Exploring the concept of semi-detachment, the book delves into the interplay between reality and imagination, particularly within the late realist novel. It provides fresh insights into how the mind navigates between waking and dreaming states, encouraging readers to engage with this duality. Through a playful and curious lens, the author examines the unique attentiveness required to appreciate the complexities of narrative and perception in literature.
A book on the experience of reading Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea novels that celebrates Le Guin's monumental worldbuilding achievement recaptures the glories of childhood reading.
An unexpected adventure unfolds as 13-year-old Jen and her 10-year-old brother Ed discover that their pet blackbird, Mead, can talk and has grown to an enormous size. They are transported to 19th century England, where they must piece together an unfinished tapestry to save their Granny's house. Along their journey, they encounter historical figures like William Morris and traverse enchanting locations from London to Iceland. This richly illustrated tale intertwines fantasy and history, exploring the power of imagination in a captivating narrative.
The book explores the Victorian fascination with portable objects, such as hair-jewelry and memorial rings, as symbols of religious sentiment, family connections, and national identity. It delves into how these everyday items transformed into cherished relics, reflecting a desire to maintain Englishness while living abroad. In a time when the British Empire was expanding, the relationship between monetary value and sentimental significance shifted, particularly in items like teacups, rings, and books, highlighting the emotional weight of personal mementoes.