done in a long time or had never done:
- drink an apple cider slushy from a cider mill
- eat apple cider doughnuts
- puree pumpkin, acorn squash, and butternut squash to use in future recipes
- try out new recipes for holiday meals
- sew some new pillows for the living room
I also spent a lot of time catching up with friends and family. Because I chose to focus on making these happy memories instead of checking off books from my reading list it means that, for the first time since I started these posts, I have no new books to recommend.

Is that surprising? It is to me, because I have so many good books waiting to be reread or partway begun that I haven’t yet shared, but perhaps that’s okay. Sometimes it’s nice to have the reminder, or maybe for some of us the permission, that it’s okay as a reader to have busy months or years where reading is just not happening no matter how much we want it to. Sometimes the mind is working through something and instead of reading being an escape reading becomes a chore. I am working on accepting this season for what it is, whatever it is.

Although I don’t have a new recommendation, I do have a reread that is short and sweet and fun:
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson. I read it for the first time (I think) last year, although I was familiar with the story because of the movie and stage play. I highly recommend it.
In other news, today is the inaugural C. S. Lewis Reading Day! I’ve recommended a number of his works and expect to recommend many more. His Chronicles of Narnia are my favourite rereads at this point in my life.
Emma Chapters 51-55: In Which Loose Ends are Tied Up

November 4, 2023

In Want of a Good Book

(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

R: This was a great chapter! I loved Mr. Knightley’s comments as he read Frank Churchill’s letter. I tend to agree with him in his assessment of Frank’s character. I think Mr. Knightley moving to Hartford in order to marry Emma is a good solution.

S: The way that Mr. Knightley reads Frank’s letter is highly amusing. It makes complete sense to me that he (Knightley) is willing to move to Hartfield while Mr. Woodhouse is still living; it keeps with his character we see in the rest of the story.

What a change in Chapter 52 in people’s attitudes! I feel very sad for Emma’s and Harriet’s relationship and hope it can be resolved amicably, but I am happy that Jane and Emma are becoming friends. Sadly, Mr. and Mrs. Elton really are not quite a good example of a pastoral family. I was rather surprised at the way Mr. Knightley snubbed Mr. Elton, but then again I don’t think he cares much for people who are rude.

R: I appreciate that Emma is attempting to make things right with Harriet while keeping her distance as well. I’m not quite sure if I’m clear on whether Harriet is already aware of the understanding between Mr. Knightley and Emma or not. My impression is that they haven’t told anyone yet and Emma is trying to avoid having to conceal it from Harriet while not encouraging Harriet’s interest in Mr. Knightley, or if she’s afraid of having to tell Harriet directly to turn her interest from the gentleman.

Mrs. Elton is infuriating, but I’m glad that Emma is able to reconcile with Jane. I hope that they’ll be able to remain friends from now on. I feel like Mr. Knightley didn’t so much snub Mr. Elton, but forgot him because of being distracted by Emma.

S: I do hope that the Weston’s little girl will grow up to be the best of Emma and Jane.

The flirting between Mr. Knightley and Emma is very funny. (It is a bit strange to think that he had started falling in love with her when she was thirteen and he twenty-nine, although I suppose he could just be teasing her about that.) I’m honestly shocked that so many people in the village were surprised by the match between Emma and Mr. Knightley – I would have thought most would have assumed it would happen. Sometimes when you’re close to something, though, it is strangely difficult to see what’s happening. Emma did protest quite a bit that she would never marry and Mr. Knightley appears to have never courted anyone, so perhaps everyone’s surprise is not as surprising.

R: This was a fun chapter! They were so sweet and careful in how they told Mr. Woodhouse about their engagement, and I loved the support the Westons gave in cajoling Mr. Woodhouse into approval. I thought everyone’s surprise was a little surprising too, because people always seem to match up others who are in close proximity with one another.

S: Finally – Mr. Martin tells Harriet yet again that he loves her! I knew his feelings hadn’t changed and that his family was so sad and hurt when she turned him down. I’m very pleased.

R: I’m really happy that Emma has reconciled herself to Harriet marrying Mr. Martin! Not just reconciled, Emma truly seems happy for her friend. I’m glad that Mr. Knightley encourages her to get to know Mr. Martin.

S: I am, too.

The final chapter is so very funny. Mr. Woodhouse changing his mind about the wedding makes me smile. Time changes relationships and that’s okay; sometimes they need to change.

R: I can’t decide whether I found the ending amusing or am annoyed that Mrs. Elton got the last words in the book. Otherwise, it was a very sweet ending. I’m glad all of the relationships turned out happily!

S: This book is so very different from the other three we’ve read! We get a much clearer picture of what is inside the head of the protagonist, which I think is the main reason it is the longest of her works.

R: I agree. This one had many characters and elements reminiscent of Austen’s other works, but at the same time enough differences to keep the story fresh. Emma, so far, has been the most flawed of Austen’s protagonist ladies, and Mr. Knightley the most involved protagonist gentleman. I think he’s the only one who is present and an important part of the lady’s life from the beginning of the story. It made for a unique and engaging dynamic as Emma grew and changed throughout.

S: If you have read Emma we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Our last post for this book with be a comparison between it and the 1996 movie adaptation of Emma, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow.
On October Reading Life – 2023

October 31, 2023

The Sesquipedalian Speaks

October has been a rather busy reading month for me. Unfortunately, most of the books I’ve read I haven’t enjoyed enough to recommend or I have yet to finish the ones I might end up recommending. I’m still working my way through Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden and G.K. Chesterton’s The Complete Father Brown Stories. So, sadly, I only have one recommendation this month…but it’s a good one! (Note that the following may contain spoilers.)

