Hello! Welcome to my blog. My name is Rachel. I am a 25 year old book loving, tea drinking, quilt making, cake eating, itchy feet possessing Londoner, recently reunited with my beloved home city after a wonderful year spent living in New York. Like most people, in order to pay my rent, I spend my days fannying about in an office, where I secretly read books under my desk, eat horrific amounts of biscuits and dream about potential PhD topics, all while looking terribly interested in spreadsheets and targets. My first and greatest love has always been literature, and only the best will do, hence my status as an unashamed Book Snob!
This blog charts my adventures both in reading and in life in general; I hope you enjoy what you find on its pages!
If you’d like to say hello, please do! You can email me at booksnob@hotmail.co.uk.
Hi Rachel,
Just to say I hope you picked up my reply to your post on my sleepy blog. It was good to hear from you and I like what you’re putting together about Yates. I submitted my Ph.D last week – and am exhausted – but no time to relax since I am delivering a paper on him at the Aldeburgh Literary Festival next week, Friday 5th March. I’m first on and feeling quite scared at the thought of speaking for an hour. Lots and lots of Power Point methinks. I’m used to speaking for twenty minutes at academic conferences but an hour is a lot.
Also, just in case you are interested, there is a conference on Yates at Goldsmiths on Saturday 5th June. I think I am speaking there but it has to be confirmed. Entry is free.
Maybe we’ll run into each other one day, clutching copies of RR.
Kate
Thanks Kate – I did get your reply, thank you! Congratulations on submitting your PhD! How exciting for you! I hope the festival goes well and I will definitely try and get to the conference at Goldsmiths in June – if I do, I’ll come running up to you to introduce myself!
I’m glad you like my musings on Yates…nothing compared to yours of course but I am enjoying exploring his work!
Rachel
x
Hello Rachel. I just want to ask, what happened? Suddenly, you had 12 new posts in my Google Reader in, like, 2 hours! Something up? It’s just really weird.
I’m just doing some editing, Lex! Sorry for the confusion!
Glad I found your Blog from across the pond…
Thanks Goddess! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
I have just found your blog (and started my own) and I adore yours. I love finding other British-based ones! I look forward to reading more!
Thanks Jessica! I look forward to reading yours too!
I’ve just written a rather lengthy e-mail and used the address you give but it was refused!
Has something changed since you wrote Who Is Book Snob?
Oh no! No it is exactly the same – I just emailed you so then you will have the right address. Let me know if you didn’t get my email!
Ooooooh Rachel I am loving the new look and the new pages!
Thanks Simon! I fancied a change!
Hi there, I’m a recent follower of your blog and I like what I’ve been reading so I’m giving you the One Lovely Blog Award!
http://bookedallweek.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/a-blog-award-and-a-heads-up/
Happy reading
Thank you, Emily Jane!
Ok, I just went to wikipedia here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy-Long-Legs_(novel)
and looked it up. Shirley Temple’s “Curly Top” is another film on the story. I’m glad my sanity is intact a little longer! Wiki says both versions depart from the book, but the film I saw fits your description pretty well. So, if you haven’t seen it, look for that, too.
Oh, you must think I’m nuts – I had left a comment before the above – saying the story was so familiar, but I knew I’d never heard of the book, or seen the Fred Astaire movie.
I guess I didn’t properly submit it, and it disappeared!
Rachel is a tremendous sweety.
That’s who she is.
You are too kind, Bop!
Oh, I can see I’m going to get lost in this blog.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Kristi!
Hi Rachel,
I am Sayantika, 23 years, from India. I came across your blog when I was looking for a review of Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Good Wives’. I am re-reading ‘Little Women’ now, which I had read ages ago. It’s very hard to come by such a blog like yours. It is so enriching that I have decided to launch a reviews page for my blog, if not a separate blog on reviews. Your lists are really great, and I have read a few of those books, being a student of literature. The lists have just given me an idea on what to read, and what to re-read too.
I shall keep visiting your blog for your takes on the books and maybe, have some interesting conversations regarding books.
Thanks, Sayantika.
Hello Sayantika! What a lovely comment. I am glad you are enjoying my reviews and that we share our reading tastes! I hope to see you around often. Happy reading!
Btw, love the new look blog – it’s been a few days or so, but just thought I’d mention!
Thanks Simon! I keep doing a double take every time I open my blog up!
Hello Rachel,
Congratulations on a wonderful blog, it is informative and fun. Like you, I too love Persephone and Virago books. Currently I own three Persephone titles: Marianna, The Making Of A Marchioness and A London Child of the 1870′s.
