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Kathleen Constantine

Kathleen’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Kathleen’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Kathleen Constantine

Goodreads Author

Kathleen Constantine is an aspiring literary fiction writer. She experiments with short essays and poetry on her website, and is currently working on her first novel.

Summertime

The spirit of summer. Not easy to capture in these tough times, but I found it waiting for me in Dandelion Wine, a book I love so much I couldn't resist posting my review here: Summertime Read more of this blog post »

Kathleen Constantine Average rating:5.0

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Kathleen’s Recent Updates

Kathleen made a comment ontheir reviewofThe Land of Green Ginger The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby "_Diane wrote: "I love Winifred Holtby, but didn't know about this one. "A great journey of a book" convinces me!"_I understand why you love her, Diane, _Diane wrote: "I love Winifred Holtby, but didn't know about this one. "A great journey of a book" convinces me!"_I understand why you love her, Diane, and I think you'll like this one. ...more"
20 hours, 53 min ago · see review
**Kathleen**rated a book really liked it The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
_“Always the doors of her heart stood a little ajar to receive some new wonder.”_A dreamer meets a missionary and settles with him in South Africa, awaiting adventure, but instead dies after giving birth to a daughter, Joanna. What she doesn’t know is _“Always the doors of her heart stood a little ajar to receive some new wonder.”_A dreamer meets a missionary and settles with him in South Africa, awaiting adventure, but instead dies after giving birth to a daughter, Joanna. What she doesn’t know is Joanna will carry her adventurous nature, and later pass it on to her own daughter too. A lovely inheritance.It’s early 1900’s and Joanna is sent to Yorkshire to live with maiden aunts Emily and Kate, funded by her father. She dreams of travel, and especially going back to South Africa, but when the father dies leaving no money, she gets a job as a secretary and meets Teddy Leigh. She’s eighteen, and full of romantic ideas from her reading, and gives up her dreams to marry him. Before you know it, she’s the mother of two and Teddy is off to fight in the war. He comes back ill, and she learns he’s had consumption since childhood, but kept it a secret.This lands her in a hard life of farming (supposedly for Teddy’s health), nursing her husband, and trying to raise two girls now in danger of illness themselves. This beautiful but a little scatterbrained dreamer is a round peg in a square hole. The work is never-ending, the surrounding country residents distrust her, and Teddy, unable to adjust to life as an invalid, takes his frustrations out on her._“We can’t live for anyone else. I wanted to. I tried to. I tried to … It didn’t come off. I think that’s the worst thing there is in the world. You can’t really take someone else’s pain.”_In other words, this is a story about all of the real struggles of life. Joanna is a fiery character who is easy to love, and I found her immensely inspiring. This was a great journey of a book, and I loved it.I’m left with two thoughts. First, my mother would have loved this story. She had a bit of that adventurous spirit herself, held down by the cares of life, and I wish she could have read this. Second, I have found a new author to love! I’m looking forward to seeking out all the Holtby books I can find. “We seek to remember not those things only which we have known, but all the wonders of which fate deprived us.” ...more
22 hours, 37 min ago · 7 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofThe Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby
Kathleen made a comment ontheir reviewofBrotherless Night Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan "Sara wrote: "It is amazing how much is going on (or has gone on) in the world around us that we simply do not take any notice of. It does sound intere _Sara wrote: "It is amazing how much is going on (or has gone on) in the world around us that we simply do not take any notice of. It does sound interesting and also sad."_So true. Every time it surprises me though, to run across these stories that open up whole worlds! ...more"
23 hours, 42 min ago · see review
**Kathleen**is currently reading The Snake Pit by Mary Jane Ward The Snake Pit by Mary Jane Ward Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
May 06, 2026 07:28AM · like
**Kathleen**wants to read The Mask of Dimitrios by Eric Ambler The Mask of Dimitrios (Charles Latimer, #1) by Eric Ambler Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
May 05, 2026 08:10AM · 1 like · like
Kathleen made a comment ontheir reviewofDancing Girls and Other Stories Dancing Girls and Other Stories by Margaret Atwood "_Sara wrote: "I read these so long ago that I do not remember them at all, but I did always love Atwood back in the day! Nice review."_Thanks, Sara--Atw _Sara wrote: "I read these so long ago that I do not remember them at all, but I did always love Atwood back in the day! Nice review."_Thanks, Sara--Atwood is certainly a dependable author for me, from back when these were written to the present! ...more"
May 05, 2026 07:51AM · see review
Kathleen made a comment ontheir reviewofDivisadero Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje "Sara wrote: "I had a similar reaction to this one, Kathleen. I liked it, the power of his writing was evident, but it felt disjointed. I have totally _Sara wrote: "I had a similar reaction to this one, Kathleen. I liked it, the power of his writing was evident, but it felt disjointed. I have totally loved his other books. Great review and explanation of your ..."_I appreciated your review, and that we shared feelings on this one, but yes, the writing is beautiful, just an unusual way to put it together! ...more"
May 05, 2026 07:50AM · see review
Kathleen made a comment onSara’s reviewofDivisadero Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje "I think your description of vignette is perfect, Sara. Glad to see we (again) felt similar on this one!"
May 05, 2026 07:49AM · see review
**Kathleen**rated a book really liked it Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan (Goodreads Author) Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
_“There is no real way to know what you will be able to do until the moment you are required to do it.”_A wonderful immersion into Sri Lankan life, and what living through a violent civil war can do to individuals and their dreams.Before reading, my kn _“There is no real way to know what you will be able to do until the moment you are required to do it.”_A wonderful immersion into Sri Lankan life, and what living through a violent civil war can do to individuals and their dreams.Before reading, my knowledge of Sri Lanka and the country’s history was almost non-existent. V.V. Ganeshananthan takes us on a deep dive into the civil war between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority that lasted from 1983 through 2009, and the rise of the militant Tamil Tigers.We begin with relatively normal life in Sashi’s Tamil home. She is the only girl, a sister with three older brothers and one younger. The eldest Niranjan is away studying medicine. Dayalan is an avid reader studying engineering. Seelan is the emotional one, with a temper and love of music. Sashi is 16 when the story begins, on track to study medicine herself. Aran is the youngest, a bit precocious and defiant.As the conflict brews, one brother after another is impacted. Sashi never loses her drive to be a healer, but it takes her in unexpected directions, as she becomes less and less able to resist taking a stand in the struggles. We observe the role of women in pre-war society and then how war changes that role. What Ganeshananthan accomplishes is pointing out the warmth and humanity that exists along with the violence and corruption. Nothing is black and white. The world she depicts is full of nuance and difficult decisions, sacrifice and loss, violent ruptures and unexpected alliances. It’s a painful but enlightening story and fascinating exploration of what war puts people through. A major theme of the novel is recording the individual experiences that make up war. As observers, the more specifics we learn about all the battles going on in our midst, the more we see them for what they are, and the more they give meaning to the haunting song Sashi and her brother sang at the beginning of the book on their way to school--the song that now after reading, I’m left still singing:_How long shall they kill our prophetsWhile we stand aside and look?Yes, some say it's just a part of itWe've got to fulfill the bookWon't you help to singThese songs of freedom?'Cause all I ever haveRedemption songsAll I ever haveRedemption songsThese songs of freedomsongs of freedom_~Bob Marley ...more
May 04, 2026 07:03AM · 9 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofBrotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
**Kathleen**is now following Kris McCracken's reviews 4297611
May 02, 2026 07:19AM · like

