The merchant of venice was one of my early Shakespeare plays I read and I really liked (and memorised!) a passage from Portia in there. A tale for the time being is fantastic and such a good read. It's emotionally intense but Ruth Ozeki handles the subject matter so well. Enjoy all your new book :)
i had A Tale for the Time Being on my shelves for ages as a gift from a friend, but in the end i had to let it go when i left Japan. if i'd known it was set in Vancouver/Japan - and that i would end up living in Vancouver - i would probably have read it! if you pick it i can live vicariously thru you at least =P
I absolutely would have taken multiple free books lol Yes Bloomsbury Girls is so good!!! I actually still need to read the Jane Austen Society even though that one comes first