Old Stories and “the Full Rapture of a Good Book”
Little Free Libraries offer an exciting array of unexpected finds. Sometimes they are a cause for concern, but sometimes the books found […]
Jack Nicholson Reads “The Elephant’s Child” and Audiobooks that Ignite Imagination
Recently, through the riches of the public library and the benefit of antiquated compact disc technology, we have been revisiting E.B. White’s […]
Making Cozy Spaces (and Stories!) When the Weather is Bad
After writing about the coziness of British storybooks, a friend remarked that British architecture seems designed for coziness. Most of us (Americans, […]
Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” and the Power of Natural Consequences
Beginning Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” with little to no context, one might wonder where it takes place. The names are not […]
The Very British Childhood of Anglophiles Everywhere
There can be a real thrill in testing out an idea you’ve read about. Is it true? Does it hold up to […]
The Strength that Comes from Stories in Childhood
One of the most memorable reads of 2023 for me was E.B. Sledge’s “With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.” By […]
Sheldon Vanauken’s “A Severe Mercy” and Our “Appetite for Eternity”
So great is our longing for experience beyond the ordinary crushing tide of mortal time that suburban moms are now resorting to […]
Lois Lenski’s “Regionals”: Fascinating Stories for Young and Old
Lois Lenski is often remembered primarily as an illustrator. An introduction to her work may come through the amusing picture book series […]
What Grit Is and How to Have More of It
Reading Charles Portis’s excellent little book, “True Grit,” you will likely be entertained. Personally, I did not find it to be as […]
Elizabeth Goudge’s “The Little White Horse” and the Power of Children Being Themselves
After reading Elizabeth Goudge’s “The Linnets and Valerians,” we were excited to try her highly recommended children’s book “The Little White Horse.” […]