Hi there – my name’s Simon. Lovely to meet you!
I’ve been blogging about books since 2007, with a focus on novels by women from between the World Wars, though I’ll dart a bit around other genres and periods. But basically, if you imagine a housewife in 1930, then you can probably picture my reading taste.
I love Jesus, cats, napping, the soap opera Neighbours, and baking. And, yes, of course books. I live in a little village in Oxfordshire, and am almost at book-capacity in my one-bed flat.
I also co-host the podcast ‘Tea or Books?’, where Rachel and I debate the difficult decisions of books and reading. Find it in your podcast app of choice!
Would love to hear from you, so do jump into the comments – or you can find me in any of these places:
Email: simonthomasoxford[at]gmail.com
Twitter: @stuck_inabook
Instagram: @simondavidthomas
p.s. feel free to get in touch to talk about review copies, though I tend not to review self-published authors or books that fall outside my preferred genres. If you are a publisher at a reprint publishing house then EMAIL ME RIGHT NOW PLS. I don’t take paid reviews and I’m unlikely to take part in book tours, though there are exceptions.
Lovely to meet you too!
Dear Simon,
I enjoyed your blog very much and will be tracking down some of the books on your list.
My reason for contacting you (I do hope you don’t mind) is that I have been trying, without success, to track down the illustrator of Shirley Jacksons’ Haunting of Hill House Corgi edition 1977. The gorgeous book cover with the demonic face morphing into the shape of the mansion. Blue and black, huddled in its landscape. ISFDB does not have the illustrators name.
On a Science Fiction subreddit I found a book cover that greatly resembles it in terms of concept and layout (but not colour.) I tried to track down that illustrator but no luck again. (In case you’re interested that book was by Katharine Briggs ‘A Dictionary of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Bogles and Brownies…’ published by Allen Lane 1976.)
I was wondering with your lifelong experience in all things bookish you might be able to steer me into the direction of finding this amazing (unsung) illustrator.
If you find you do not have the time I will understand.
All the best, Leigh
I have been lost in the world of Victorians, reading Charlotte
Mary Yonge’s The Chaplet of Pearls. I hope to get back to
female writers between the wars soon. Two favorites are
Barbara Pynchon and Dorothy Whipple. However I would
like to mention a charming novel A Gentleman in Moscow
a book I think everyone would enjoy. Author is Amor Towles.
Dear Simon,
I’m so glad to discover your blog, which is right up my alley and will be quite a help. I’ve gone a bit “odd,” because for the last year I have read, re-read, and read again, the books of D.E. Stevenson, to sort of calm myself down. (These are strange times in the USA.) It strengthens me to read books written by Englishwomen, and especially the writers in the 1930s, and 40s. War years. These women writers are great at joking when life is no joke. That is the pluckiness I need! I can tell that I’m about to discover a lot more of them in this blog, so you will have contributed to one woman’s sanity across the pond. Thank you!
Hi!
I finished your story and honestly, I was very impressed. The expressions, pacing, and drama are so strong that it feels perfect for a comic format. If adapted into a comic or Webtoon, it could attract even more people.
I create Webtoons, comics, and character art. If you’re ever curious about how it might look visually, feel free to reach out to me.
Discord: minakn0ws 💬
Loved your work!