More of Kathleen's books…

T.H. White

“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
― T.H. White, The Once and Future King

James Baldwin

“Don’t let it make you bitter. Try to understand. Try to understand. The world’s already bitter enough, we got to try to be better than the world.”
― James Baldwin, Another Country

W. Somerset Maugham

“There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
― W. Somerset Maugham

Kakuzō Okakura

“Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.”
― Okakura Kakuzo

William Saroyan

“When you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.”
― William Saroyan

40148 Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) — 16231 members — last activity 15 minutes ago
The world is made up of two kinds of people: first, those who love classics, and second, those who have not yet read a classic. Be bold and join us as The world is made up of two kinds of people: first, those who love classics, and second, those who have not yet read a classic. Be bold and join us as we tackle reading and discussing the classics. New Classics, Old Classics, Long and Short Classics, and some that exhibit potential to become a classic. If you are part of the second group of people, the classic you can love for a lifetime is just pages away. Here at "Catching up on the Classics," we primarily focus on works written in English, but don't neglect quality translations of classics that were written in other languages. Here you will find members from around the world who are interested and supportive about reading traditional classics, so don’t delay. Join today. ...more

1085954 Dickensians! — 644 members — last activity 1 hour, 0 min ago
Do you love the stories by Charles Dickens, and anything Victorian? Are you keen to chat about his books, his life, the times or places he lived in, o Do you love the stories by Charles Dickens, and anything Victorian? Are you keen to chat about his books, his life, the times or places he lived in, or the authors who were his friends? Why not come and join us? We have regular group reads of his works, side reads and lots of places to discuss our favourite author - or one we would like to know better. "Wot larks!" as Joe Gargery might say. Whatever your reason for joining, if you are interested in Dickens' world, you'll get a warm Dickensian welcome here. ...more

277227 Reading the 20th Century — 1635 members — last activity 2 hours, 54 min ago
Welcome to 'Reading the 20th Century', a friendly and inclusive group that explores and discusses the literature, history, culture and music of the ye Welcome to 'Reading the 20th Century', a friendly and inclusive group that explores and discusses the literature, history, culture and music of the years between 1900 and 1999. This 100-year period saw extraordinary levels of change, including two global conflicts, new political ideologies, increased life expectancy, the end of empires and much more. The 20th Century witnessed more technological and scientific progress than all the other previous centuries combined, inspiring writers, historians and artists to try to make sense of it all. Each month we explore a decade within the century, or a movement or idea, or a key author, or a theme, by nominating and voting on a work of fiction or non-fiction linked to the monthly theme. Group members regularly arrange buddy reads too - so there is always plenty going on, and lots of discussions to enrich your reading experiences. These buddy reads are primarily 20th Century but not exclusively. Feel free to suggest a book from any era. Although we cover all aspects of the 20th Century, we are a UK-based group and our main emphasis tends towards the UK and Europe. If you need to contact the moderators please email reading20thcentury@gmail.com ...more

