Author Archives: nicolaliteraryramblings

Third strike and you’re out…

Posted on April 5, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

We’ve got an ongoing thing in our household, where I ask a question and Daisy says “Told you that yesterday, third strike and you’re out”.  I spend so much time concentrating on the daily grind that I can’t be sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Lists | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

“Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt (1997) – a blistering if controversial tale of an unforgettable childhood

Posted on March 28, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

That was the month (of March) that was, and ‘Tis an understatement to say how frustrating it was that reading had to take such a back seat. Have relished following so many stories of everyone’s Irish Reading Month adventures and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Non-fiction | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Baileys’ Women’s Prize for Fiction – Longlist (and shortlist) 2016

Posted on March 8, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

Everything But The Girl takes on The Apprentice! It’s a pretty stellar judging panel over at the Baileys awards this year, with Margaret Mountford, Elif Shafak and Tracey Thorn taking to centre stage. Every year this prize just keeps on getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Prizes | Tagged | 7 Comments

Wish List old and new : March 2016

Posted on March 6, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

Well over half way through the self-imposed 3-month or so long book-buying ban, and so far it’s proving to be a lot less arduous than expected, although it’s a bit like avoiding food shopping on an empty stomach, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Lists, Wish List | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

“L’Amica Geniale” / “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante (2011) – taking the world by storm

Posted on February 24, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

One of the expressions I heard time and time over while living those ten years in the north of Italy was “Quando vieni al Sud piangi due volte; quando arrive e quando te ne vai” – the great North/South divide … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Literary Trail IV: “Shamrocks, St. Patrick and leprechauns” – The Begorrathon Reading Ireland month – March 2016

Posted on February 19, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

Dear All, It can’t just be a happy coincidence. Am tickled pink, having just recently spent a truly joyous evening up at Montmartre as a very thrilled guest of the Global Nomads book group. Like Lucy and Sarah at Hard Book Habit … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Lists, Literary Trails, Reading Challenge | Tagged , | 14 Comments

“Room” by Emma Donoghue (2010) and “The Collector” by John Fowles (1963) – giving ‘small but perfectly formed’ a whole new dimension

Posted on February 15, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

The brilliant Baftas were just upon us again, and another baby star is coincidentally born, with the heart-stopping performance of Jacob Tremblay as five year-old Jack. When I read “Room” for the first time, my own daughter was 12 and we were … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Books on the Big Screen | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

“War & Peace” by Leo Tolstoy (1869) – whatever am I going to do with myself now?

Posted on February 8, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

All good things, so so sadly, must come to an eventual end. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride trying to gallop alongside the heinously cropped 6-hour adaptation of this epic novel, and I almost came out of the saddle … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Books on the Big Screen, Classics Club Challenge | Tagged , | 23 Comments

“A Place Called Winter” by Patrick Gale – almost hits the spot

Posted on February 4, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

A departure from the norm for this much-loved author, in the sense that this time he places his protagonist in a historical setting and the farming moves across the waters from Cornwall to Canada. Based in a context that follows … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Colm Tóibín – a man for all seasons? – the jury’s out…

Posted on January 29, 2016 by nicolaliteraryramblings

Having spent a not inconsiderable amount of time over previous days proposing wildly romantic things for people to do in Paris over the Saint Valentin period, it struck me that the main character of Colm Toibin’s recent novel “Nora Webster” … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Books on the Big Screen | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments