Category Archives: Writers

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Any story that begins with “it was a dark and stormy night” promises to be a page-turner! Today on November 29, 1918, Madeleine L’Engle was born. I first met her the day I picked up her book, “A Wrinkle in Time.” I was eight years old. This book changed the way I viewed our planetContinue reading “A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle”

Milestones: John Bunyan, Mark Twain, & Toni Morrison

On this day in history, we are marking three remarkable events. Without question, February 18th was a stellar day for readers. February 18, 1678 , John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” was published in Holborn, London, by Nathaniel Ponder, known to be a bookseller and publisher of nonconformist works. The Pilgrim’s Progress was written during John Bunyan’sContinue reading “Milestones: John Bunyan, Mark Twain, & Toni Morrison”

#WarAndPeace2022 February 15, 2022 Update

Reading taken from Penguin Classics: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Translated by Anthony Briggs Part 1 Chapter 25 p 114 The #WarAndPeace2022 Readalong is moving through Part II and will see us in Part III on February 20, 2022. I am totally involved in the narrative, due in part to the realism that isContinue reading “#WarAndPeace2022 February 15, 2022 Update”

#WarAndPeace2022 January Update

2022 is the year of Leo Tolstoy. I am involved in a global community reading War and Peace, which began on January 5, 2022 and will end on the stroke of midnight December 31, 2022. Chapter 1 welcomes us into the drawing room of the elegant Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honour and confidante ofContinue reading “#WarAndPeace2022 January Update”

Milestones: Thomas Paine Publishes Common Sense

On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine published the pamphlet “Common Sense” advocating American independence. “When I was teaching children I began every day writing this on the blackboard: “Do to others what you would like them to do to you”, telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule.”Continue reading “Milestones: Thomas Paine Publishes Common Sense”

The Professor

As in years past, January 3rd is a special evening. Tonight, I will join other J.R.R. Tolkien fans from around the world in raising a glass to toast the birthday of this much loved author at precisely 21:00 (9:00pm) local time. I have chosen a special combination of cranberry juice and soda for the occasion.Continue reading “The Professor”

Milestones: Happy Birthday Jane Austen

Jane Austen would be pleased to know that her letters will be preserved for all to see. This morning, I read the most exciting news on The Literary Hub. Walker Caplan wrote that The Honresfield Library’s rare collection, that dates back to the 1800’s, came up for auction this May. Up until then, this collectionContinue reading “Milestones: Happy Birthday Jane Austen”

Milestones: Dalton Trumbo

“The only kind of love worth having is the kind that goes on living and laughing and fighting and loving.” Dalton Trumbo On December 9, 1905 James Dalton Trumbo was born. For those who are unfamiliar with this name, you would know Dalton Trumbo’s work and know of the pivotal time in history in whichContinue reading “Milestones: Dalton Trumbo”