Moss Hart, Act One (1959) I read Act One years ago, but was inspired to visit it again after reading Julie Andrews's memoir Home, which includes a priceless account of her experience in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady. Hart was the director, and if he hadn't been, Andrews might never have made it … Continue reading A dramatic transformation: Act One
It's time to sign up for another year of the Back to the Classics challenge, hosted by Karen of Books and Chocolate. Here are the categories Karen has chosen this year, and the books I think I might read to fill them (not that I ever actually stick to them): 1. A 19th century classic: … Continue reading Back to the Classics Challenge 2021
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope this year will bring you joy, as we all continue to work through very great challenges. This month, I'm closing down my seven-year adventure at The Emerald City Book Review and moving all my blogging activity over to the Enchanted Castle. So as I've done each year, I'd like … Continue reading Reading and blogging goals in the new year
As I bring my other blog, The Emerald City Book Review, to a close, I've just posted my seventh annual list of "Emerald City Gems" -- my favorite reads from the past year. For Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, here's a selection of ten of my top favorites. What are yours? … Continue reading Top Ten reads from 2020
As I near the end of my year of reading the entire Bible, there have been parts that I met as old friends. The Gospels, the Psalms, the book of Genesis and the book of Revelation are all familiar to me, though they continue to unfold new insights when read in this slow and deliberate … Continue reading Between Egypt and Babylon
As I've continued with my project of reading the Bible in one year, the program I'm using doesn't necessarily go through the Old Testament in order. Occasionally it breaks the sequence to skip to a later book, before returning to the traditional list. After many, many books about the kings of Israel and their misdeeds … Continue reading A journey with Jonah, with a poem
Last month we went to see the touring version of the new London production of Les Misérables in Zürich. I saw the original New York production many years ago as a teenager, and vividly recall how deeply I was moved; it stirred me to my core in a way I could not explain, as all … Continue reading Do you hear the people sing?
This essay was previously published in the now-defunct online journal Enchanted Conversation. In fairy tales, marriage has a double nature. Its most well-known aspect is as a sign of completion, fulfillment and union; the end of the story, beyond which no more need be told. Cinderella, Briar Rose—this is what we mean when we say … Continue reading Beyond the happy ending
I've started a project of reading the Bible in one year, using an app that divides it into three daily readings from the Psalms and Proverbs, New Testament, and Old Testament, with commentary. I don't always agree with the evangelical bent of the commentator, but mostly the themes and resonances that he points out are … Continue reading Wrestling with fear
Suppose you had never known anything but winter, never known the trees and shrubs around you as anything other than smooth, bare branches. Then suddenly one day they were covered with a sickly greenish sort of excrescence, that grew and spread until it completely obscured the familiar structure you were used to. Wouldn't it be … Continue reading It’s not the end of the world