I would have loved to take part in the Virago Reading Week but unfortunately in Mumbai, Viragos are not easily found. You have to order them online but the shipping costs a bomb.
Thanks so much for hosting a beautiful blog…you have found yourself a loyal follower from Mumbai!
Regards,
Anuja
Mumbai, India
Hello Anuja, thank you for your lovely comment!
I am glad you love Persephone and Viragos too – always the sign of a wonderful person! I am sorry you can’t get hold of Viragos that easily, that’s a real shame. I feel for you!
You are so welcome – thank you for reading! I look forward to talking with you in future!
I’m so glad I found your blog. I’m currently backreading your posts, because I love your insights on the classics. Also, I love the pictures of New York. I want to go there someday.
Hi Darlyn! I’m so glad you found me too, and that you’re enjoying reading.
New York is a wonderful city, I hope you make it here soon.
Hi Rachel, this is my first visit in your blog and so far it’s amazing.
I was looking for a review of Patricia Highsmith’s ‘Carol’ and I really liked yours. Congrats for the interesting blog.
Amanda
Brasil.
Amanda, how lovely of you! I’m glad you found me and that you’re enjoying what you’re reading – come back often!
Hi Rachel, as I’m actually referencing a quote from your review for my English Coursework, I was wondering whether I could get your surname down? Just so you’re properly acknowledged. Would be much appreciated, thanks.
Wonderful blog title. Great concept.
Thank you Lynda! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
I’ve just found your blog and I love reading your reviews! I’m backtracking at the moment and adding to my TBR pile which is huge already but good books need to be read! Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear that! I hope you continue to enjoy my reviews!
I just found your blog and wanted to say I am also a fan of the pioneer story in America. Can you recommend other adult fiction besides Willa Cather? Are there any from a man’s point of view?
I am a student getting my MLS and am writing a paper on collection building focused on the pioneer movement and would like to have a broad focus for the similarly-obsessed.
Following the Laura Ingalls Wilder trail is also one of my dreams and I intend to do it one day soon, bringing my two daughters (Caroline and Laura!) with me.
Hello Nancy! Thanks so much for reading!
What a wonderful paper to be writing! I am jealous! I know there are a fair few modern novels that refer back to the pioneer movement – I can’t think of any specific ones off the top of my head but I’ll try and do some research and get back to you. What I have found interesting about reading so many American novels this year is just how many reference pioneer backgrounds, family history, pioneer towns, etc – pioneering is a foundation to so many American stories even if it is not explicitly explored. For example, Louis Bromfield’s novels, William Maxwell’s novels – set in old pioneer towns – as are Marilynne Robinson’s Home and Gilead…it’s surprising how much mention of pioneering you can find.
How amazing that would be! I would love to do that. And Caroline and Laura! Beautiful!
Like your blog very much, Rachel. So much so that we’ve named it this week’s Blog of the Week at 317am. You check it out at:
http://www.317am.net/2011/07/blog-of-the-week-book-snob.html#more-9046
Thank you so much George! What an honour! I shall be over to take a look!
Hello Rachel, Thanks for your reply, you said that you are “in the country” and recommended a library….well, I’m in the Middle East and so any library here would have books primarily reading from right to left….but libraries, recent ones, are few and far between.
If I can every get a copy of Hayward and Harari’s Translators Note at teh beginning of the book, and I write up my short story [fact not fiction], I’ll send it to you, it’s all about the smuggling out of Russia of the manuscript. Thanks,
CaroL Ann
Greetings from Sydney, Australia. A wonderful blog and a source of much information in the Reading America section. Thank you.
Hi Norman, thanks so much – glad you are enjoying it!
Hi Rachel – I’m not sure if you’ve checked your other e-mail account, but I sent you a reply to that address. I hope you’re keeping safe and are out of harm’s (read: Irene’s) way. You’re in my thoughts, as is my beloved New York City. Lots of love to you from Ireland, June
I just found your blog and I’m so excited I did because I consider myself a bit of a book snob, if not a book lover myself. I’m coming to London to study abroad for the year in two weeks and I’m so excited to go book hunting! I’ll surely be reading all your old posts and catching up on your “reads” of all the books in them, if you will.
Looking forward to more,
Hannah
Hi Hannah, thanks for coming by and commenting! Book Snobs are always welcome here! How exciting – I bet you are going to have an absolutely wonderful time! You will find plenty of magnificent book shops to enjoy, I can promise you that! I look forward to seeing you around!
I’ve been following your blog for sometime now, and I absolutely love reading your reviews! I hope it’s ok with you that I linked your blog to mine.
Thank you so much, Geetanjali! How lovely of you to say so – of course it is! I look forward to exploring your blog too!
