-
Monthly Reads: July
August already—that means the 4th of July was almost a month ago. Time is racing away. As for the reading I did in July, there were some major highs and lows. Thankfully, the highs outweighed the lows, which made the whole experience worthwhile. Written in Red by Anne Bishop Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult My favorite part…
-
Ten Facts You Didn’t Know About Les Miserables
Victor Hugo’s epic has captured and wrung the hearts of millions since its publication in the 1860s. The time period during which the story takes place was a political roller coaster for France, and Hugo is a master at exploring the implications for every level of society. (See this post.) In honor of Les Misérables, here…
-
Your Ancestors Could Have Met Jean Valjean
I’m currently on a French literature binge. Having recently finished The Count of Monte Cristo, I started Les Misérables a few weeks ago. While both these stories are worth reading (and re-reading), they’re both very long. I read an abridged version of Les Misérables in high school without realizing it was abridged. Who would expect the abridged version…
-
Monthly Reads: June
July already. Wow; time flies. Here’s to the month of June and its reading, full of sunshine and good books. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Genre: French Literature Talk about a long book! I loved it, but it took me over a month to listen to it on audiobook. Adventure,…
-
How Much Blood Does the American Flag Cost?
For the last twenty years, since I was two years old, my family’s 4th of July tradition has consisted of the same events. We first attend our neighborhood carnival, which includes the ferris wheel, the giant slide, and cotton candy. Next is our street block party with hot dogs, American flag shortbread cookies, and basketball games. Finally, the…
-
Monthly Reads: May
So…it’s been a while. (A month? Really?) But in that month, I graduated from college, started working, and became engaged. Not that any excuses are good ones, but still… I’m ready to get back to it! So let’s start with a belated list of May reading. Green Rider by Kristen Britain Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy…
-
First Impressions: A Short Story
I’ve written quite a bit about other people’s stories, so I think it’s time to share one of my own. Below is a short story for your consideration. Please feel free to leave a comment—writing is almost always a work in progress, and I would like to hear what you think. First Impressions The first time…
-
Through the Wicket Gate
You get two book recommendations from two different friends. The first one says, “You should read this great novel I just finished.” The second one says, “You should read this great allegory I just finished.” Which one would you read? Most of us would probably choose the novel over the allegory. “Novel” sounds fun and interesting—a…
-
Monthly Reads: April
April is a busy month for my family: two birthdays, plus Easter. So I did a lot of reading in the car—or rather, listening. The library’s audiobook feature is handy. The Idea of a University, by John Henry Newman Genre: Education, Literature This is a series of lectures given by the founder of the…
-
Honey Love: The Wedding Bees, by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Wanderer Sugar Wallace arrives in Manhattan with nothing but a beehive, a secret past, and a taste for good manners. She imbibes new life into her dispirited neighbors while trying to determine whether Theo Fitzgerald fits into her own life. This book is delightful—full of garden rooftops, homemade jars of honey, curly hair wrapped in…
Victoria Van Vlear 