Classic Books for Curious Minds
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What I’m Thankful for in #2020
As we are in 2020, I thought I would share 20 things I have been thankful for in the last year: My faith is the foundation of my life. Whenever things are rocky or seem hopeless, my faith in God and His plan get me through. I pray, I hope, and I try to live… Read more
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Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus
Frankenstein isn’t just a story about a crazy scientist and a horrifying, murderous monster. It’s a deep, thought-provoking work about the human condition, written with beautifully prose.
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NaNoWriMo Week 2
Well, I didn’t make amazing progress in this second week. I have the usual excuses: tiredness, doing other work, the malaise that the election and the uprise in the pandemic leaves in its wake. Still, I am enjoying working on my modern Jane Austen tale, which follows four sisters in their teens and early twenties.… Read more
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Jane Austen (Action Figure) Adventures, Episode 2
Last time we saw Jane, she was in danger of drowning.. Will she be able to climb out? “I found a pumice stone, and have hoisted myself up.” “What are men to rocks and mountains?” Now that she’s dried off, she hears a knock on the door. Who could it be? A gentleman caller? And… Read more
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NaNoWriMo Newbie
I honestly hadn’t heard of NaNoWriMo before I started blogging at the end of November last year. Since I have never done it before, I thought I would give it a shot.
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FeaturedJane Austen (Action Figure) Adventures
For you, it’s another ordinary, “there’s still a worldwide pandemic and when will things be normal again” kind of day. For Jane, things are far more complicated. She’s a six inch tall action figure from the Victorian period, stuck in a confusing, gigantic, 21st-century apartment. Join our classic author as she bravely faces each challenge.… Read more
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The Story Behind Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the mysterious, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in six weeks, but the story was probably brewing in Stevenson’s mind long before that.
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10 Essential Fiction-Writing Tips
If you’re a fiction writer, like me, then you love to use your imagination. You might have lofty ideas for your next novel or you might be in the middle of crafting a stellar short story. Whatever your jam is, I promise that these tips are for you.
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If You Love Your Writing, You’ll Edit It.
They say if you love something, you should let it go…but with writing, you shouldn’t.
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Foil Characters in Journey to the Center of the Earth
Journey to the Center of the Earth is a story with few main characters. For the entirety of the book, the two main ones are Axel, the nephew, and his Uncle Lidenbrock. They serve as foil characters to each other, which makes for an intriguing and often exasperating tug of war throughout the book. Axel… Read more
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A Trip to an Outdoor Mall
The other day, my husband’s wifi wasn’t working. We had to go to the Apple store, which happened to be in an outdoor mall. While I was waiting for him, I enjoyed walking around there. They have some really nice displays. Here are some pictures I took of the Old Orchard Mall near Chicago. How… Read more
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The Genius of Jules Verne in Journey to the Center of the Earth
Genius is a word that is thrown around too often nowadays, but after reading Journey to the Center of the Earth, I think Jules Verne is one person who deserves that title.
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Funny Misunderstandings of Grown-Up Speak in The Railway Children
This is my last post about the Railway Children, I promise. One element that I loved in this book, other than the playfulness of the parents, is the misunderstandings of grown-up actions and phrases by the children. Imitating Things Grown Ups Say After the children’s father is arrested, the children try not to fight, for… Read more
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Transitions in the Past Year
This post recounts the many transitions I’ve seen in the past year. #2020 was not quite what I expected, but there’s always room for growth and learning no matter the circumstances.
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“Harrison Bergeron” asks What is Equality?
From the first time I read this short story, I was instantly arrested. I love allegorical, philosophical works, and Harrison Bergeron does not disappoint in that department.
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Christian Allegory and Psychology in John White’s The Sword Bearer
Today we’re going to talk about John White’s “The Sword Bearer.” John White was a psychologist and a Christian speaker, and both of those things, his faith and his background in psychology, are definitely present in this book.
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Wonder, Comedy, and Irony in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Who was Lewis Carroll and why did he write Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? Visit my blog to find out!
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Writing for Children
In the midst of this pandemic, I am trying to work on my own writing as I continue with my freelance writing. I’ve come across a few helpful articles as I’ve thought about how to write better for children: https://www.writing-world.com/children/backes1.shtml I found these articles to be helpful and validating. I am a highly imaginative person,… Read more
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Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant: An Easter-Inspired Tale
I wanted to share a story that surprised and touched me. I love Oscar Wilde’s writings, from “The Importance of Being Earnest” to “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” But did you know he wrote a beautiful children’s story? Here is The Selfish Giant. There are many illustrated and video versions of this story. I think… Read more
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The Wise Woman, or The Lost Princess: A “Prodigal Son” Story of Sorts
(click the image to view on Amazon/ grab your own copy!) As one of my longtime favorite children’s stories by George MacDonald, this one always hits home for me. Ever since I was a little girl, I found this story to be rich and engaging. One of my older sisters shared with me that she… Read more
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The Luck of the Scottish in George MacDonald’s The Golden Key
The End of the Rainbow In Irish folklore, especially of the Lucky Charms variety 😉 , there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In this charming, aesthetically pleasing Scottish tale, MacDonald has his characters follow the rainbow to find a golden key instead. In this story, MacDonald plays with ideas… Read more
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Cross Purposes
Background I wasn’t familiar with the term, “cross purposes” before reading this small, fun fairytale. According to Merriam-Webster, they are, “purposes usually unintentionally contrary to another purpose of oneself or of someone or something else.” See if you can spot any of these in this delightful tale! On an authorial/ historical note, I found it… Read more
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The Dark Side of Light in MacDonald’s The Light Princess
Replete with metaphor and symbolism, word-play and charming innocence, George MacDonald’s The Light Princess is always a treat to re-read. My favorite types of books to read are ones with layers of meaning, which still retain their aesthetic appeal. As I re-read this classic children’s fantasy, I admired the depth and imagination MacDonald brought to… Read more
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FeaturedThe Voyage of The Dawn Treader Blog 2
A couple weeks ago I visited my sister in Florida and watched the boats coming into harbor. This seemed oddly appropriate as I had begun reading through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The main difference (aside from the make of the ships) was that the children in Dawn Treader were on a large ship… Read more
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Classic Childrens Fantasy
By far, this is a favorite category I enjoy reading and writing in. Sometime this year I even hope to publish my own children’s fantasy novel… For now, let me share with you a some of my favorite children’s fantasy classics which I will be blogging about in the coming months. Click on any of… Read more
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Why did the Grinch Steal Christmas?
Why I Love the Grinch As the snow fell softly outside in a pre-Christmas covering, my family would curl up on the couch and living room floor to watch endless children’s Christmas specials. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was always a favorite. Dr. Seuss has a way with rhythm and rhyming that resonated with me… Read more
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A Christmas Carol in Prose: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas
Perhaps one of the most well-known Christmas classics is A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The writing is phenomenal in its prose, but what is arguably most compelling about the tale are the characters and story arc Dickens creates. What makes this piece so famous and why does it connect with people so well, leaving… Read more
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A Brief Introduction
Hi! Welcome to my literature blog! I am writing this blog in hopes that I might: Express my thoughts, reflections, and memories tied to literature. I tend to focus on themes, drawing on the history of the literary work. Provide a safe area for others to share their thoughts and memories on said literature. By… Read more
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One Year of Classic Reads
This is my 47th post, one day after my 1 year anniversary of starting this blog. My original goal was one post per week, which would be 52 in a year. My posts were much more sporadic at first, and I was also figuring out how to start my own business this year, so I’ll… Read more
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