Category Archives: Books

“When Books Went to War”

Posted on December 29, 2017 by

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 →

Posted in Books, History | Tagged | 46 Comments

Kyoto Syndrome

Posted on August 7, 2015 by

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 , , , , , , , | 126 Comments

Just Say Yes

Posted on May 22, 2015 by

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 , , , , , | 106 Comments

Literary Kindred Spirits

Posted on May 19, 2015 by

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 , , , , , | 78 Comments

A Reading Resolution

Posted on February 10, 2015 by

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 , , , , , , , , , | 135 Comments

Blame It On Jamie Lee Curtis

Posted on January 27, 2015 by

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 →

Posted in Books, Humor, Random Ruminations | Tagged , , , | 434 Comments

Tomato and Plum

Posted on December 3, 2014 by

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 →

Posted in Books, Humor | Tagged , , , , | 63 Comments

“Dear Mrs. Kennedy,”

Posted on November 21, 2014 by

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 , , , , , , , , | 51 Comments

“My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery”

Posted on November 17, 2014 by

  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 →

Posted in Books, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 79 Comments

I’ve Got Mail

Posted on November 11, 2014 by

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 →

Posted in Books, History, Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 83 Comments