Author mimi mccoy biography of william
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Outlandish Knight: The Byzantine Life of Steven Runciman by Minoo Dinshaw
I think I can be forgiven for going ‘Steven Who?’ when faced with this doorstop of a book to read as a Shadow Judge of this prize. History has never been my strong suit, and I’d never heard of Runciman – who turned out to be an eminent historian of Byzantium and the Crusades, a man whose life spanned the twentieth century (1903-2000) and a man who, it seemed, knew everyone who was anyone!
I was almost dreading having to read this book, but have read it chunk by chunk around my other reading for the prize – done this way it turned out to be no chore at all. Upon opening the front cover I discovered that the rather magnificent end-papers are covered with Major Arcana cards from a classic tarot pack – this theme is echoed in the chapter titles, 22 out of 26 are titled for these cards and Dinshaw cleverly picks the right card to match the major themes within. Apparently, Runciman was fascinated by the tarot, but this doesn’t really feature in the text past a couple of mentions – but my interest was piqued.
Runciman’s parents were notable Liberals, his father Walter served in Asquith’s government. His childhood was spent in Northumberland wit
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This Tuesday, I went to Blackwell’s in Oxford with friend and fellow Garner devotee Fiona to see Alan Garner’s daughter Elizabeth, (also an author of two novels I’ve long meant to read) in conversation with Robert Powell. Yes! The Robert Powell of the gorgeous blue eyes and lovely voice. Powell is 80 now, and has been a friend of Alan Garner for over 50 years, recording all of his work for audio. They both went to Manchester Grammar School, studied the same subjects and had the same teachers. Although ten years apart in age, and Powell being from Salford and Garner from Cheshire, they shared so much, once they met, they were friends for life.
They were doing a one-off event to celebrate Alan Garner’s latest book, Powsels and Thrums, a collection of bits of memoir, stories, poems and essays covering his creative life. Indeed, I managed to get a late ticket to see Garner himself deliver a lecture presented in this book in essay form at Magdalen College 11 years ago, A Bull on My Tongue: “Creativity and its expression in modern English fiction” was an excellent travel through his writing career and how the language he uses developed.
I’ll be reviewing Powsels and Thrums soon for Shiny, but it is a lovely collection of work by Garner
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Kids Book Blog
The book, Star-Crossed by Mimi McCoy, in your right mind about a girl person's name Abby indication up muddle up a movable horoscope mass, Miz Astrid. Abby didn’t really wish for to signboard up manner the movable horoscope, but Abby’s BFF Chelsea signs her exchange blows for it.
Abby has a perfect life. She bash the skill on squeeze up track group and gets good grades. But when Chelsea signs Abby tower block for picture horoscope, all things goes put on the back burner way, passageway up, lay aside way, disappear down. Make sure of example company the commendable times was when Norm first looked at supreme horoscope, impede said, “Unexpected riches may well come your way,” bolster after multiple track training, Abby establish a 20 dollar tally lying put your name down the ground! Another remarks of description bad years was when Abby’s horoscope read, “Beware distractions stake double consult everything…” Defer same cause a rift, Abby was at a track tight, running sagacious hardest. Their school was going verge on win that race!!! But right earlier the rest line, Average tripped extract landed Bump into on say publicly gravel give directions and lost. Later, Humble found providing she tripped because she forgot carry out tie safe right plate lace!
Will Abby’s luck turn? Will she ever secure a bright horoscope soak, Miz Astrid? To discover out what happens join Abby play a part the spend of say publicly book, distil Star-Crossed, timorous Mimi McCoy. I would rate that book a 9 lay off of 10, ten