I'm proud to be a reviewer for the excellent recommendation website Shiny New Books, brought to you by bloggers Annabel (AnnaBookBel.net) and Harriet (harrietdevine.typepad.com). Every week they present reviews of the best and brightest -- and, well, shiniest -- new books. During my blog break, SNB published my review of the British hardcover release of … Continue reading Shiny Linkiness: Hidden Valley Road
Postcards from Switzerland: Davos
After a couple of weeks away from blogging, I'm happy to be back with some more pictures to share with you. These are from Davos, a town in the mountains of Eastern Switzerland that was once famous as a tuberculosis health resort and still draws lots of outdoor enthusiasts. We visited in the very last … Continue reading Postcards from Switzerland: Davos
Month in Review: March 2021
March was my month for Reading the Theatre. See my wrap-up post for all the details about that! Interspersed with theatrical reads were some other terrific titles, including my first Richard Rohr (why did I wait so long?) and Hidden Valley Road, my review of which is coming soon to Shiny New Books. I'm pleased … Continue reading Month in Review: March 2021
What the rich young man said – a poem
Tradition links the rich young man who asks what he must do to attain eternal life with Lazarus of Bethany, who is raised from the dead by Jesus -- his final act before taking the path to Jerusalem and the cross. I wrote this poem after wondering for some time about how those two could … Continue reading What the rich young man said – a poem
Reading the Theatre Wrap-up Post
It's the last day of March, and I've personally had an amazing time with my "Reading the Theatre" project. I read books and plays, I watched filmed versions of plays, and I enjoyed thinking about and discussing all of these. I started out with The story so far: my earlier posts on the theme.I shared … Continue reading Reading the Theatre Wrap-up Post
Can language transform your life?
"You have no idea how frightfully interesting it is to take a human being and change her into a quite different human being by creating a new speech for her. It's filling up the deepest gulf that separates class from class and soul from soul."from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw These words spoken by Professor … Continue reading Can language transform your life?
A Snowfall of Silver at Staircase Wit
Here's one more Reading the Theatre post from Staircase Wit, about a "charming novel" reminiscent of "one of those frothy drinks I see people ordering at Starbucks – something insubstantial and delicious to savor!" Read the full review here. My month of reading plays and books about the theatre is almost over! Do you have … Continue reading A Snowfall of Silver at Staircase Wit
Tales in transformation: Pygmalion
As part of my month of Reading the Theatre, I wanted to read one or more plays. And when I started reading The Incomparable Rex, about Rex Harrison and the American revival of My Fair Lady in the 1970s, I became curious to read the source material for the musical: George Bernard Shaw's play, Pygmalion. … Continue reading Tales in transformation: Pygmalion
Two titans of the theatre
I've been having a wonderful time this month with Reading the Theatre. I've read fiction, nonfiction, and plays ... often one thing leads to another, as seeing a play or film based on a play makes me want to know more about the actor, and reading an actor's account of his performance makes me want … Continue reading Two titans of the theatre
Death in the Grand Manor at Staircase Wit
Another Reading the Theatre post over at Staircase Wit, and another mystery: this one being the first of the Tessa Crichton mysteries by Anne Morice, recently republished by Dean Street Press. Check out Constance's review to learn more. I just read it as well, and quite enjoyed it. The theatrical connection is that Tessa is … Continue reading Death in the Grand Manor at Staircase Wit