Not So Well Read | O Caledonia: A Novel

O Caledonia: A Novel

Elspeth Barker

Maggie O'Farrell

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In the tradition of Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, a darkly humorous modern classic of Scottish literature about a doomed adolescent growing up in the mid-19th century—featuring a new introduction by Maggie O’Farrell, award-winning author of Hamnet.

Janet lies murdered beneath the castle stairs, attired in her mother’s black lace wedding dress, lamented only by her pet jackdaw…

Author Elspeth Barker masterfully evokes the harsh climate of Scotland in this atmospheric gothic tale that has been compared to the works of the Brontës, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edward Gorey.

Immersed in a world of isolation and loneliness, Barker’s ill-fated young heroine Janet turns to literature, nature, and her Aunt Lila, who offers brief flashes of respite in an otherwise foreboding life. People, birds, and beasts move through the background in a tale that is as rich and atmospheric as it is witty and mordant.

The family’s motto—Moriens sed Invictus (Dying but Unconquered)—is a well-suited epitaph for wild and courageous Janet, whose fierce determination to remain steadfastly herself makes her one of the most unforgettable protagonists in contemporary literature.

Book Swap Finds

My full stack from our book swap yesterday! I forgot to take a photo of my donation pile, but I definitely left with ones that I am way more excited about. I did pass along some very loved books that I know I will never read again and deserve a spot in someone else’s library–whoever got To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, I hope you love it as much as I did.

Do you have any favorites in this stack?

Also, check out my cute new earrings! Shout out to makers who have clip on options for those of us with metal allergies.

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