Among the Shadows, by L. M. Montgomery – This book was and was not what I had expected and I enjoyed every part of it. Based on the description the back of the book gives I had expected mostly paranormal stories but actually many of the stories were mysteries and some were romantic – a perfect collection for October, and one that is going on my reread list. I think these stories would be fun to read aloud.
Emma Chapters 46-50: In Which Feelings are Revealed

October 7, 2023

In Want of a Good Book

(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

S: I knew it! I am a bit astonished at Jane, but also her secrecy doesn’t surprise me. It’s Frank’s actions that annoy me most – his behaviour toward her really is appalling and very wrong, despite all the misunderstandings.

R: YOU WERE RIGHT! Good guess there. I was only a little surprised by the revelation. I agree completely about Frank, though. He behaved wretchedly both in how he, apparently, led Emma on and how he spoke about Jane to Emma.

S: At long last, in Chapter 47, Emma sees her folly with Harriet and her own folly of pride. Thankfully, she does realise that she loves Mr. Knightley, but I hope it’s not too late!

R: I feel so bad for Harriet! Another misunderstanding has led her to believe that Emma was encouraging her to kindle feelings for Mr. Knightley. Of course, now that Mr. Knightley’s bachelorhood is in danger from another woman, Emma finally realises that she actually loves him. What a mess. And I do wonder what had Mr. Knightley hurrying off to his brother’s house a couple of chapters ago. That seemed mysterious.

S: I know we’ve mentioned this before, but I really am glad that Emma continues to mature. Her conversation with Mrs. Weston, her care for her father, her reflections on her actions all point toward maturity.

R: Another chapter that continues to guide us through Emma’s self-reflection and growth. Austen wrote, ‘…what could be increasing Emma’s wretchedness but the reflection never far distant from her mind, that it had been all her own work?’ Isn’t that often the case? We often get ourselves into fixes that we come to later regret.

S: How very true, and how very sobering. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons we are taught to be slow to speak and quick to listen.

I’m so glad that Mr. Knightley and Emma are in love and have expressed it! Now if only Harriet will also get a happy ending and end up with Mr. Martin will I be really happy!

R: Such a good chapter! Very reminiscent of Darcy’s second proposal to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. I was a little surprised to see it with several more chapters still to go! I also hope that Harriet gets her happy ending. Emma has some work to do there after leading Harriet so astray.

S: Frank’s letter, while not fully excusing his actions, does explain them, but he still really is rather selfish.

R: Frank finally confesses all! I’m impressed. I agree, though, that he’s still selfish. His behaviour with Emma, both in giving her attentions that he shouldn’t have and in the way they both behaved about Jane Fairfax, was abominable. Jane must be incredibly forgiving to take him back after all that.

S: It’s difficult to believe that we’ll have finished the book in the next discussion! I’m glad we are able to stay with these characters a bit longer.
On September Reading Life – 2023

September 24, 2023

The Sesquipedalian Speaks

I tried to hold out until October to read these books, but I was too excited once September began! Note that the following may contain spoilers:

Famous Ghost Stories, by Amelia B. Edwards, Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe, Algernon Blackwood, and Edith Wharton – This short, yet compelling, anthology holds some of the most interesting ghost stories from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries and can easily be read in one sitting. I did not find the stories scary, but rather intriguing and think they would be a fun read aloud for adults. This is absolutely going on my reread list every year during Autumn.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving – These two short stories scream 17th and 18th century American Autumn to me and I have enjoyed rereading them the past few years when my favourite season comes around. The wit of Irving is so much fun and I think these stories would make fun read alouds.
On Upcoming Reads – Autumn 2023

September 23, 2023

The Sesquipedalian Speaks
Today, Saturday, 23 September, marks the first day of Autumn! I have been trying the last few years to enjoy each season as it comes, but Autumn has always been my favourite season. I have so many books on my reading list for this season:
- Among the Shadows, by L. M. Montgomery – I have been looking forward to reading this book of short stories since almost the beginning of the year when I stumbled across it (and a whole slew of Montgomery’s books which I promptly snatched up after calculating that, indeed, I had the fun money for!). From what I can tell, it’s a collection of short stories that are mostly ghost stories or supernatural.
- Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell – I have heard about this book for years and may have even read it once in fourth grade, but I only have vague memories of it so I think it’s time to start it over.
- The Complete Father Brown Stories, by G. K. Chesterton – I first discovered this character through the BBC television series. Earlier this year I found the complete collection and have been looking forward to reading it.
- Famous Ghost Stories, by Amelia B. Edwards, Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe, Algernon Blackwood, and Edith Wharton – This was an impulse buy. I really enjoy the unabridged Watermill Classic books as they’re easy to hold and the type is easy to read. This is a collection of short stories from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, by Washington Irving – This is a reread, but I look forward to reading it every Autumn. Irving’s wit and storytelling are highly amusing!
- The Life Giving Table: Nurturing Faith Through Feasting, One Meal at a Time, by Sally Clarkson – I wrote a review of this book here, but it’s time for a slow reread and possibly a go through of the companion workbook The Life Giving Table Experience: A 12-Month Guided Journey. Since January of this year I’ve been working through The Life Giving Home Experience and have been enjoying it. It’s a nice start to each month that helps me reflect on how to make each month better glorify God.
- Tom’s Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce – This classic children’s fantasy looks intriguing and was, I freely admit, an impulse buy along with other children’s classics.
- Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte – A while back I watched a film adaptation of this book and it made me want to read the classic. I’ve never read any of the Bronte sisters’ works, and I’m looking forward to it.