No doubt I've said this before, but lately the world is too much with me. More than ever I crave the escape of fiction, and today I'm recommending one of my very favorite "escape artists" -- Dorothy Emily Stevenson. I wrote about D.E. Stevenson a few years ago when I...
tea
Friday Favorites: Tea in Brooklyn
As you might have guessed, when visiting a city I always check out the tea scene. Turns out Brooklyn has a lot of tea to offer! I'd already done my research and planned three tea experiences ahead of time, so imagine my surprise when I randomly walked past this store...
Tea and a Book and an Art Installation: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
I haven't updated "Tea and a Book" since Christmas! I am determined, however, to mend my ways AND account for April with this post... During a recent chat with my friend and crit partner Brandi, she recommended Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings. (I think we'd...
Tea at Thistle Farms
Note: I did not take the featured photo above, but it inspires me to more seriously pursue tea photography! As I mentioned in a previous post, last week I had a wonderful visit with my friend Michelle. (Even strep throat couldn't keep us apart!) If you know us at all...
Tea and Books for Christmas
I come to you with tidings of tea and holiday reads! For young (and young-at-heart) readers: Christmas with the Savages, by Mary Clive: Seen through the eyes of a prim little eight-year-old, and based on real events and people, this novel perfectly recaptures a...
Tea and a Book and a GIVEAWAY for Thanksgiving: A Long Way from Verona
Quick take: Quirky and endearing. From the book jacket: Jessica Vye introduces herself with an enigmatic pronouncement: "I ought to tell at the beginning that I am not quite normal, having had a violent experience at the age of nine." A revered author has told Jessica...
September Tea and a Book: Dear Mrs. Bird
Quick take: I was in the mood for something light and quirky, and Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce fit the bill perfectly. Goodreads synopsis: London, 1940. Emmeline Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire...
August Tea and a Book: Manderley Forever
I recently finished Tatiana de Rosnay's Manderley Forever, a carefully researched and annotated biography of Daphne du Maurier that reads like a novel. Some of you might remember my scathing reaction to Rebecca back in 2012. In short, I despised the unnamed heroine of...
A Tea for Spring
Years ago I hosted a few afternoon teas at our old house. The budget was very tight back then, and I've never been much of a cook, so none of those events felt like a proper tea. At some point I figured if I couldn't do it right, I shouldn't do it at all. Recently,...
March Tea and a Book: A School for Brides
Patrice Kindl's A School for Brides: A Story of Maidens, Mystery, and Matrimony is a delightful romp for fans of quirky characters and unusual conflicts, not to mention all things Regency. It's a companion to an earlier favorite of mine from Kindl, Keeping the Castle,...
Tea with Miss Marple
Over the last several months I re-read (or in some cases read for the first time) Agatha Christie's novels and short stories featuring Miss Jane Marple. What a delight! In addition I introduced myself to the Joan Hickson TV adaptations (most excellent) and revisited...
A Valentine’s tea with Margery Sharp
Last month, through the power of BookBub, I discovered Margery Sharp. Or perhaps I should say rediscovered, for I was a fan of The Rescuers as a child. I had no idea she'd written so many novels for adults until BookBub featured Cluny Brown*. This charming story...
December Tea and a Book: No Holly for Miss Quinn (Christmas at Fairacre)
Quick take: So COZY. (Special thanks to Laura B. for recommending it and to Glenda A. for gifting it!)Goodreads synopsis: Miss Quinn, who cherishes her privacy, intends to spend Christmas on her own as she likes it. But before the holiday, her brother telephones to...
September Tea and a Book: Daddy Long Legs
Quick take: Such a delight!Official-ish synopsis: First published in 1912, this young adult novel is comprised mostly of letters from orphan Jerusha "Judy" Abbott to her anonymous benefactor whom she names "Daddy Long Legs". The letters chronicle her departure from...
Summer travel postcards, final installment — the photo parade of TEA!
For our London stay, a friend recommended The Wolseley, and we were quite pleased with our experience. First of all, it's not a stuffy sort of place in the least. It was very busy, with lots of chatter and laughter, plus great people-watching (& eavesdropping)...