Literature and Poetry
Pets, Pleasures, a Black and White Great Dane and a Kleenex Cat
Joan L. Cannon writes: I’ll always be grateful that I married a man whose leaning towards the critters was as pronounced as mine. We had space in the country for the eleven cats, ten dogs, and three horses along with guinea pigs, canaries, and other livestock. Our oversized Manx cat always tried to fit into the oval opening of a new box of Kleenex. Of course, his name was Cassius (Clay), Mohammed Ali Cat. more »
For Weekends, the Dark of Night and Beyond: Project Gutenberg's Best Books Ever Listings
In mid-2014, Project Gutenberg volunteers undertook a significant revitalization of their bookshelves. These are groupings of eBooks on particular topics, or in particular genres, or otherwise having something in common. This can be a great way to discover books you were unaware of, and it is also an efficient way of finding some of the collection of particular interest. And, we recommend a book on bookshelves themselves .. "they now growing numerous, and lying one upon another on my chairs ... Samuel Pepys, 1666" more »
Mind and Body Disconnect: I Am Not Ready To Get Off the Stage!
Rose Madeline Mula writes: I have a serious disconnect between mind and body — thank goodness. No way do I want to face reality! Instead, I'm going shopping. I want to buy a couple of sleeveless mini dresses, some skinny jeans with frayed knees, a pair of stilettos, and a new bikini, which I'm going to need when I start my surfing lessons next week. more »
CultureWatch Review, Colm Toibin's The Master: A Novel
Joan L. Cannon writes: Reading The Master was so like my memory of reading Henry James, I was amazed that a member of the 21st Century could so faithfully reproduce not only the literary style, but the moral stance of the 19th, especially in a fictional personification. Just to make sure the resemblance was deliberate, I read a recent essay by Mr. Tóibín. No question the diction, syntax, and authorial posture were carefully chosen to suit the narrative. The feeling engendered for the reader is uncanny and moving. more »