Diving In

Louise and Virginia dive into the famous gothic novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, set against the backdrop of Victorian England and the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. They discuss the fascinating themes of religion, sexuality and gender. Virginia takes us to the history of the principality of Wallachia ruled by the notorious Vlad the Impaler and Louise talks about the fascinating life of Bram Stoker’s wife, Florence. Books Dracula – by Bram Stoker The Extraordinary Florence Stoker b...

Louise and Virginia travel by book to Brazil, Japan, Skiathos and India in this conversation about four very different books translated into English. How wonderful it is to be absorbed in a book that was originally written in Japanese, Katharevousan Greek, Kannadan or Portuguese, and to absorb the culture and social mores of the people of a foreign country. All four of these books are excellent. Louise and Virginia also chat about two very different television shows they’ve been w...

Louise and Virginia dive deep into historical witch trials, told through four fictional stories, based on real events from the 17th and 18th centuries. They discuss the fact that much of the ignorance and prejudice against women in particular, sadly remains in the 21st century. On a lighter note they have also been diving into two great TV shows. Books The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer The Wax Child by Olga Ravn The Names of a Hare by Bernice Barry The Last Witch of Scot...

Louise and Virginia discuss five very different books. Two very character-driven, interior novels, two set on a dream island, and one classic set during the first French Revolution. They also discuss two great shows currently streaming. Books The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal Island Calling by Francesca Segal The Palm House by Gwendolyn Riley The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy Other things Legends Bergerac Instagram @diving_...

Louise and Virginia discuss five completely different books this time, some recent releases, and one old. They randomly chose to read books without any planned theme this time, but interestingly all five books feature mothers who impact their children in very different ways. Books Time of the Child by Niall Williams Infidelity and Other Affairs by Kate Legge Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan Other things O Now by N...