The Rich Stink of the North Water

If you enjoy a lively adventure tale and have a strong stomach, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more rollicking read than Ian McGuire’s The North Water. What a humdinger!

Set in the late 19th century when the world’s population of whales is in decline, a whaling ship is outfitted and sent into far northern waters in search of a few of the beasts to fill their hold with oil. It’s an odd journey — late in the season for finding whales so far north — and yet the ship pushes farther and farther northward at grave (or is it planned?) risk of being locked in the ice for the winter. 

A Persephone virgin no more: The Blank Wall

I have been coveting the Persephone imprint for some time, but the high overseas postage kept me from ordering any of these lovelies from England. My birthday last month was the perfect moment to ask for — and receive — a sixth month subscription. Happy birthday to me!

The first book to arrive was The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. First, can I say how very surprised I was by the size and the material; I thought Persephones were hardbacks! They are much smaller than I expected, too, but just right to hold and open widely without cracking the spine. Being a fabric hound, I love the hidden pattern reproductions on the endpapers and matching bookmark. My only disappointment, at least with this copy of The Blank Wall, was the quality of the printing; there are several places where letters did not completely print. It doesn’t make the book unreadable, it’s just a surprising to find these flaws. Although in some way, the flaws increase the charmingly retro feel of the book.