nonfiction
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Xi Jinping and the Addictive Quality of Biographies
Apologies for my two weeks’ radio silence… Work has been intense, so I haven’t mustered up the energy to blog until this weekend. Happily, I’ve been reading, and there is plenty to catch up on! My current obsession reading focus is an unlikely one: CEO, China: The Rise of Xi Jinping (2016) by Kerry Brown. Continue reading
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The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea
Statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-ilby Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, [CC BY-SA 3.0] A man with a wife and family, Bandi risked all he had to publish this book. When his relative offered to help smuggle the manuscript out of the country, he chose to accept, ultimately trusting his and his family’s lives to the Continue reading
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Crusader Castles – A Young Lawrence of Arabia
Having resolved to read everything written by T. E. Lawrence, I inevitably picked up his college thesis, published posthumously under the title Crusader Castles. It’s a very rare book, but happily a New Year’s discount made the Folio Society edition a good option, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the customer service, shipping, Continue reading
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The Cruise of the Snark – Jack London and his trip across the Pacific
The Snark, named after Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Hunting of the Snark” Jack London’s squall-infused, sickness-filled, Snark-y voyage is a sailing classic and product of its time, for better and worse. Compare his tongue-in-cheek narrative with his very real sufferings, his sympathetic view of Molokai versus his feelings of white superiority, or his socialist convictions 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 