Before you were mine: Carol Ann Duffy
Before You Were Mine I’m ten years away from the corner you laugh on with your pals, Maggie McGeeney and Jean Duff. The three of you bend from the waist,… Read More »Before you were mine: Carol Ann Duffy
Janet Lewison
I am a highly approachable Independent Expert Private English/English Literature Tutor located in Greater Manchester with over twenty years teaching and tutoring experience from Secondary to Postgraduate Degree level.
Eudora Welty: The Worn Path
It was December—a bright frozen day in the early morning. Far out in the country there was an old Negro woman with her head tied red rag, coming along a… Read More »Eudora Welty: The Worn Path
Thought for the day by Marianne Williamson
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, Our deepest fear is that we are poweful beyond measure. It’s our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We… Read More »Thought for the day by Marianne Williamson
Charles Dickens: The Signalman
“Halloa! Below there!” When he heard a voice thus calling to him, he was standing at the door of his box, with a flag in his hand, furled round its… Read More »Charles Dickens: The Signalman
Charles Dickens: A Trial For Murder
When the murder was first discovered, no suspicion fell–or I ought rather to say, for I cannot be too precise in my facts, it was nowhere publicly hinted that any… Read More »Charles Dickens: A Trial For Murder
A Faun Dream
I was walking in a wood somewhat delightfully finding that my hands were now become paws and that my hair had overgrown my back and ears so that the word pelt seemed… Read More »A Faun Dream
Almodovar's Broken Embraces: by Moira Eribenne
Almodovar gave us a Russian doll of a film: Here Mateo Blanco’s cine-biography showcased the making of his ‘Cruz masterpiece;’ a clear homage to Hepburn and Monroe, an entire genre even. As the… Read More »Almodovar's Broken Embraces: by Moira Eribenne
Speaking
Your vowels – lava soul food always
Carol Ann Duffy: Virgil's Bees
Bless air’s gift of sweetness, honeyfrom the bees, inspired by clover,marigold, eucalyptus, thyme,the hundred perfumes of the wind.Bless the beekeeper who chooses for her hivesa site near water, violet beds,… Read More »Carol Ann Duffy: Virgil's Bees
perfume anchoring! Blue Agava Accord- with Mrs Timberlake !
Once again I have to applaud Mrs Timberlake’s fabulous house of scents on Ebay. The perfume below arrived late last week and is truly captivating. Hyperboles are useful when encountering… Read More »perfume anchoring! Blue Agava Accord- with Mrs Timberlake !
Charles Dickens: Night Walks
The restlessness of a great city, and the way in which it tumbles and tosses before it can get to sleep, formed one of the first entertainments offered to the… Read More »Charles Dickens: Night Walks
Mrs Timberlake's Ebay Perfume shop: Wow in a bottle!
By a very happy accident I found this wonderful Ebay shop where lots of Jo Malone perfumes ( and others)are reproduced for a fraction of the original price. The scents… Read More »Mrs Timberlake's Ebay Perfume shop: Wow in a bottle!
Bleak House: Disassociation?
The view from my Lady Dedlock’s own windows is alternately a lead-coloured view and a view in Indian ink. The vases on the stone terrace in the foreground catch the… Read More »Bleak House: Disassociation?
Hide and Seek dream.
Can a white bear embrace a house so tightly that sleepers spill out everywhere into darkness? I never gazed upon the bear’s face and maybe that was the point. The house had… Read More »Hide and Seek dream.
Val McDermid The Distant Echo
Just begun this novel and delighted to find it in the library after my new thrift policy eschewing spending lots in Tesco or Amazon! Very atmospheric from the first page.… Read More »Val McDermid The Distant Echo
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The Best of Sherlock Holmes edited by Stuart Davies
This Wordsworth Edition of Sherlock Holmes’ stories combines the stories elected by Conan Doyle as his very best, with a group selected by the editor. The resulting edition is pure… Read More »Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: The Best of Sherlock Holmes edited by Stuart Davies
Carol Ann Duffy: Last Post Review( One)
LAST POST In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin that moment shrapnel scythed you… Read More »Carol Ann Duffy: Last Post Review( One)
Follow your BLISS!!!
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman… Read More »Follow your BLISS!!!
Neil Gaiman: American Gods
Gaiman’s American Gods- What an engrossing read! Something I can’t quite identify about the ‘flavour’ of this book…reminds me of a combination of Beckett, Sachar and even- maybe expecially… Read More »Neil Gaiman: American Gods
A Darker Domain: Val McDermid
Just read this over a couple of days and really enjoyed the easeful sequencing of past and nearly present. Manages to combine a high profile kidnapping narrative with a… Read More »A Darker Domain: Val McDermid
Great Expectations: Walking Away from me even then!
Behind the furthest end of the brewery, was a rank garden with an old wall: not so high but that I could struggle up and hold on long enough to… Read More »Great Expectations: Walking Away from me even then!
Air Signatures
I opened my eyes this morning to dark black ink hanging in the air in front of my face and I knew it was a signature and I had to… Read More »Air Signatures
Drifting
It was as if she was at least two people, each with their entirely separate habits. There was this woman now with the mottled grey face who had forgotten how… Read More »Drifting
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
YOU don’t know about me without you have read abook by the name of The Adventures of TomSawyer; but that ain’t no matter. That book wasmade by Mr. Mark Twain,… Read More »Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The TImes leader: July 31 st 2009
The best way to define the job as Poet Laureate is to speak plainly and poetically at the same time. Carol Ann Duffy has made a reputation for just that.… Read More »The TImes leader: July 31 st 2009
Carol Ann Duffy: The Last Post
LAST POST In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If poetry could tell it backwards, true, beginthat moment shrapnel scythed you to the… Read More »Carol Ann Duffy: The Last Post
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
Not a red rose or a satin heart. I give you an onion.It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.It promises lightlike the careful undressing of love. Here. It… Read More »Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy in Lidl!
Your words sat on the supermarket notice board, red, blue, green and trolley pushers went past but looked up as they counted their soft loaves, minding feet, anticipating the rain… Read More »Carol Ann Duffy in Lidl!
Jazmine Sullivan: Lions,Tigers and Bears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7kBIGx6a9g&feature=related I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears (no I’m not)But I’m scared of (loving you)I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair (that’s right)But I’m… Read More »Jazmine Sullivan: Lions,Tigers and Bears
george
It was as if his Aunt had been preserved in honey. Her voice sounded nearly as he wanted her to sound and she looked almost like the face at the front of… Read More »george