Hi Racheal and others
I’m delighted to discover this line of thought and conversation. I’m Nandy, a South African living in Leiden holland for 10years. I love books, reading and an aspiring writer. Life at the moment has gotten the better of me, i have all sorts of projects opened and unfinished. This, I promise myself will change and should change.
I’m inspired by all of your notes and thank you for sharing your passions.
I will continue to be part of the conversation, I belon to a bookclub so, great reads are always welcomed.
Soo long
Thanks Nandy, I’m so glad to have you reading along!
Howdy! Just wondering if you have an RSS feed for your blog?
I have no idea Alexander, sorry!
Just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to chime in and say how enjoyable it is to read your reviews. I’m always looking for good books, and many of the titles you have discussed here sound interesting!
I also belong to a book club; being exposed to different genres/styles is something I love when it comes to literature. Definitely will be checking out the selections here for future book club discussions!
Keep up the great work!
~Stacey
Thank you so much Stacey, how lovely of you to come by and tell me so! I’m thrilled to have you as a new reader!
Dear Rachel, I do like your blog, I find 19th cent novels a bit heavy going but your blog inspires me to give them another go. On a different tack may I recommend -
The Feminine Middlebrow Novel, 1920s to 1950s: Class, Domesticity and Bohemianism, Oxford University Press, 2001 by Nicki Humble, she is a Professor and senior lecturer at Roehampton. Its a good read, all the writers you will have heard of or read. The actual book gives a curious feeling of deja vu, though published in 2001 it has an old fashioned typeface and plain black cover so you have to keep reminding yourself you are not reading something published in the 1950′s. I emailed Prof Humble about her book and tentatively offered up a theory on a very minor historical event and got a lovely, polite, considered reply and I am only a very ordinary, non graduate member of the public.
Hello! just found your blog via a link posted by a twitter friend. Love it already. I am sitting at work and reading your posts. Its awesome to have found your blog! I will be back to check it everyday now
Hi PV, lovely to have you come by! I’m so glad you’re enjoying what you’ve read so far – I look forward to seeing more of you around and hearing your opinions!
I love your blog and plan to return. Like many Americans, I’m a complete fool for Downton Abbey and even picked up the book The World of Downton Abbey recently because I couldn’t get enough of that world. It’s not exactly literature, but it is beautifully done and quite informative.
Hi Ruth, lovely to hear from you! I’m so glad you enjoyed Downton Abbey too – I must get hold of that book, thanks for the recommendation!
Hi Rachel, I met you briefly at the Penguin Bloggers Night on Thursday, was lovely to meet you! And Bloomsbury Bell also (terribly embarrassed that I cannot remember her name…) Are you on Twitter? Lizzi (littlewordsreview.wordpress.com) xx
Hi Lizzi, lovely to hear from you! It was a pleasure to meet you too – Bloomsbury Bell’s name is Naomi! No I’m not on twitter – too much technology for me to handle! I’ll definitely come and visit your blog though!
Haha thanks! Do love Twitter but I know what you mean
Love the blog x
After a long hiatus, moving house, etc. I am back to the blogs. With time so short, I had to edit my long list of blogs to follow and one of the few blogs that made the cut was of course, Rachel’s Book Snob. I list it, on both my blogs, as a “favorite”.
Thank you Eve! What an honour! I am glad to have you reading again!
Hello! I’ve just discovered your blog and I can’t help but think that I’ve found what I’ve been looking for. Looking forward to reading through your previous posts.
Hi Lizzie, welcome!
I look forward to seeing you around and will be over to check you out as well!
Hi Rachel, yay, it makes my day when I find a blog like this. I was so excited to stumble upon it when I was taking a peek at Jane Brocket’s inspiring blog. I have been lost in your posts for the past 1/2 hour!!!! I’ll be back to take a look again soon. x Library Girl.
Hi Kura, how lovely of you! So glad you like what you’ve found and I will be over to check you out too – look forward to seeing more of you here!
x
Love your blog! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – here’s the info: http://thoughtsonmybookshelf.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/mission-accomplished-just-call-me-versatile/
Thanks Lauren, how kind you are!! I really appreciate the compliment!
I have also nominated you! Here is a link if you want to take a look: http://charlottereadsclassics.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/excellent-blogs-for-your-reading-pleasure/
I love reading your blog and your reviews, thanks for writing them!
Hey, I have nominated you for the Versatile blogger Award. Congratulations! http://tothebalcony.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Thank you very much, Mary!
Another nomination! I’d like to nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award
http://backtothebookshelf.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Thank you, that’s very kind!