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29/04/2015

YORKSHIRE & VICTORIAN LITERATURE - WHITBY


Do you think I've been neglecting my little blog lately? You may be right, I admit it, but I've been extremely busy working, living and even travelling. I've recently been to Yorkshire to visit friends and spend a weekend there. My trip brought me to York,  which is a town I already knew and  I really love for its connections to Richard III, for its ancient allure and historical heritage. But we also spent our Sunday by the sea and I was truly intrigued by Whitby, for its charming views and its connections to great Victorian literature, and had the chance to literally fall in love with a small, picturesque village on the sea called Robin Hood's Bay. In this post I'll collect the most interesting news and information I found online about Whitby as the setting of Victorian literary works,  adding some of the pictures I took during my visit.  Here we go then! Do you know on the pages of which unforgettable  Victorian  novels can we find Whitby and its landmarks?

13/04/2015

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - YEARS AND AN OCEAN BY JO NOELLE

Years and an Ocean



? Years and an Ocean by Jo Noelle

Going to a séance was supposed to be a harmless diversion in Victorian England, but for Delia Spencer, it was life altering. Since that day, she has been plagued by fainting spells, while her consciousness visits Elle Thomas more than a century in the future. In modern-day New York, Elle has kept secret the dream-like memories of Delia’s life. As the visits have become more frequent, Elle is confused about what is her life and what is not. Back in England, Delia’s father is determined to marry her off to any marginally suitable man before her illness becomes known to society. But will Delia consent, now that she’s had a taste of Elle’s independence?


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Read an excerpt


Cool grass tickles against the back of my calves, and my palms press flat to the ground to hold me up. It feels light here, and I know I have a wide smile. There are people cheering around me on all sides—our shoulders bump now and again as we enjoy the game. We’re watching soccer teams at the summer six-on-six tournament. Lately, orienting my brain to this other life takes a moment for Elle’s consciousness to kick in and push mine back. Sometimes my thoughts and confusions push through, disturbing us both.
During the early days of my visions, I felt scandalized by the wanton fashions and vulgar language of Elle and her friends. But with so many visits over the years, I realize they are just like me, only they’re free. Now I embrace the visits and look forward to them.
Sometimes the memories come slowly—like now. I should know that guy—Elle does. A familiar man on the red team slows his pace and stops in front of our group, cocking his head to the side expectantly. The girls around me break into applause, to which he bows and runs up and down the side of the field again, warming up to sub in a bit.

02/04/2015

PERIOD & MORE PERIOD - WHO'S THE ROMANTIC HERO OF YOUR HEART? JAMIE FRASER OR ROSS POLDARK?

Sighs and swooning out there? Yes, I know. I've seen polls spring up all over the Net and wasn't surprised at all.  Ross or Jamie? Aidan or Sam? Poldark or Outlander? Cornwall or Scotland?
Starz Outlander and BBC One Poldark are the two hit period drama series of the moment. Blending adventure and romance, historical fiction and stunning locations, talent and beauty they have got legions of passionate fans all over the world. These fans are quite vocal and convey their enthusiasm in their tweets, facebook pages and their blogs, they read or re-read the books on which the series are based, they discuss them in groups, they create fan-fiction and gadgets, they make friends and have fun gathering together. They love the stories and all the characters in them, they are fond of the locations and costumes, they are intrigued by the twists and turns, watch and re-watch their favourite scenes, learn by heart their favourite lines but ... let's be honest ... the main reason of their passionate interest is their fondness for the two gorgeous, fascinating, dashing heroes: James Alexander Malcom MacKenzie Fraser and Captain Ross Poldark.