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My name is Rosina Lippi. I'm a former academic and tenured university professor, writing full time since 2000. Under the pen name Sara Donati I am the author of the Wilderness series, six historical novels that follow the fortunes of a group of families living in upstate New York from about 1792-1825. A new series based on later generations of the same families was launched September 1, 2015 with The Gilded Hour. The next volume in the new series, Where the Light Enters, was released in 2019.
Please see the pinned post for an overview of what you'll find on this weblog, and what has been moved to the wiki (including the FAQ page).
Wise Guys
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn’t expecting it.
— H.G. Wells (attributed), Sir Osbert Sitwell
See the whole Wise Guys collection here.
The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
It really is a tremendous palace, of beautiful scarlet brick, the most expensive of all building materials, with arches and quoins of shining white stone.
“I’m as damp as I can be from dancing so much.”
The best of O’henry(The handbook of Hymen)
From City of Shadows / by Ariana Franklin:
”She looked around the chaos, helplessly. ‘I do not know-‘ ”
From Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix
Arthur saw a red glow suddenly flare n he corner at the end of the table and stopped as he saw it came from a pipe in the mouth of a man who was sitting there.
“I’m glad you trusted me enough to confide in me.”
The Reluctant Rogue by Elizabeth Powell
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
“It is getting dark,and I must go, or mamma will be alarmed,” said Annabel rising in sudden haste, though she hoped to be asked to remain to the nut-party.
The Moor by Laurie R. King:
The pub was still for a good ten seconds when they had finished.
NORTH AND SOUTH By Elizabeth Gaskell
If Mr. Thornton would but say something to them — let them hear his voice only —
She could see tiny figures riding the updrafts they created, swirling above them.
China Mieville, Perdido Street Station
Eliot Pattison, Der fremde Tibeter (English: The Skull Mantra)
“Rache entspricht nicht der buddhistischen Lehre.”
“Scott wasn’t convinced.” Lisa Jackson, Deep Freeze
From First Pass Under Heaven by Nathan Hoturoa Gray:
What were these builders thinking 2,000 years ago?
Also, am happy to compile – will be Monday my time. if that’s ok.
“Her arm curved to the floor, her fingers inches from Ron.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
“And what’s more, if you don’t come back right away, I’ll tell them you did it.”
Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
Steven Herrick: “The River”
and care to remember.
Tea provided the basis for the widening of European trade with the East.
Tom Standage, A History of the World in 6 Glasses.
“He’d caught himself editing the author’s prose — correcting an inaccurate reference and rewording the characters’ dialog — but that wasn’t it.”
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, Laila Lalami.
From Medicus by Ruth Downie
Ruso retrieved a bean that had rolled toward his feet.