110440 All About Books — 3810 members — last activity 9 hours, 51 min ago
We're here because we like reading and we like chatting about reading. But we are here especially because we strongly believe that reading is not just We're here because we like reading and we like chatting about reading. But we are here especially because we strongly believe that reading is not just something we do alone, but something that can unite people of different kinds, all over the world! This group really is all about books! In terms of group reads we have a monthly fiction book and a bi-monthly group read of a classic. We feature dedicated sections for non-fiction, poetry, short stories and drama. We also have weekly poetry postings (the Monday Poem). Quarterly there is a group discussion of non-fiction books in which members are encouraged to read books that relate to a specific theme and another theme for short stories. We feature a yearly challenge which varies from year to year in form. In addition, we have a section for people to post their yearly personal challenges and books read during the year. ...more

1065390 The Obscure Reading Group — 201 members — last activity Sep 20, 2024 04:19PM
July 2024 update: This group is going on hiatus due to low participation in recent discussions. Like a phoenix, however, it reserves the right to fly July 2024 update: This group is going on hiatus due to low participation in recent discussions. Like a phoenix, however, it reserves the right to fly up from the ashes! We started as a small group of people determined to read Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure together. We enjoyed that discussion so much, we decided to stick together and borrow a descriptor from Hardy's book (OBSCURE) as we moved on to other lesser known but deserving books NOT written by Thomas Hardy (which is not to say we might not pick another one of his books some day). Via a poll, it was decided that we will read THREE books a year together in the months of February, June, and October, with February being reserved for a classic written in the 19th century or earlier. Members, who can nominate choices, keep their eyes open for off-the-beaten-path books of interest. Our motto? "It's amazing how ubiquitous obscurity is." If you're interested in joining us in our obscurity with a much lighter reading schedule than most groups, the door is always open and the light is always on! As we approach the next reading month, the moderators will contact group members to vote on our next read. Then we'll set up a schedule and go! ...more

59543 21st Century Literature — 3637 members — last activity 17 hours, 19 min ago
We read literary fiction from 2000 to present, with the intent of finding those literary gems of timeless and enduring quality. We're less focused o We read literary fiction from 2000 to present, with the intent of finding those literary gems of timeless and enduring quality. We're less focused on the latest bestsellers, or discussing books already well-represented in other groups. Our passion is to explore works, from around the world, which stand a chance of being remembered fifty years from now. In addition to seeking out books with literary merit, we also encourage lively and thought-provoking discussions. All are welcome to join 21CL, whether you're already a fan of literary fiction, or just starting to explore. ...more

139622 500 Great Books By Women — 1617 members — last activity Sep 01, 2025 05:18AM
500 Great Books By Women A Reader's Guide to the Worlds of Women's Writing Be sure to check out the bookshelf and see if you've reviewed any of the 500 Great Books By Women A Reader's Guide to the Worlds of Women's Writing Be sure to check out the bookshelf and see if you've reviewed any of the books! Your submissions help this resource grow. For more details, see the Submissions topic in the General folder. "Here is an articulate guide to more than 500 books written by women, a unique resource that allows readers the joy of discovering new authors as well as revisiting familiar favorites. Organized by such themes as Art, Choices, Families, Growing Old, Growing Up, Places and Homes, Power, and Work, this reference book presents classic contemporary works, from lady Nijo's thirteenth-century Japanese court diaries to books by authors including Toni Morrison, Alice Hoffman, Nadine Gordimer, and Isabel Allende. With annotated entries that capture the flavor of each book and seven cross-referenced indexes, 500 Great Books by Women is a one-of-a-kind guide for all readers and book lovers that celebrates and recommends some of the very best writing by women." (taken from the book's backflap) Bauermeister, Erica, Jesse Larsen, and Holly Smith. 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader's Guide. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Penguin, 1994. Print. ...more

1187035 The Short Story Club — 572 members — last activity 1 hour, 41 min ago
The purpose of this group is to read and discuss one short story a week. For the the first couple of years, we read from specific anthologies, but fro The purpose of this group is to read and discuss one short story a week. For the the first couple of years, we read from specific anthologies, but from 10 November 2025, members can pick a story to share, and pick a week. There is a link to each story in the discussion's opening post. You can drop in and out at any point, but we hope you enjoy participating in current - and even past - discussions. If you want to join, please answer the question you will see if using a browser. Private profiles that don't will be refused, as we want to get to know each other. ...more

89231 Works of Thomas Hardy — 291 members — last activity May 05, 2026 12:26PM
A group to discuss all the works of Thomas Hardy, from poems to novels and everything in between. Also, this is a place to discuss the life and times A group to discuss all the works of Thomas Hardy, from poems to novels and everything in between. Also, this is a place to discuss the life and times of this incredible author. All are welcome to join and contribute. New members are very welcome. ...more

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