L.H. Johnson's Blog

Spent: A Comic Novel by Alison Bechdel My rating: 5 of 5 stars I just loved this. It’s been a while since I’ve read Bechdel’s work and I was delighted to come across this in the library and that feeling did not diminish one iota upon reading. Bechdel is wrestling with the world and herContinue reading "Spent by Alison Bechdel"

British Vogue: The Biography of an Icon by Julie Summers My rating: 4 of 5 stars A well-written, purposeful biography of a century at British Vogue (or “Brogue” as one character refers to it), this is a real pleasure to read. We trace the beginnings of the magazine at the turn of the century, throughoutContinue reading "British Vogue: The Biography of an Icon by Julie Summers"

Jean of Storms by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer My rating: 3 of 5 stars I have been thinking about Elinor M. Brent-Dyer’s approach to romance, for she was never the most romantic of authors to begin with. She could write romance and beautifully too; that subtle, underplayed need for each other, that quiet recognition that youContinue reading "Jean of Storms by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer"

Battler Britton, Book 2 by Anon My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was thinking the other day about how to write “funny” (stay with me, this will make sense soon I promise…). For me, funny books have to have a sense of utter conviction about them. You have to believe in every inch ofContinue reading "Battler Britton (volume 2)"

That Boarding School Girl by Dorita Fairlie Bruce My rating: 4 of 5 stars There’s something delicious in coming to Dorita Fairlie Bruce so randomly, so irregularly, because it feels like reading her for the first time every time. And as much as I’d like to devour all her work at once, I rather loveContinue reading "That Boarding School Girl by Dorita Fairlie Bruce"

1939: The Last Season by Anne de Courcy by Anne de Courcy My rating: 5 of 5 stars My only issue with this was that it was not long enough: I could have read it several times over. The Last Season tells the story of that final few moments of life before the war forContinue reading "1939: The Last Season by Anne de Courcy"

My rating: 3 of 5 stars There’s a point where you think in a book that “that’s enough now, we’ve got there, we’ve hit all the character beats and everything’s pretty much set up now for us to roll on home in style” and sigh contentedly to yourself and think Noble Thoughts about the artContinue reading "Sergeant Luck’s Secret Mission by Geoffrey Bond"

The Children Who Lived in a Barn by Eleanor Graham My rating: 3 of 5 stars So the basic premise of The Children Who Lived In A Barn, a book that appealed to me precisely because of that outstanding “does exactly what it says on the tin” title and a charming wraparound cover, is “theContinue reading "The Children Who Lived In A Barn by Eleanor Graham"

Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat by Ursula Moray Williams My rating: 5 of 5 stars WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DEEPLY EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATISED BOY HAVE I GOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. SO! Beforehand: I pick up Gobbolino and I think gosh, what a delightful thing. I have hazy memories of this at best but positive memoriesContinue reading "Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat by Ursula Moray Williams"

Ponies in the Attic by Irene Makin My rating: 4 of 5 stars A perfect cover, this, delivered by Elisabeth Grant who understands everything, but everything, that a pony book should be and manages to capture it in that still, breathless moment between human and animal. It’s beautiful and I love it and it’s theContinue reading "Ponies in the Attic by Irene Makin"