Classic Reads

Classic Books for Curious Minds

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    Crime and Punishment

    February 19, 2021 by

    Crime and Punishment toys with unique political, psychological, and philosophical ideas, exploring questions about morality, society, and human motivations.

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    Revisiting Cú Chulainn

    February 12, 2021 by

    When I was studying abroad in Ireland during my senior year of undergrad, I had the privilege of taking an Irish mythology course. In it, I was introduced to Irish greats like Cú Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool).

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    The Door in the Wall by H.G. Wells

    January 30, 2021 by

    H.G. Wells (Herbert George Wells, 1866-1946) was a great English novelist who considered himself more of a journalist than a poet. He is arguably one of the fathers of science fiction, two of his most well-known science fiction works being The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds. Wells grew up in poverty and… Read more

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    A Day in the Country by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

    January 29, 2021 by

    Anton Chekhov was an interesting writer. He was born in Russia in 1960 and died in Germany in 1904. During his life, he wrote many plays and short stories in his distinctive, simple style. He wasn’t trying to show off his literary prowess. Rather, he focused on seemingly trivial, day to day aspects of life… Read more

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    Facing Shame: Families in Recovery

    January 21, 2021 by

    I read this book to better understand the system of my shame-based family of origin and how to break free from those patterns.
    I also want to help people, especially in the church, to recognize and move from unhealthy, shame-based patterns to healthier ones.

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    Bible for the Busy Woman: Matthew 1:18-25

    January 18, 2021 by

    Today’s passage is Matthew 1:18-25, which talks about the awkward situation Joseph finds himself in when Mary is pregnant before they had “come together,” and how God orchestrated events to make Joseph Jesus’ (adoptive) father.

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    Annals of A Quiet Neighborhood

    January 8, 2021 by

    Annals of A Quiet Neighborhood seems like it is the closest to autobiography as anything of MacDonald’s I’ve read. As you get into the story, you discover that many of these characters have dramatic and scandalous backstories, but all of them are in need of one thing: redemption.

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    Goal Setting for 2021

    January 4, 2021 by

    For the New Year, I have a LOT of goals! I try to think of specific areas of growth or things I want to focus on doing more of or getting better at.

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    A Real Life Hallmark Town

    December 21, 2020 by

    Like many, I enjoy watching the Hallmark Christmas movies each year. Though they get increasingly predictable, sappy, and contrived, I still like seeing the Christmas decorations and how a group of people come together to solve a problem. Recently, I spotted a story on Thrillist when I was looking for information for 2021 travel plans.… Read more

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    Advent Week 4: Love

    December 20, 2020 by

    “All you need is love,” sang the Beatles and many others over the years. Love might just be all we need, but this also prompts another question, which philosophers have pondered in song: What Is Love? I think the most compelling definition of love is the giving of oneself for another. In short, love is… Read more

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    Chicago Christmas Photos

    December 15, 2020 by

    Since we haven’t been able to go out and explore Chicago this Christmas, I’ll have to share some photos from last Christmas. Hopefully, once our apartment is decorated and if we drive through a Christmas lights display I will have some more to share. The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago I loved seeing all… Read more

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    Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

    December 13, 2020 by

    We all experience joy in our lives, even if it’s just for a moment. This week of advent we celebrate joy. There are many joys in the Bible’s Christmas narrative, but one encapsulates them all: the Messiah is coming!

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    Christmas Classics: The Three Kings

    December 3, 2020 by

    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a well-known, 19th-Century American poet, astute scholar, and world traveler. Though The Three Kings is not his most popular work, I wanted to share it with you, in the spirit on the Christmas season.

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    NaNoWriMo Week 4

    December 1, 2020 by

    Well, the truth is, I did not hit the 50,000 word mark for NaNoWriMo- at least not on the book I was working on. I did more like 28,000 words, but that’s okay! I figured out I have too many different projects going on at once to really sink my teeth into one at the… Read more

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    First Sunday of Advent Reading

    November 29, 2020 by

    There are different interpretations and traditions surrounding the season of advent: wreath-making (here’s a great article with more about this), lighting candles, singing certain songs, and reading specific Bible passages. All of these traditions celebrate one thing: the “advent” (important event) of Christ’s birth. Each Sunday, I will share a scripture passage and song for… Read more

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    What I’m Thankful for in #2020

    November 26, 2020 by

    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

    November 22, 2020 by

    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

    November 16, 2020 by

    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

    November 5, 2020 by

    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

    November 4, 2020 by

    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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    Jane Austen (Action Figure) Adventures

    November 3, 2020 by

    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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    10 Essential Fiction-Writing Tips

    October 23, 2020 by

    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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    Foil Characters in Journey to the Center of the Earth

    October 19, 2020 by

    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

    October 14, 2020 by

    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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    Funny Misunderstandings of Grown-Up Speak in The Railway Children

    October 8, 2020 by

    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

    September 21, 2020 by

    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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