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The Great Enigma: New Collected Poems
I hadn’t heard of Tomas Tranströmer until last fall when he won the Nobel Prize for Literature; I placed a library request for two or three of his books, and, for various reasons, did not actually get a copy of either of them until very recently. Needless to say, I had certain expectations. This particular… Continue reading
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The Club of Queer Trades
If there’s one thing that ticks me off about this book, it’s this: The Club of Queer Trades is a parody of Sherlock Holmes. From the protagonist, Basil Grant–who scoffs at facts–to his younger brother Rupert–a wannabe private detective patrolling lamp-lit London–G. K. Chesterton takes a not-so-subtle jab at the Sherlock Holmes series and the… Continue reading
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Chesterton and Conrad on Facts
© Daniel J Maxwell In the last few days, I’ve been perusing two radically different books: G. K. Chesterton’s The Club of Queer Trades (a first-rate audiobook) and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (my beloved publicity copy). The first is a humorous collection of adventures in Victorian London. The second is a profound, psychological study… Continue reading
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4 short reviews
Beowulf Unknown 3.5 out of 5 stars I feel almost guilty for rating this classic of classics so poorly, but I think it’s a book you either love, loathe, or feel lukewarm about. Pros: The historic setting, historic dialogue, underwater/cave battle, and Christian perspective. Added 1/2 star for Beowulf‘s influence on Tolkien’s The Lord of… Continue reading
About Me
Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.
Currently Reading
Recent Posts
- What I’m Reading – Morning Coffee Edition
- Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books (and a Few Movies)
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – A Long Overdue Review
- My Favorite Films and Music of 2025
- Ten Books I’d Like to Read (and Possibly Own)
Classics Considered 