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Category Archives: Books
“When Books Went to War”
I read literature because I find traces of my private self within its pages. All my qualities -admirable and abundantly less so – are there, and in recognizing them I feel a lovely sense of relief that I’m not entirely … Continue reading
Kyoto Syndrome
You’ve heard of “Paris Syndrome?” Often exhibited by the Japanese, it is a condition of anxiety bordering on hysteria upon realizing they have fallen prey to an extreme case of false advertising. Far from the romantic image portrayed in “An American in Paris” and … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Food, Travel
Tagged atomic bomb, cape cod, fences, henry s. stimson, japan, kyoto, paris syndrome, william morris
126 Comments
Just Say Yes
Five Photos, Five Stories #5 Saying “yes” is easy, I suppose, to the extrovert. Not so much for those of us of a more introverted nature. It’s not that we’re anti-social….exactly….but it takes more of an effort to mentally gear … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Challenges
Tagged blogging, extrovert, fiction, introvert, life lessons, Personal Principles
106 Comments
Literary Kindred Spirits
Five Photos, Five Stories #2 Challenge Rules: I am to post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem, or a short paragraph. I am relentless when … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Challenges
Tagged fiction, margery sharp, nancy mitford, new york times, obituary, the innocents
78 Comments
A Reading Resolution
Were it not for my fellow bloggers, I would not be the least tempted to break out of the reading rut in which I’ve been happily ensconced. I’m stuck in England, usually, reading Penelope Lively, Jane Gardam, Elizabeth Taylor, Muriel Spark, and a new … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged book club, christopher lloyd, fiction, maitland-lewis, mark richard, nonfiction, peter temple, russell hoban, stephen king, terry pratchett
135 Comments
Blame It On Jamie Lee Curtis
Why I would imagine that the color of my hair would hold an iota of interest to you, dear reader, cannot be explained other than to say I learned the hard way that it’s a subject that can ignite opinion, solicited or … Continue reading
Tomato and Plum
We were at the check-out of an apple orchard near Charlottesville with our bags of Pink Ladies and Pippins, when I spied the crate filled with apple-shaped ketchup dispensers. What the heck, we agreed. We’re never going to find the … Continue reading
“Dear Mrs. Kennedy,”
Within days of the President’s assassination, the letters began to arrive. Some were addressed simply “Mrs. Kennedy, White House, Washington, DC.” A shocked and grieving nation could find no other way to express its anguish than to write condolence letters to the young widow whose comportment through … Continue reading
Posted in Books, History
Tagged assassination, condolence letters, D.C., jacqueline kennedy, John F. Kennedy, kennedy, letters, nonfiction, Washington
51 Comments
“My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery”
The complicated legacy of the American South is beautifully captured in Kate Campbell’s song. My regular readers know I’m fascinated with history and the Civil War and slavery in particular. The little book I excerpt in this post has haunted me … Continue reading
I’ve Got Mail
I am hopelessly sentimental about a handful of things, letters being very high on that short list. It’s easy to be ruthless with an email and consign it forever to the dreaded Trash folder. But a letter? That’s another thing entirely. If … Continue reading