Book Review: ‘The Silent Companions‘ by Laura Purcell

The first book I have read in absolutely ages. I have made a resolution to read books which have been piling up for ages. At last I have managed to get my concentration back by reading a little per night. Before I knew it, I began to get absorbed again into the pages, just like

Into the Read

In the beginning, Echostains, my art blog, featured art history, design, film, book reviews – in short a pot pouri of art/arts related topics. I then decided to transfer the book and film reviews and subjects to another blog. Thus Bookstains was born. Content on Bookstains has been sporadic, to say the least over the

Titus Groan: Keda

I’ve not wrote about my re reading of Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake for a while.  But that doesn’t mean that I’ve haven’t been reading it.  I have and am very nearly finished the first book and shall be soon into Gormenghast itself.   But as far as the writing concerned, I am up to the

Titus Groan – Nannie Slagg’s outing

Back to the story.  I am now more than half way through ‘Titus Groan’, the writing is miles behind though…. This chapter deals with Nannie Slagg undertaking to get baby Titus a wet-nurse from the dwellings outside the castle. The acacia trees, silhouetted on her right, cut patterns against the mountain and on her left glowed dimly

Titus Groan – Climb upon my knee Nannie Slagg

The reading is now 18 chapters ahead – the writing is following at a slower pace.  In this chapter we get another glimpse into Fuchsia’s bedroom;- The sunlight was streaming through the eastern turrets and was lighting the Carvers battlements and touching the sides of the mountain beyond.  As the sun rose, thorn tree after

Authors I have read – Thomas Hardy

‘The Authors I have read category only has one criterion – and that is I must have read at least more than one of their books. Of course, there are some books by this author I haven’t read yet like ‘Under the Greenwood tree’, and ‘A a pair of blue eyes’ but no doubt I shall get

Titus Groan: Lord Sepulchrave – why the long face?

This chapter gives us a better idea of the melancholy Sepulchrave, the man and his world as he starts his morning in the Stone Hall, where his ancestors have before him.  The raised table gives him a good view of the refectory and its ancient ceiling:- On either side and running the entire length, great pillars prop

‘Authors I’ve read – Sarah Waters’

           I am a huge fan of the writer Sarah Waters.   When the BBC series ‘Tipping the Velvet’ first appeared on our screens, I rushed out and got the book.  I was not disappointed!  The next book ‘The Fingersmith’ is a real twisty adventure ingeniously plotted (extremely far-fetched) but so clever – I found

‘Titus Groan: The 76th Countess of Groan’

Peake excites our anticipation  of seeing the Countess, by allowing us a look through the keyhole into the room of white cats.  The black door of her room has a white cat emblazoned on it and on the landing outside, pictures of birds adorn the walls. The interior of the room is not as orderly though.  Bird seed is piled up,

Authors I’ve read: Daphne Du Maurier ‘Rebecca

  I’ve read such a lot of Daphne Du Maurier books – some good and some better,  If I had to rate them, number one would surely be Rebecca.  The  first line sets the mood  of the book, as we are whisked away back in time to the mysterious Manderley and the equally mysterious Max De Winter.